Going forth on my quest for a Leopard hunt in 2007. Now I need to look at which caliber and bullet.

I've been told that the cats seem most prone to hydrostatic shock. I have a Tikka Lite Stainless in .308 that shoots 180gr Nosler Partions well. I also have a Remington Model 673 .350 Rem Mag that shoots 225gr Nosler Partions decently.

I'm sure either rifle would work well, but wondering if maybe I should look into a .300 Win Mag with 180gr pill.

For those who have taken leopard, what caliber and bullet selection was used? What is your advice and recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

180 grn.308 Nosler Combined Technology Ballistic Silvertips 41 grns. H-4895 lights out Mr leopard.

You'll probably shoot your leopard at less than 50-yards.

I don't see how the 300win could offer any advantage over the 308 at that distance.

As for bullets, you're 180 partition will work fine.

I like both the 308 and the 300 Mag. But for leopard I would choose the 350 RM Mag. I had one of them for a while. I would use a Swarovski 1.5-6x42 scope with the illuminated circle dot reticle.
The 225 or 250 Nosler Partition should work fine.
When I hunted leopard and lion in June 2004, and when I go back in March 2006 I will use my 9,3x74R Chapuis with the Swarovski scope.

Well, I'm always trying to convience the wife that I need another rifle.

I'm leaning towards my .350 Rem Mag with 225gr Nosler Partions @2680. Swarovski is more than I wanted to spend, so I opted for the Burris 1.75-5x32 Signature Safari Rifle Scope with the LRS Fast Plex reticle.

I plan on zeroing it in dead on at 50 yards. That way it should have a MPB range of 175 yards. I doubt a blind would be more than 80 yards away from the bait...

I used my Remington in 350 RM with a 225 Nosler and killed my leopard last year at 60-70 yrds. I would sight it in at 100 yrd and not worry about it. That load will kill any of the remaing plains game you may want. It was a bit much from my steenbok, so my PH told me to shoot it behind the ribs. The damage was minimal and the traker finished it off with a pocket knife. Save the money for a new gun for more trophy fees.

Most of the Leopard I have seen taken were shot with either a 300 win or a 375 HH. I am going back to Tanzania in 2006 and I will be probably using my 300 win M70 with 200 grain Barnes X. I dont think that I need such a round for a Leopard but I shoot the gun realy well and it will be good for any other plains game I want to take(Sable, Zebra and Eland) Both 375 and 300 did the job remarkably well on all the cats I have seen shoot as long as the bullet was put in the right spot. If I were you I would take the 308 with the noslers. You already have the gun and are familiar with it which is nice in a dark blind when you are trying to be calm on a high stakes shoot.

I blame it on Ray, but I'm booked in Tanzania for '06 to hunt leopard and lion and I plan on using a 10.75x68. I have no experience but after following his loadings for it its my pick............JJ

I will be leaving soon for leopard and plains game. I will take a 300 WM for leopard using 150 gr Core-locks. They shoot well in my rifle and should open quick to provide plenty of hydrostatic shock at 3200 fps. I think both your options would work well but if you really want to buy a new gun, you have an excellent excuse. "Honey, that 300 win mag is absolutely necessary to keep me from getting scratched by that big nasty spotted puddy cat."

Andrew Dawson is one of the best Leopard men in Africa today, and he reccomends a 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet as just about prefect for leopard. He also reccomends a Quality, light gathering scope with a lighted reticle, and zeroed at 100 yds. Based on that, I'd take the 308 with your 180s, and zero at 100 yds. The 180 Nosler will open fast enough to cause the needed shock, but not as violently as most 150s traveling at over 3000 fPS. A leopard is a thin skinned animal, and a fast expanding bullet traveling too fast will blow a hole in the off side that you could stick your leg through. The scope is far more important than the caliber, and the placement of a good bullet in the right spot is paramount! OPINION ONLY!

I took mine with a .270 Federal Hy-shok 150 grain bullets. talking with a few PH's that are up on Mr. Spots hunting agree that is by far the best caliber and round to stop a Leopard.

I listen to the experts, the "Cat hunters"

You don't need anything other than what you've got. The .308 is more than enough.

But any of the calibers you mention would be more than enough.

Anything they will do a .375 will do better.

JJ Miller,

The .308 is fine, so is a 300...

I'd shoot a Leopard with any caliber that will kill a deer...

I don't care what you use, you had better hit him right 223 to 577 N.E.

Atkinson is quite correct ... shot placement counts for much.

As for calibre the .270 should be the sensible minimum.

Personally I have used .375 as it is an ideal all rounder and if weight restrictions are a problem on airline travel then this is the one gun I will take for my hunting.

I personally only use 300 grain bullets and my own leopards have been taken with Bitteroot bullets, none of which lead to a runner.

Leopards do have a highly developed nervous system and do seem to succumb to a well place shot.

Hell, I just got back 6 days ago and I'm already looking at going back! ANyhow, Leopard will be on the menu in 08 and I'm thinking aboutmy 338 with 210 Nosler Partitions. High velocity, good shock, great bullet. comments? jorge

Jorge, your 338 Win. Mag. with 210s will hammer any leopard, and just about everything else. Do you still need Federal 338 brass? I have a bunch of once-fired that I'll send you if you'd like to have it.......

I've used the 300 Win. Mag. before on my one and only leopard, and it was a decisive killer, to say the least. I think bullet placement is more critical than cartridge selection for these cats.

AD

Allen: yes please, I've had good luck with that brass and 250gr Partitions. No kidding Allen, I've already dropped John an email about leopard and sable for 08 and the best part is my wife's saving the money! jorge

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Hell, I just got back 6 days ago and I'm already looking at going back! ANyhow, Leopard will be on the menu in 08 and I'm thinking aboutmy 338 with 210 Nosler Partitions. High velocity, good shock, great bullet. comments? jorge

Hi Jorge,

I would have sworn You are a Aframe-nut?
Congratulations, You have a splendid safari , thank You for sharing.
I need just an advice : "How did You train Your wife so as first she agreed to come along and better she would go hunting again?"

FOsteology

Next year, I'll deal with a leopard in the CAR, the dark forest variety. My choice is 375HH and a wide objective scope : Swaro 2.5-10.*56. I think any caliber over 243 is good, but a wide scope is a better asset, illuminated reticle or not. Gathering light is primordial.
As I would have to shoot at 30 yards, my rifle will be zeroed exactly at 30 yards.
My ammo will be Aframe as usual, but with a dum-dum-like snubnoose, the cross-shaped incision making splendid banana-split removed bullets.
For the other games I'll stick to the Aframe and evidently my Mathews bow (Magnus 120gr).

Hey Jean, yes I am an Aframe convert but for the leopard I think I would prefer a softer bullet with more upset and in that regard Noslers can't be beat I think. On the wife issue, hell, all I did is ensure she was treated like a princess, she was the only female in camp! But more importantly she managed to lose weight and that did it! Charles, I'll try and get the picture to you today unless my relative gets up off her ass and updates our site! thanks! jorge