Which of these two rifles would you recommend for leopard?

coreydb · Oct 4, 2025

Nosler Partition or Norma Oryx 250-286 grain bullets. Those big kitties are soft skin but really need the oomph a good expanding lead projectile provides.

Mtn_Infantry · Oct 4, 2025

Another vote for the 300WM with a soft bullet. My 300WM loves Terminal Ascent. It’s a little harder bullet then I’d like for a cat but in the right spot it’d still be devastating

DLSJR · Oct 5, 2025

codofish said:
After much hand loading I have given up on getting the Scirocco to group and and my rifle doesn't really like the partitions either. It does like the 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip which groups to a 1/2 inch MOA at 100 yards. What is your opinion of the Ballistic Tip for Leopard? Will it fragment too much?

The Ballistic Tips will be fine for leopard. They’re not difficult to kill as long as you hit it properly.

Mauser78 · Oct 5, 2025

I think I would test these. Will work for some plains game also.

Beck · Oct 5, 2025

Hunter-Habib said:
Both will work, but I personally prefer the .338 Winchester Magnum.

The Barnes TSX ranks pretty low amongst my choices of bullet for leopard hunting (especially one that is shot over bait). Expansion rate is a little too slow for broadside heart-lung shots on such a soft framed animal (unless if your point of aim happens to be the shoulder bone/scapula itself). You will be far better served, employing a lead cored bullet (such as the Nosler Partition).

I agree with you on the bullet. I love the TSX for thick skinned game like buffalo, but I think you're better served with something softer for a leopard. Keep in mind most leopards are roughly the size of a small whitetail deer.

Doug Duckworth · Oct 5, 2025

"The ugly green camo plastic stock" - This may be the deciding factor.

Both will work just fine. Possibly test the scopes at very low light and see which is clearest, I would guess the .300?

HankBuck · Oct 5, 2025

codofish said:
The black Savage KLYM straight pull weights 6.5 pounds naked and has a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 illuminated. It is a 300 Win Mag. I have a 180 grain Barnes TTSX hand load that shoots a one inch MOA at 100 yards off the bench. I have taken a dozen African animals with it.

The ugly green camo plastic stock Savage is a 338 Win Mag with a Swarovski Z5 2-10X42 illuminated. It weights about a pound more than the 300 Win Mag. It shoots a one inch MOA at 100 yards as well with a 250 grain Nosler Partition. Actually a little less than a one inch MOA. I have taken 10 African animals with it along with elk, aouldad, large black bears, and a bison.

I am willing to change bullets and buy a different scope if needed. Heck, I could even use your feedback as an excuse to buy a new rifle.

Please let me know your opinion. I have a separate thread about potentially downloading a 458 win mag for leopard so I could take one rifle for it and buffalo. I have almost decided against taking the 458 for both.

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@codofish - love your mounted Canvasback - nice creative taxidermy. Regarding what rifle for Leopard (I’ve Never shot a Leopard) since you shoot both rifles well and are familiar with them under ‘hunting conditions’ either seems well suited….although you might consider dressing them up with a proper high grade WOOD Stock — at least for the post-leopard-kill-Photos.

codofish · Oct 5, 2025

Green Chile said:
I'm not sure that it will thrill most PHs as penetration is low at higher speeds. What is your PH requesting for bullets?

I will have that conversation with my PH now that things are slowing down for him.

codofish · Oct 5, 2025

HankBuck said:
@codofish - love your mounted Canvasback - nice creative taxidermy. Regarding what rifle for Leopard (I’ve Never shot a Leopard) since you shoot both rifles well and are familiar with them under ‘hunting conditions’ either seems well suited….although you might consider dressing them up with a proper high grade WOOD Stock — at least for the post-leopard-kill-Photos.

Thanks for the compliment on the Canvasback. He was a surprise since we were hunting wood ducks 300 miles inland

AZDAVE · Oct 6, 2025

Flip a coin on the rifle. But would change the bullet on either caliber to a Accubond, Gameking or scriocco

camperx · Oct 6, 2025

The 7 mag will work fine. I would use a 150-160 grain bullet and I prefer the Partition for leopard.

I am not a fan of Leupold anything, but whatever you choose, don't scrimp on the glass! The scope is probably more important than the rifle, cartridge and bullet combined! I like Leica or Swarovski. Illuminated of course.

Betterinthebush · Oct 6, 2025

I’d take the “ugly green camo plastic stock Savage”. It’s a nice setup. I’m loading my .338WM for my leopard hunt with Remington Cor-Lock. Not a sexy hand-load, and I’m a big lover of Barnes TSX, but, my PH told me if my rig works good with Cor-Locks to “please bring them” if they shoot well for this hunt.

codofish · Jun 25, 2026

As it turns out I'm not taking either one.

I eliminated the 300 win mag because it was starting to make me flinch. The rifle only weights 6.5 lbs without the scope and the scope added 20 ounces or so so it was a bit peppy. The problem wasn't with the impact to my shoulder but the light carbon barrel would rear up and cause me to blink. No problem, I'll just use my 338 win mag. But a few weeks ago the 338's trigger stopped working. I took it to the gunsmith who couldn't determine the cause so he contacted Savage who told him to send it to them.

So I am now taking this 30-06. I really like this rifle but she is pickier than my first wife. When it come to ammo the bullet has to be between 165-172 grain to get under a inch MOA at 100 yards. The guy who did all my hand loads has dropped his reloading business so I am scrambling to find factory loads that are accurate enough for a leopard.

So far she like 165 grain Remington Core-lokt tipped, 165 grain HSM Spitzer Boat Tail Sierria Game King, and the 172 grain Remington Speer Impact. Have any of you ever used any of these loads on leopard and how did they perform? I think all three are cup and core.

Mtn_Infantry · Jun 25, 2026

codofish said:
As it turns out I'm not taking either one.

I eliminated the 300 win mag because it was starting to make me flinch. The rifle only weights 6.5 lbs without the scope and the scope added 20 ounces or so so it was a bit peppy. The problem wasn't with the impact to my shoulder but the light carbon barrel would rear up and cause me to blink. No problem, I'll just use my 338 win mag. But a few weeks ago the 338's trigger stopped working. I took it to the gunsmith who couldn't determine the cause so he contacted Savage who told him to send it to them.

So I am now taking this 30-06. I really like this rifle but she is pickier than my first wife. When it come to ammo the bullet has to be between 165-172 grain to get under a inch MOA at 100 yards. The guy who did all my hand loads has dropped his reloading business so I am scrambling to find factory loads that are accurate enough for a leopard.

So far she like 165 grain Remington Core-lokt tipped, 165 grain HSM Spitzer Boat Tail Sierria Game King, and the 172 grain Remington Speer Impact. Have any of you ever used any of these loads on leopard and how did they perform? I think all three are cup and core.

I’d suggest the Corelost Tipped. It’s a bit better bullet than the standard Corelokt PSP. I’ve shot a fair number of them myself with great accuracy results. I used the later in my 375 on a Leopard earlier this season.

Leopards are thin skinned, and very soft. They’re not a thick animal either so it doesn’t take much to exit. With that said, I wanted a soft, rapidly expanding (almost explosive) bullet to ensure the maximum amount of energy was dumped inside the animal which is why I took old school Corelokt PSP.

You might also find the following factory loads in that grain weight Federal loaded 165gr Fusion, 165gr Trophy Bonded Tipped, 165gr Trophy Copper, 168gr Berger Hybrid, 165gr TSX or Hornady loaded 165gr CX, 165gr SST, or 165gr Tipped SST. Barnes should have TSX’s and TTSX’s in that grain weight. I’d imagine most any of those would shoot well and provide great performance on the Leopard plus any Plains Game you might need to shoot for bait.

codofish · Jun 25, 2026

Mtn_Infantry said:
I’d suggest the Corelost Tipped. It’s a bit better bullet than the standard Corelokt PSP. I’ve shot a fair number of them myself with great accuracy results. I used the later in my 375 on a Leopard earlier this season.

Leopards are thin skinned, and very soft. They’re not a thick animal either so it doesn’t take much to exit. With that said, I wanted a soft, rapidly expanding (almost explosive) bullet to ensure the maximum amount of energy was dumped inside the animal which is why I took old school Corelokt PSP.

You might also find the following factory loads in that grain weight Federal loaded 165gr Fusion, 165gr Trophy Bonded Tipped, 165gr Trophy Copper, 168gr Berger Hybrid, 165gr TSX or Hornady loaded 165gr CX, 165gr SST, or 165gr Tipped SST. Barnes should have TSX’s and TTSX’s in that grain weight. I’d imagine most any of those would shoot well and provide great performance on the Leopard plus any Plains Game you might need to shoot for bait.

Thanks Mtn_Infantry. I have hunted a lot with the Barnes on larger animals and I worried they won't expand enough. My rifle does love the Berger 185 grain VLD but I have never hunted with them and was worried they would explode and not penetrate at 50 yards.

ftrovato · Jun 25, 2026

Ask your PH. I suspect he will say either with a fast expanding bullet.

codofish · Jun 25, 2026

ftrovato said:
Ask your PH. I suspect he will say either with a fast expanding bullet.

I did ask him about the Sierria Game King since it has the slightly smallest group and he approved.

Schüler Jumbo · Jun 25, 2026

Take the .300 with the larger objective bell scope.

codofish · Jun 25, 2026

Schüler Jumbo said:
Take the .300 with the larger objective bell scope.

I have another scope for this rifle, a swarovski Z6 2.5-15X 56 with the 4A illuminated reticle. My PH doesn't seem to concerned about the ammo but he really likes the scope for hunting leopard at night.

Boredrill · Jun 25, 2026

The 7 mag will work fine. I would use a 150-160 grain bullet and I prefer the Partition for leopard.

Which of these two rifles would you recommend for leopard?

coreydb

Mtn_Infantry

DLSJR

Mauser78

Beck

Doug Duckworth

HankBuck

codofish

codofish

AZDAVE

camperx

Betterinthebush

codofish

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