---
title: "Shotguns and Cats"
date: "2007-09-28"
modified: "2021-02-01"
authors:
  - name: "Outdoor Life Online Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/outdoor-life-online-editor/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/node-1006033125/"
categories:
  - "Guns"
---

# Shotguns and Cats

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/22/JPPAU5BLXG4OLN2KSS5T2E2Y7E.jpg>)

Many Gun Shots readers commenting on the post [Pick Your Gun](<https://outdoorlife.blogs.com/thegunshots/2007/09/pick-your-gun.html>) said the firearm they'd like to sight down during a tiger charge is a shotgun loaded with buckshot.

While at one time a shotgun was thought to be a good choice when pursing a wounded leopard in heavy cover, nearly every Professional Hunter I’ve spoken with about this said they would choose a rifle over a shotgun without question.

Step up in size to a lion and I suspect the percentage of PH’s who’d pick a shotgun for this work would drop to zero.

Though the topic of tigers never specifically came up--after all, tigers charge hunters as often as Hillary Clinton practices double-taps--I seriously doubt any PH who wasn’t suicidal would willingly use a shotgun to bring down the world’s largest cat.

Joe Coogan, who has been a PH for 24 years, put it this way when asked about appropriate charge stoppers for dangerous game: “A shotgun is not the thing to use under any circumstances.”

*John Snow*