There is a chance of leopard on our plains game hunt. I will be using a 375. Bullets for light cats?

300gr. Swift A-Frames or Nosler Partitions.

George

George I was planning on useing a 270 SAF for everything. I was just going over the leopard chapter of "The Perfect Shot" and he says don't even think about using a super premium bullet like the A-Frame. He wants you to use a light frangible bullet. Those who have whacked a few ingwe, what did you use and how did it do? Thanks

How about the Hornady 270 gr? Conventional cup and core should open nice and fast for you.

I have had trouble with the Hdy 270 grain spire point not opening up on elk. I would not use it on LEopard.

Hawk makes a particularly devestating little pill known as the dead soft. This is a pic of a hog's heart shot at a bit over 100 yds by member Whitworth with one of the Hawks:

Hi Dhunter:

My 375 H&H backup for leopard was Fereral 260 grain Nosler Accubond.factory fodder...velocity around 2700 FPS....

My main Leopard rifle was a Remington 300 RUM, 180 grain Nosler's at about 3,300 FPS...

To bad I did not get a shot at a Leopard last year.

Regards.... Jim P.

Dhunter

If you put a hole through both lungs it doesn't matter what bulet you use the leopard will die. Whatever bullet serves the general purpose of you safari will work. Just put the shot in the right place. Don't try to out smart yourself with different loads for different game. A 300 gr.SAF will work for buffalo or leopaard if applied to the right part of the animal's anatomy.

Regards,

Mark

It is the one occasion that I am happy to see a box of Winchester Silver tips in Africa (I don't know who keeps telling the Spanish hunters that .375 Silvertips a premium bullets for buff but I have just seen another frantic PH buying some proper ammo for his client!).

I like soft, expanding bullets for leopard - particularly in a parks area, where you will often be hunting at dusk. If your leopard runs 80m and then dies it may well be a strip of skin by morning. Ja right, I know the PH bravely wanders forward with his mag light in one hand and .44 in the other - finds the body and anounces your kill. Pass on that ou China. One always tries to possition the bait such that there is a reasonable ammount of clear ground so that if the cat falls and runs a short distance you are not crawling on hand and knees through the jesse of ataxacatha to look for it and you can make a reasonably safe approach using the truck... but it doesn't always work that way.

In communal areas or ranches where there are not too many hyaena you can get away with leaving things till morning and then going to look for blood, but in many areas... I have been forunate and it has never happened to me, but I have helped too many PH's get "replacement" skins from the National Parks skin shed after their clients trophy got eaten during the night.

Actually the result is usually quiet entertaining if you are not the client or the PH involved. The hyaena/jackals eat all the soft bits first, so you typically get the head, spine and tail intact. Perfect for having a belt made

Maybe for a leopard it's good the Silvertip, but not for a big animal.
I had some problems with my .375 H&H and 300 gr. Silvetips in Eland. Four shots and dead in the last second. The last shot in the chest, at seven meters to me.
Small penetration / bad bullet for Afrika.
Regards.
Hector

quote:

Originally posted by D Hunter:
I was just going over the leopard chapter of "The Perfect Shot" and he says don't even think about using a super premium bullet like the A-Frame.

I've shot several jackals with the .375/300gr. SAF, and they've always opened up (one took out the entire rib cage of one jackal). I also shot my leopard with it.

At the ranges you normally shoot leopard, and at the velocities of a .375H&H, the SAF WILL expand.

George

Has anyone tried the 235 gr Speer Hot Core's on Leopard? I would think they'd be a good choice; high velocity and plenty soft to open up fast.

Pete

Used a Trophy Bonded 300 grain on my Leopard and was more than satisfied with the performance.

D,

I used the 300 grain Swift A-Frame on my leopard. The shot was from 40 yards, the aspect was broadside. The bullet took out both lungs, and the cat died very quickly. The exit wound showed expansion as compared to the entrance.

jim

quote:

Originally posted by KevinNY:
How about the Hornady 270 gr? Conventional cup and core should open nice and fast for you.

270 GR ROUND NOSE, will be fine.
Not the Pointed ones, as they are tougher.

Like Ganyana I also favour the Winchester Silvertip - can't beat 'em on cats...

D.Hunter - can I ask which country you're hunting in??

Shakari, we will be in Namibia. I am not sure that a leopard is going to happen but the Ph seems to think there will be an opportunity. Leopard are a "maybe yes, maybe no", kind of a thing as I understand it. I will keep folks posted. I think I have a box of 260 gr Ballistic tips in my loading room somewhere. I think they may open readily enough. They have been most accurate in 150 gr in my 30-06.

Better use the same bullet your using on plainsgame, my bet is if you get a chance as a leopard, you won't have time to sight in another bullet....

But I would not be too concerned, its probably the old if you see one you can shoot it sales pitch, its just too easy to sell a Leopard hunt for more money than a plainsgame hunt. the again lightening may strike, the seas will part and you will get your leopard, let us know...

Yes Ray I figured the same thing on the leopard, just a marketing thing. Then he told the outfitter he gave a 90% chance on a couple of leopards and possible a third. We are a pretty large party and 4 of us want a crack at ole spots. When he said we had that good of a chance I had to take it a bit more seriously. I do think the 270 A-Frame will do the job. Too many white tails in my freezer that fell to that load to figure otherwise. I will let you know how it went.