I will be taking a 375 as my light rifle and backup DGR...For DG I will have Bridger solids and 300gr Barnes X bullets...
I was thinking of going lighter and faster for chui..Trying to give him a high velocity shock...
Your thoughts...


Mike

Mike

The X bullets might not be perfect but if you get both lungs he will die quickly. Don't screw around with several loads as you are only increasing the chance of having the wrong load in the magazine for the animals you bump into. The last leopard I killed was with the Federal 375 H&H 300 gr. TBBC load. This is definitely not a first choice for leopards but the leopard never moved from the tree after the shot. He just slumped right where he was feeding.

Mark

Mike
I agree,you should not shoot leopard with a "buffalo" bullet.
In Zim in 2004, and when I return in March of 2006 I will use a Hawk bullet, the 285 gr with the .035jkt. I have used this bullet on deer and pigs with excellent results. In the 375 If you cannot get the lighter bullets to group the same place as your 300 grain bullets I recommend you try the Hawk 300 grain bullet with the .035 jkt.
It might hit the same place as your other 300 grainers and it will be just the ticket for ole' spots.

The one and only leopard I shot was with my all purpose 375 load; factory Winchester Supreme with 300 Failsafe bullets. I subscribe to the KISS principal ("keep it simple, stupid"). One gun, one load. I did the battery of rifles on my first trip to Africa and never seemed to have the right gun at the right time. Whack things properly with enough gun and it takes all the discussion out of it.

Mike: Yeah, too many variables to mess up the hunt, I'd stick with what you have if you have those two bullets shooting to the same POI. Just think about this; you put a .375 sized hole into a leopard's waterline and you'll have a dead leopard. jorge

Mark, Matt and jorge
I agree with you 100%. KISS. However if you have multiple bullets that hit to the Same point of impact, then it makes sense to me to use a less fragile bullet for leopard.
While I have not shot a leopard, with my "leopard rifle", my 9,3x74R Chapuis double, I have had nearly 100% drop to the shot with the 285 gr Hawk .035 jkt bullet on deer, impala, and wild pigs.
It will be my leopard bullet in March 2007.

What bullet would you guy's use out of a 7mmRemMag?? I am planning on using the factory loaded Remmington 150gr Swift Scirocco...what do you think?

Perhaps I see it from a different perspective - but I'd recommend something like a winchester silvertip or similar bullet for the Leopard. Go for a fast expanding bullet and re-zero the rifle for the exact range of the shot.

......I'd recommend a bullet weight of 180 grains for any of the smaller calibres.

I'll go with Shakari. Generally, if you are shooting leopard from a blind I would get my client to zero his rifle at that exact range, so take a box of silvertips, you are going to be re-zeroing in the field so take the best option.

Also Take a few shoot-n-see targets. Most PH's seem to think a square of bog roll stuck on a tree make a good mark to zero a rifle.

Shakari and Ganyana, I agree with you, but the premise I thought was NOT to have to change bullets. If that was in the equation, I'd definetly switch to a lighter, FASTER and more frangile bullet. I am a great beliver that when it comes to the cats, speed does kill. jorge

I'd probably forget the Barnes X and go with 300 grain Nosler Partitons. But then I'm kinda old fashioned ...or so they tell me. Either try handloads or see how the Federal Premiums compare with the Bridger Solids POI
Rich Elliott

My idea was they always site in for the exact distance from the blind... Bringing maybe ten lighter bullets to fire at high velocity to electrocute the cat....
My idea and the short distance to me may not make for much adjustment with the scope..

Mike

I think you're right Mike. I like that "electrocute" good one jorge

Mike,

I am a far from being a leopard expert with just one fresh one under my belt. But I used the same soft on everything I shot other than my ele cow who got a solid. Again, I used 300 grain Woodleighs in .375H&H.

It only took one to bring my cat down.

I agree, a softer bullet would be my choice...My 375 will shoot any solid, soft to the same POI and almost any load to the same POI so thats a real plus....

I would follow Shakari and Ganyana advise..or inasmuch as your going to take the .375 for your light rifle, then I would just load it with 300 gr. Nosler or 270 gr. Northforks ...The 300 gr. Nosler or 270 gr. Northfork is fast openning and they both do a great job on Leopard without tearing up the hide plus either will do for Buffalo if need be.

I agree with Ray and Ganyana completely. They said it all.

465H&H

Hey, what about my 7mmRemMag with the 150gr Swift Scirocco??

Wolfgar,

I believe the 150 in a soft bullet will do as I said electrocute...the cat...Velocity up.

Mike

Could someone describe the philosophy behind bullet choice for leopards and lions? I think I heard they were subject to hypersonic shock, although some of the lion hunt videos I've seen show they may not be all that sensitive.
Dave

Personally I don't like light & fast bullets of any kind......and as the cats have thin skins and light bones I like to use something that puts a big hole right through them. That way, even if the shot is less then perfect there's a greater chance it will bleed out faster and either die sooner or at least get weaker faster. (Something your PH might be very grateful for!)

And from my experience the best bullet to achieve this effect is the winchester silvertip - I don't know if it's my imagination but I have found the handloaded ones seem to perform slightly better than the factory version. Whether the factory bullet has a different construction I don't know. - Guess it could just be the load..........

Steve,

Did you ever hear of prying the aluminum (?) caps off of the Silvertips leaving basically
a hollow point? That oughta be a "shocker".
Rich Elliott

Rich,

No, that's a new one on me........ One thing I have noticed on the .30 cals is that the 180 grain bullet seems to perform considerably better than the other bullet weights.

quote:

Originally posted by Rich Elliott:
Steve,

Did you ever hear of prying the aluminum (?) caps off of the Silvertips leaving basically
a hollow point? That oughta be a "shocker".
Rich Elliott

Mr. Capstick wrote about that practice for leopard, for what it is worth. He also wrote that he favored the .375, if I recall correctly.

Now wait a minute I thought, they were silver tips for werewolves and vampires
Really I thought it covered a large lead tip and not a hollw area...

Mike

Almostacowboy,

Cats have a high strung nervous system...To shock that system with a fast bullet will shut the nerves down as long as a vital shot is there...Just like experiencing a blast up close your whole body reacts to it...

Mike

I want to start by saying that I never have hunted leopard, but I wonder why most of the post I read use big bores to hunt with. I looked up the weight range and it's only 82 - 198 pounds. This is the size of a not so big white tail. I also read some time back a article by a long time PH who he and his clients had killed many leopards most with a 243 win. that he loaned clients. 243win - 270win sound about correct for a animal this size, particulary if cats are very subject to shock as I have read.
Also when I read GS Custom Bullets web site I see that Gerard Schultz daughters Gina and Jani Schultz Hunt plains game that weigh more than most leopards with a 220 swift & a 22 x 64.
So why wouldn't a hyper velocity hi shock cailber be the ticket for Leopard??

Dr B

In Zimbabwe, the legal minimum is 7mm. I am very happy for a client to use a 7x57 - if he can shoot. Actually a 7mm mag makes a fine leopard round- except when the bullet goes a long way from where it was intended.

But as the .375 is retreevers "light" rifle it makes sence to get the very best out of it. As Ray has commented, many .375's shoot a wide veriety of bullets to the same POA (at least out to 100m or so), so try a couple of different brands and see what ones work.

Ganyana
If a smaller caliber was legal in another country do you think It would preforme well
Dr B

Almost a cowboy,
Shock does kill like electrocution on cats, deer and other light bodied animals, the problem with that kind of killing power is that you just cannot depend on it, sometimes it doesn't work as planned...Many people are absorbed into high velocity by a limited number of kills and then they meet with the devil himself.....I want a bullet to hold together tear up the innards pretty well and leave a lare exit wound for a blood trail, I don't care if the animal goes 50 or a 100 yards, its slower but surer is my point...

Don't take the above to mean that light construted bullets are not good for light skinned and boned animals, bullets should always be constructed to the game being hunted to expand as needed.....A lion bullet should be pretty tough as they have a lot of hard muscle, A Leopard bullet should be of lighter construction, but both should tear up internally and leave a 1 to 2" exit hole IMO...I don't want a bullet that needles one nor do I want a bullet that explodes internally or on the surface of the skin.

Ray
I agree I want a exit wound also. I have never recovered a 270 130gr Barns X from over ten deer that I have shoot with it also I never have had a deer take a step after he was shot.
Check GS custom web site all of the game shot with their .223 bullets were pass throughs also with great internal damage.

I uess I'll have to shoot a Buffalo with my 257 STW when It comes in. Well just see what happens. Maby I'll get lucky and get a charge out of it, or maby he will role over and die.

I would like to hear Gerard Schultz's opinion on this topic.
Dr B

Read this somewhere...Of all the ph's injuried in charges over 80% were by leopards... This why my 375 is the rifle of choice and a appropriate bullet to do the damage..

Mike

Mike
I read that statistic. I also read that some of the leopards were just shot in the wrong place, but most were shot by a hunter using a cartiage that was designed for heavy dangerous game and the round just needles through and then you have a problem.

Also if I would wound a leopard or any other game (Lion, Buffalo, elephant, or Brown Bear) it will not be the PH up front I'll finish what I start.
Dr B

I am no expert either. One leopard under my belt. Mine was a 300 winnie and 200 gr Nosler partitions at 2850. Not the fastest bullet available for this cartridge. Very accurate in this rifle however. In a 375, I would consider a nosler Partition in one of the lighter bullets or possibly a 270 gr Hornaday RN. Both are designed to open rapidly and have a shank that will likely go through most any leopard from any angle you are likely to want to shoot. Key thing is to put the bullet in exactly the right place. The rest will take care of itself. Good hunting.

Dr B,
Thanks for the PM. Given a 375H&H, I would recommend the 200gr HV for leopard. Speed of this HV is around 3200fps from a 24" barrel and rapid expansion and complete pass throughs are the norm, even on animals much bigger than leo.

For the heavies with thicker skins, use the 265gr HV at 2800 to 2900fps. Shots from close range and out to 300yds are taken in stride.

Dr B. You may want to negotiate that option on the front end of booking your leopard or other DG hunt. Some PH's will not allow a client or should I say, not let just every client follow up wounded game. Especially leopard. I did a plains game hunt with a PH who said on wounded leopard he had never let a client accompany him. There are several reasons he did not want a client there. First clients under the strain of a long and thickety follow up can get a bit trigger itchy. Being perforated by a cat is one thing. Perforated by a bullet is another. Second is that the Ph must keep the cat off of himself and it is a further distraction to try to keep it off of himself and you. This at a time when it will take all anyone has to stop the rapid charge of a leopard. If you get chewed it is very bad form and he will have a reputation to live down subsequently. In that PH's mind a client was all liability and very little asset on a wounded leopard follow up.
Don't get me wrong, you may be the best wing shooter that has ever been. You may not need a PH to come with you on your follow up. It is only a word to the wise about having this discussion with your PH prior to booking. He may have philosophical differences of opinion that need to be decided on ahead of money changing hands. For what it is worth. Good hunting. D

D Hunter
Thanks for the good advice I have had these conversations with prospective PH's and not all of them agree with my philosphy, so when I do get to go to Africa I'll spend mt money with a PH who will not shoot my game for me unless it's true life or death. ie. leo gnawing on me.
I could never take a trophy home that some one else helped me Kill. I would fealm like a fraud showing it to my friends. It would be more like a souvineer than a trophy.

Dr B

DrB,

What, when, and who shoots.. This is what your Ph will have to decide and with a leopard there is no warning...He comes and it is a blur..My ph told me on buff, Mike you have three shots and 20yds...No Ph is going to get a client chewed when he is being paid for that reason...He does not want to get chewed either...I personally believe a scoped rifle is of no use on a charging leopard...
This past summer a Pennsylvania hunter was shot and killed by his guide in Alaska when the guide attempted to shoot at clients bear at 175 yards...338 in the back of the head...wife & 3 children left behind..I believe...


Mike

Here would be the perfect place for a 375 250 gn Sierra GK going very fast. Opens fast......JJ

Thanks for the input Mike and Ray. Since I like shooting my .375, if I ever decide to go cat hunting I'll probably stick with it loaded with either A-Square's 300 gr Lion Load or 300 Gr TBBC. That ought to introduce the theory of "shock & awe" to him!

Dave

This thread has gone from the sublime to the ridiculas, ALL the calibers mentioned and all the bullets mentioned will kill a Leopard...

True Leopards do maul a lot of people and those stats may or may not be correct, but a Leopard seldom kills you, he will scratch and chew you up a bit, not so Lions, buffalo and elephant, they often end the affair with your demise...

At any rate I would shoot a Leopard in confidence with a .470 or a 22-250 and a 60 gr. Hornady and I would in either case place my bullet with care or not pull the trigger..A Leopard is a small fragile animal but born of sinue, toughness, and a big heart, never the less. But whatever you stick in his heart will have the same effect.