308 or 300 Win Mag for Leopard

DLSJR said:

Right here…

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Man that’s a beautiful animal and great shot. How far was shot? From a blind?

DLSJR said:

Right here…

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A truly beautiful trophy!
Congratulations.
Did it leave the shooting scene and if so, how long did it take you to find it?

Daisy said:

Man that’s a beautiful animal and great shot. How far was shot? From a blind?

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47 yard shot from blind. Cat was dead about 20 yards from the tree.

I killed my leopard with a 308 using 165 grain Hornady SST bullets. Performed great on the cat. It went about 15 yards after hitting the ground. There was a fist-sized lump of lung tissue on the ground next to him. The problem was using the same rifle and ammo to shoot bait and the bullets didn't hold up. I shot a puku (pronghorn size antelope) and the bullet completely disintegrated leaving an empty brass case under the skin. Fortunately, I shot it again and we recovered it. Not so with some of the other bait animals. I have had good luck with Hornady Interlock bullets on deer and probably would have been fine with them. If I had it to do over I would take the 30-06 and 180 grain Nosler Partitions.

Being a huge mid-bore fan, I would use my beloved 35 Whelen with a 200-grain Hornady Superformance Load at 2910 FPS or my 9.3x62 with a 286-grain Hornady Interlock bullet at 2538 FPS. Because my 35 Whelen is a single-shot rifle, I would opt for my 9.3x62 and its long history of success in Africa with 286-grain cup and core bullets.

Over the years, I have said some dumb things on this forum that I regret, and read some dumb comments by other members, but questioning @Hunter-Habib hunting experience is by far and away the dumbest thing I have ever read on AH.

Art Lambart II said:

Being a huge mid-bore fan, I would use my beloved 35 Whelen with a 200-grain Hornady Superformance Load at 2910 FPS or my 9.3x62 with a 286-grain Hornady Interlock bullet at 2538 FPS. Because my 35 Whelen is a single-shot rifle, I would opt for my 9.3x62 and its long history of success in Africa with 286-grain cup and core bullets.

Over the years, I have said some dumb things on this forum that I regret, and read some dumb comments by other members, but questioning @Hunter-Habib hunting experience is by far and away the dumbest thing I have ever read on AH.

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Do you know what bullet is loaded in the 200gr superformance load for your 35 wheelen? Superformance loads have about 4 or 5 different bullets across the offering.


And thanks for that comment. I think the same of people for not seeing obvious inconsistencies.

Cheers

dchum said:

Do you know what bullet is loaded in the 200gr superformance load for your 35 wheelen? Superformance loads have about 4 or 5 different bullets across the offering.

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The 200-grain bullet Hornady uses in their 35 Whelen Superformance is an Interlock. At 2910 FPS, that round is explosive at close range and leaves big holes at medium ranges.

Art Lambart II said:

Being a huge mid-bore fan, I would use my beloved 35 Whelen with a 200-grain Hornady Superformance Load at 2910 FPS or my 9.3x62 with a 286-grain Hornady Interlock bullet at 2538 FPS. Because my 35 Whelen is a single-shot rifle, I would opt for my 9.3x62 and its long history of success in Africa with 286-grain cup and core bullets.

Over the years, I have said some dumb things on this forum that I regret, and read some dumb comments by other members, but questioning @Hunter-Habib hunting experience is by far and away the dumbest thing I have ever read on AH.

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I listen closely to him as well!!!

Art Lambart II said:

Being a huge mid-bore fan, I would use my beloved 35 Whelen with a 200-grain Hornady Superformance Load at 2910 FPS or my 9.3x62 with a 286-grain Hornady Interlock bullet at 2538 FPS. Because my 35 Whelen is a single-shot rifle, I would opt for my 9.3x62 and its long history of success in Africa with 286-grain cup and core bullets.

Over the years, I have said some dumb things on this forum that I regret, and read some dumb comments by other members, but questioning @Hunter-Habib hunting experience is by far and away the dumbest thing I have ever read on AH.

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@Art Lambart II

Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation. Your 9.3x62mm Mauser (loaded with a 286Gr Hornady Interlock soft point or 286Gr Sellier & Bellot soft point) is perfectly adequate for leopard hunting. When the leopard is on bait (preferably a zebra which tends to draw in leopards with the highest degree of consistency), just remember to aim for any of the rosettes behind the lower shoulder with a reliable telescopic sight (not too high magnification).


By the way, how is your dad ? I haven’t heard from him in a while. We last spoke when I was on my most recent Safari (and my grandson’s first !) to Tanzania in 2023 (for hippopotamus on land). At that time, he was highly intrigued by hippopotamus hunting and wanted to use his .404 Jeffery on them (a magnificent choice !). I hope that he’s in good health & spirits ? He’s a true gentleman and loves his 6.5 mm Swedish Mausers !

Hunter-Habib said:

@Art Lambart II

Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation. Your 9.3x62mm Mauser (loaded with a 286Gr Hornady Interlock soft point) is perfectly adequate for leopard hunting. When the leopard is on bait (preferably a zebra which tends to draw in leopards with the highest degree of consistency), just remember to aim for any of the rosettes behind the lower shoulder with a reliable telescopic sight (not too high magnification).


By the way, how is your dad ? I haven’t heard from him in a while. We last spoke when I was on my most recent Safari (and my grandson’s first !) to Tanzania in 2023 (for hippopotamus on land). At that time, he was highly intrigued by hippopotamus hunting and wanted to use his .404 Jeffery on them (a magnificent choice !). I hope that he’s in good health & spirits ? He’s a true gentleman and loves his 6.5 mm Swedish Mausers !

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Wow taking your grandson to TZ. I’m sure that was special.

What outfitter did you hunt with in 2023 and who was your PH/PH’s

What area/ Concession in TZ ?
Hippo on land take the right area as you know.

dchum said:

Wow taking your grandson to TZ. I’m sure that was special.

What outfitter did you hunt with in 2023 and who was your PH/PH’s

What area/ Concession in TZ ?
Hippo on land take the right area as you know.

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I’ve been very patient and civilized with you for quite a while. And I was hoping that you would at least have the decency to refrain from trying to take cheap shots at me anymore. Clearly, my expectations were too high.

I can tell when people ask questions out of friendly curiosity/enthusiasm (the kind of questions which I tirelessly entertain both on & off these forums for YEARS) and when I’m interacting with a drunk immature hipster who likes to guzzle booze down his throat and troll MANY other hunters online to make up for his own inadequacies in life. A spoilt brat who is loathed by even his neighbors for his online “Keyboard Commando” antics. I’m not going to entertain the second kind. I don’t have to play that game with a punk who is less than HALF my age. A punk who still hasn’t grown up from overtly using the word “LOL” and the “HaHa” emoji. That tells the entire hunting community here much more about you than it does about me. I’m not answerable to you.

And I also know that choosing NOT to play your stupid games anymore will not cause me to lose my reputation on these forums. For one simple reason- There are more than a few people on these forums who can verify my dangerous game hunting experience. People on these forums whom I’ve grown quite close to over the last five years and whom I’ve let see everything about me firsthand.

Many people (including but not limited to MATURE older hunters such as Art Lambart’s father and @Rare Breed who have been hunting dangerous game for years) know extensively about my 2023 Tanzanian safari (such as the concession, outfitter, details, etc) because we were in video calls and/or exchanging photographs throughout the trip. And also about my other hunts in Africa & Asia. So I don’t need to entertain your cheap jabs at me anymore. I could answer your question but if previous experience has taught us all anything… it’s that you will keep looking for new ways to try to to discredit me.

It’s actually very sad. I was never even trying to interact with you in the first place. I was just minding my own business by trying to help out my fellow younger aspiring hunters. A few hunters chose to praise me. And just like that, you jumped in to start taking swings at me and pollute such an educational thread.

You can keep running around on these forums with your little emojis and hipster lingo. Every online forum needs a community clown, a drunk joker. You can keep calling me a fake. It doesn’t matter to me. And it doesn’t matter to real, mature older hunters with years of actual dangerous game hunting experience under their belt. I never think highly of myself but men like me are what little boys like you couldn’t even dream of becoming even if your life depended upon it. When I was your age, I fought for my country in a bloody nine month long war. I shot man eating dangerous game that were killing people by the dozens. I saved over four hundred young tribal girls from getting trafficked into forced prostitution rings. What did you do ? Act tough behind the safety of a computer screen while getting drunk out of your mind ?

If I pick up my IPAD today and write down a single paragraph, hunters from all across the globe will come to see it as infinitely more valuable than all of your tasteless garbage with your little Millennial generation emojis and cheap jokes. And I’m sure that most of them (such as @PerH , @Rare Breed , @HankBuck , @Art Lambart II , @Doug Hamilton , @Betterinthebush , @Sarg ) to name just a few) are not morons. Otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten where there are in life by believing frauds online.

I want to have nothing further to do with you anymore.

As you say, I’m a fraud and you surely have better things to do in life than try to interact with a fraud.

Take care.

Hunter-Habib said:

I’ve been very patient and civilized with you for quite a while. And I was hoping that you would at least have the decency to refrain from trying to take cheap shots at me anymore. Clearly, my expectations were too high.

I can tell when people ask questions out of friendly curiosity/enthusiasm (the kind of questions which I tirelessly entertain both on & off these forums for YEARS) and when I’m interacting with a drunk immature hipster who likes to guzzle booze down his throat and troll MANY other hunters online to make up for his own inadequacies in life. A spoilt brat who is loathed by even his neighbors for his online “Keyboard Commando” antics. I’m not going to entertain the second kind. I don’t have to play that game with a punk who is less than HALF my age. A punk who still hasn’t grown up from overtly using the word “LOL” and the “HaHa” emoji. That tells the entire hunting community here much more about you than it does about me. I’m not answerable to you.

And I also know that choosing NOT to play your stupid games anymore will not cause me to lose my reputation on these forums. For one simple reason- There are more than a few people on these forums who can verify my dangerous game hunting experience. People on these forums whom I’ve grown quite close to over the last five years and whom I’ve let see everything about me firsthand.

Many people (including but not limited to MATURE older hunters such as Art Lambart’s father and @Rare Breed who have been hunting dangerous game for years) know extensively about my 2023 Tanzanian safari (such as the concession, outfitter, details, etc) because we were in video calls and/or exchanging photographs throughout the trip. And also about my other hunts in Africa & Asia. So I don’t need to entertain your cheap jabs at me anymore. I could answer your question but if previous experience has taught us all anything… it’s that you will keep looking for new ways to try to to discredit me.

It’s actually very sad. I was never even trying to interact with you in the first place. I was just minding my own business by trying to help out my fellow younger aspiring hunters. A few hunters chose to praise me. And just like that, you jumped in to start taking swings at me and pollute such an educational thread.

You can keep running around on these forums with your little emojis and hipster lingo. Every online forum needs a community clown, a drunk joker. You can keep calling me a fake. It doesn’t matter to me. And it doesn’t matter to real, mature older hunters with years of actual dangerous game hunting experience under their belt. I never think highly of myself but men like me are what little boys like you couldn’t even dream of becoming even if your life depended upon it. If I pick up my IPAD today and write down a single paragraph, hunters from all across the globe will come to see it as infinitely more valuable than all of your tasteless garbage with your little Millennial generation emojis and cheap jokes. And I’m sure that most of them (such as @PerH , @Rare Breed , @HankBuck , @Art Lambart II , @Doug Hamilton , @Betterinthebush , @Sarg ) to name just a few) are not morons. Otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten where there are in life by believing frauds online.

I want to have nothing further to do with you anymore.

As you say, I’m a fraud and you surely have better things to do in life than try to interact with a fraud.

Take care.

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Sounds like it was a great hunt!

Hunter-Habib you are a proven hunting legend and a great friend of mine!!! You mention Tanzania which to us is incredible as we live through you but you have gone so far above the rest of us taking not one but two man eating tigers!!! Do not listen my friend to idiots drivel!!! Your incredible living legend is extremely secured!!!!!!!!!!

Rare Breed said:

Hunter-Habib you are a proven hunting legend and a great friend of mine!!! You mention Tanzania which to us is incredible as we live through you but you have gone so far above the rest of us taking not one but two man eating tigers!!! Do not listen my friend to idiots drivel!!! Your incredible living legend is extremely secured!!!!!!!!!!

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Three, my friend. Not to brag. As you know by reading my autobiography, I only succeeded through sheer luck and excellent logistical support from my men.

Your book is an awesome read and sits by my Rourk and Hemingway

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

@Miletic
And when that bullet fails to penetrate those hard muscles said cat then tears you apart.
Bob

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@Bob Nelson 35Whelen

There you go again..... bad mouthing the 243 WIN. As it turns out, when replying to a survey from Craig Boddington the great Harry Selby wrote "Of the hundred-odd leopards taken by my clients while I was hunting in East Africa, the majority were taken with my 243!"

For leopard you want bullet speed and soft bullets that will expand rapidly to create sufficient hydrostatic shock to switch off their nervous system. So if 308 or 300 Win use 150 or 165 grain bullets like Nosler Partition, Hornady ELD-X, Reming Core-Lokt etc. Personally I would use fast 7MM, 30 cal or possibly 338 Win with light for caliber bullets.

Art Lambart II said:

Being a huge mid-bore fan, I would use my beloved 35 Whelen with a 200-grain Hornady Superformance Load at 2910 FPS

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We've used this combo on Black bear with really outstanding results. No experience as a leopard hunter, but thinking either this combo, or a 225 Nosler Partition from the .35 should result in a very dead cat if the shooter does his part.

I have been a member of the forum for many years and found the forum to be filled with knowledgeable and helpful people. Yes there were differences but most were civil and did not become personal. I am increasingly seeing men and women who parade their ignorance for all to see and cast doubt on people with obvious life experience, published for all to see.@Hunter-habib has no real need to fabricate life experiences. We all judge for ourselves and you look like an idiot suggesting silly illegal calibres and practices. Everybody also judges you and then makes their own decision on your competency and I can tell you that they do not value your thoughts and opinions.

Art Lambart II said:

The 200-grain bullet Hornady uses in their 35 Whelen Superformance is an Interlock. At 2910 FPS, that round is explosive at close range and leaves big holes at medium ranges.

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@Art Lambart II
Why waste money on the 200gn superformance when you can load a nice 225 gn partition or Woodleigh to the same speed and have even more power, 4,200fpe of muzzle energy then use the same load on all PG.
But
What do I know about the Whelen, that's right bucket loads.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

Houston Bill said:

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen

There you go again..... bad mouthing the 243 WIN. As it turns out, when replying to a survey from Craig Boddington the great Harry Selby wrote "Of the hundred-odd leopards taken by my clients while I was hunting in East Africa, the majority were taken with my 243!"

For leopard you want bullet speed and soft bullets that will expand rapidly to create sufficient hydrostatic shock to switch off their nervous system. So if 308 or 300 Win use 150 or 165 grain bullets like Nosler Partition, Hornady ELD-X, Reming Core-Lokt etc. Personally I would use fast 7MM, 30 cal or possibly 338 Win with light for caliber bullets.

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@Houston Bill
Bill
Bill for light and fast a nice 225gn partition at 2,900fps out of the Whelen would be ideal then use it on all PG.
I know @ NIGHTHAWK will disagree but at least he uses REAL bullets in his 243 to actually kill stuff.
I still don't like the 243.
Bob