We all strive for that perfect one-shot kill.

However, we're imperfect humans, and sometimes shots go awry.

When things get Western, as they say, the last thing we want to deal with is a rifle malfunction.

Whether equipment failure or human-induced, a malfunction can ruin a good situation and can make a bad situation profoundly worse.

I'm Joseph von Benedict and this is the backcountry hunting podcast.

Today we're going to look at a few characteristics that every hunting rifle should have.

Some of these are undebatable. Others are a bit more flexible.

I'll go out on a limb and say two things up front.

One, every good hunting rifle should possess each and every one of these characteristics.

And two, unfortunately, very few modern hunting rifles do.

First, for our upfront Q&A section, this go around, I've got a very cool listener's story to share with you.

It's brought to you by OnX Maps, our all-time favorite

GPS scouting, mapping, and navigating app. This message is from a listener will call Chase who contacted me this summer about a solo DIY hunting trip he was planning for Mountain Lion using a predator call.

Now Chase originally wrote,

Hi Joseph, I recently moved from South Carolina to the West and have learned some very important

lessons on Western hunting from your podcast.

I've always enjoyed calling coyotes, but my new personal challenge for this season is to take my first mountain

line by use of an electronic call, which is legal in his area.

I moved, he said, with only my Remington 700

chambered in 270 Winchester and my coyote rifle,

and they are15 and 223. My question for you is, what type of cartridge

should I use to take a lion with? Either my 270 Winchester or the AR-, and do minimal damage to the pelte.

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