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Just curious( Killing a Leopard)
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While reading the thread below this one that compares the 7mm to the 30 cal as far as a hunting round and one of the posters referenced the taking of several different African species and they considered the .338 mag as a bare minimum. One of the species mentioned was the Leopard. Seems I've also read this in other circles. Are they really that hard to kill? How do they compare in size to our Mountain Lion? I'd think that a .270,.280 or '06 would be plenty for those cats. Or does the big bores take out all 9 lives in one whack? Just curious.
 
Posts: 314 | Location: SW Missouri | Registered: 08 August 2007Reply With Quote
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The rumour is that higehr velocity bullets seem to effect the CNS of the kittys more. The venrable Mr Capstick liked a 12 ga with 00 buck for following Mr Kitty in the bush.

John
 
Posts: 1343 | Location: Northern California | Registered: 15 January 2006Reply With Quote
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I think you are right. The three cartridges that you mentioned are plenty for a 130-150 pound cat. They supposedly are very susceptable to shock. Putting that first bullet exactly in the right place is more important than using a big bore rifle IMHO. I have killed a grand total of one so I am no expert. I used a 300 wm. 200 gr bullet at 2850fps. I could have loaded a 30-06 as warm using slightly lighter bullets and had just as effective a rig. You need a very accurate rifle that you have ultimate confidence in and possibly most important a great scope. I am not generally a fan of large scopes but my 50mm scope was scarcely enough when Mr Spots came a'calling at one minute til O:dark thirty. All that said, Some countries do have a minimum caliber for all DG. Best to stay legal. Good hunting.


Although cartridge selection is important there is nothing that will substitute for proper first shot placement. Good hunting, "D"
 
Posts: 1701 | Location: Western NC | Registered: 28 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Leopards are very lightly boned and of course have feline nervous systems, which are highly strung. After I shot mine through the shoulders with a 272 grain .375 caliber expanding bullet, he crumpled and fell and never again moved.

He was 7'4" long, but skinny, and probably weighed somewhere around 120 pounds or so, maybe less. I was sort of surprised at how lightly built he seemed to be.

In any case, I am convinced that the .375 is unnecessarily powerful for leopard - at least for the first shot at an unsuspecting animal. I would be happy to shoot such a leopard with anything from a .270 on up, assuming that I had a good expanding bullet up the spout.

By all accounts, however, a leopard will change his spots if you don't manage to kill him with that all important first shot. Follow up work after a wounded leopard is a different job altogether, and ideally I would want a semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun with seven or eight loads of nickel plated double ought buckshot for that.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13742 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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I believe I may have posted what you read .

In theory I couldn't agree more with the 7 MM Mag.

How ever the Majority of the Guides are real funny about hunting African Cats with less than Monster stoppers .

Mine went 234 lb. .338 Mag was the lightest caliber I was allowed to use , other than on Plains Game . Then again they don't try to eat you when shot .

While in their neighborhood I use what ever I'm told so as to play by their rules .

Same could be said about the .375 Caliber as the lightest caliber for Dangerous Game .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ... salute
 
Posts: 1738 | Location: Southern Calif. | Registered: 08 April 2006Reply With Quote
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Dr.K,
Did I read that right,234lbs?? I would love to see a picture and hear more about your hunt.

Cobra,
my 2cents worth of advise on caliber:

I shot mine in Zim in West Nick. He was 130-140lbs.I used my 7mmRemMag with 160gr Accubonds which I think is perfect for Leopard. Remember, they are lightly boned, but are very muscular..you won't believe how much until you see one skinned out. Also keep in mind that even a 80lb female can kill and carry a 120+lb Impala 10-15 feet up a tree.
 
Posts: 6080 | Location: New York City "The Concrete Jungle" | Registered: 04 May 2003Reply With Quote
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My observation would be that you want to kill, but not tear up the skin. I'd use any 7mm, .30, 338 or 9.3 or 375, if that was was I had with me. You don't want a bullet that is too stout or one that is overly frangible. You want a rifle that will fit in a blind and is handy for follow up, i.e., one with detachable scope.

You definitely want some sudafed or other decongestant because the straw in the blind is going to work on you. Some Life Saver candy or something similar and chewing gum. Kudude
 
Posts: 1473 | Location: Tallahassee, Florida | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Yowzah! A 234 lb leopard is a PIG! Please post pics Dr.K!!!


There are those that do, those that dream, and those that only read about it and then post their "expertise" on AR!
 
Posts: 831 | Location: Mount Vernon, WA | Registered: 18 November 2001Reply With Quote
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Leopard are smaller than most plains game, very suceptable to shock, but, they don't die for free Wink and will run off and hide with any badly placed bullet.

In Zim the 7x57 is the legal minimum, and have used a .308 Win.

I Am very happy with my 9,3x62, even for follow-up's, but think the Winchester M71 is perhaps even better.

For a client I would be more inclined to recomend a medium bore with a first rate scope for a baited leopard. For dogged leopard you want a fast pointing rifle that is easy to shoot accurately, unsuported and at close range. Again that M71 springs to mind as the ultimate Leopard rifle and round.

I do not particularly like shotguns on cats, although there is a time and place.
 
Posts: 3026 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 23 July 2003Reply With Quote
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224 lb. was what I meant to put A typo error on me sorry . It was Huge . I shot him years ago on a scary safari ( because of an uprising ) not just the hunt .

Now I'm not going to start telling tales or fabricating excuses . The pictures from that trip didn't survive !. I do have the pelts as well as most all of my other animals mounted . If it was just about any thing else I have shot I could and would post pictures in a heart beat . The cat hunt was at a point of civil unrest to say the least and we were indeed lucky to have gotten out when we did .

Shoot Straight Know Your target . ... salute
 
Posts: 1738 | Location: Southern Calif. | Registered: 08 April 2006Reply With Quote
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Scary safari with civil un-rest????
 
Posts: 6080 | Location: New York City "The Concrete Jungle" | Registered: 04 May 2003Reply With Quote
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Mention was made of bullet selection. I was very intentional about the nosler partition bullet for leopard. It will open and kind of splatter the front end of the bullet(plenty of shock factor and possible secondary fragments) and the back half will give full penetration on these deer sized animals.


Although cartridge selection is important there is nothing that will substitute for proper first shot placement. Good hunting, "D"
 
Posts: 1701 | Location: Western NC | Registered: 28 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I owned a Sako 20"bbl mannlicher carbine in 375H&H.
Sounds like it would have been about the perfect leopard rifle with accu-bonds or partitions.

Rich
DRSS
 
Posts: 23062 | Location: SW Idaho | Registered: 19 December 2005Reply With Quote
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Rich, I had a PH in Tanzania who had one of those Sako Mannlicher carbines in .375 and I flat out fell in love with it.

But you just can't find one for sale anywhere.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13742 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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never shot a leopard, but aiming to rectify that next year with (of all things ) my 375 loaded with light for caliber nosler partitions or speer hot core 230 gr at 3000 fps using BLC-2.
Im leaving my 300 wby, 7mm ultra etc at home. Why? Ive taken 23 head of game with the 375, and I KNOW it will work
Use the rifle you are CONFIDENT with, never mind the caliber. A 30-06 will do. I shot out the original barrel on my 375 sako, but it shots better than ever with a replacement krieger 23"!
 
Posts: 523 | Location: wisconsin | Registered: 18 June 2007Reply With Quote
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