My cousin and I are planning quite a bit of winter hunting this year and bobcat is on our list. His dad has done it for years but I want to get the right setup to not have a big entrance and leave all the bullet pieces inside the body. I have a 22 Hornet but that shoots 35gr vmax bullets over 3000fps, I might be able to get it cut down to 16" to drop the velocity some. I also have a 12" AR that I use for coyotes shooting 55gr bullets at 2850fps. I think I can download a bit and get around 2700fps, maybe that velocity and 55gr vmax would work. I'm just trying to avoid an exit wound.
So what do you guys think would do the trick for essentially zero pelt damage from 50-200 yds on bobcats?
I suggested 17hmr, but he says he says he would like to see something with a heavier bullet.