I KNOW IT IS OVERKILL BUT WHAT BULLET AND WEIGHT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IN .458 WIN MAG FOR LEOPARD?

[thriller]

The 458 is not my first choice for leopard but it is my first choice for cape buffalo and I will be hunting both. I am trying to see if I get just take one rifle. Leopard is my main objective but since I am traveling along I would like to save weight with luggage. I have access to 300 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.

It is no problem to take 2 rifles if you have the case for it. Be careful of the point of impact shift. As to specific recommendations there are people better qualified than I so I’ll let them chime in. Good luck

Also remember that a leopard is about the most likely to take a chunk out of you when wounded, may not be the most likely to kill you but hey. So make sure your rig is shooting well and you are very comfortable with it before you take that shot.

 

[Muskox]

The problem is the scope.

You want a big 30mm 3-12x56 or something similar with as much glass as you can get going for leopard. Maybe even one of those Zeiss 6-24x72's that are out there.

It could be a 243 with a monster night scope and it would be 1000% better than a 458 with a toilet roll 1-4 on it.

 

[codofish]

The problem is the scope.

You want a big 30mm 3-12x56 or something similar with as much glass as you can get going for leopard. Maybe even one of those Zeiss 6-24x72's that are out there.

It could be a 243 with a monster night scope and it would be 1000% better than a 458 with a toilet roll 1-4 on it.

My choice of scopes include a Swarovski Z5i 2-10, Leupold Patrolman 1-6, or a Leupold VX 6HD 2-12, all are illuminated and my shot will be most likely be around 50 yards so one of them should work. Unless I use this to justify buying another scope.....

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[Kevin375]

If you plan to use only one scope, I would stick with heavy weight bullets !
As a reloader, and if you have access to them of course, have you already considered North fork bullets ? Some semi spitzer and solid for buffalo and the percussion point for the leopard and plains game. Same point of impact and less risk to make a mistake. I think the 450 gr version will be a good compromise for the .458 Winchester magnum.

I worked a bit that way with my .458 Lott, but using Degol bullets. The Starkmantel for heavy game and the Lion Load for smaller plains game.

 

[Mountaineer]

I use 400 grain woodleigh's for buffalo and 295 grain raptors from cutting edge for plains game. Those raptors are devastating on whitetail deer and African antelope. The raptors shoot 1 inch higher than the woodleigh’s.

 

[SETH RINGER]

400gr BEAR CLAW WILL WORK FOR BOTH.

 

[cajunchefray]

I use 400 grain woodleigh's for buffalo and 295 grain raptors from cutting edge for plains game. Those raptors are devastating on whitetail deer and African antelope. The raptors shoot 1 inch higher than the woodleigh’s.

Very interesting.
Do you use the Woodleigh 400 spitzer / soft point bullets?

These are very accurate in my Interarms Whitworth.458 WM with a mid level charge of Varget.
Easy target they work well on hogs.

 

[BryceM]

Make sure you talk it over with your PH. With leopard a relaxed, perfect, probably sitting shot is the only priority.

Can a .458 work? Sure, but the opportunity to take a leopard is special. Best to be perfectly prepared.

 

[Muskox]

My choice of scopes include a Swarovski Z5i 2-10, Leupold Patrolman 1-6, or a Leupold VX 6HD 2-12, all are illuminated and my shot will be most likely be around 50 yards so one of them should work. Unless I use this to justify buying another scope.....

​

All of those are kind of shit for light transmission, except maybe the 2-12 Leupold VX6.

I have killed exactly zero leopards.

But I have spent 100's of nights in a German tower blind waiting for Mr. Schwein to come in where I can see him.

You need the same scope I hunt with, and hundreds of thousands of other European hunters hunt with. Mine is a Zeiss V8 with a 50mm objective, but a 56 is better. It will probably give you the best light transmission at 8 power. As that is the design.

This is not going to be a good scope for buffalo.

This is why you would be better off with a 243, 308, 7x57, whatever has zero recoil with a 2.5-10x56 or a 3-12x56 or similar scope, from the best brand you can afford as long as it has the words Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Kahles, Minox, Schmidt Bender or Meopta on the side.

 

[codofish]

All of those are kind of shit for light transmission, except maybe the 2-12 Leupold VX6.

I have killed exactly zero leopards.

But I have spent 100's of nights in a German tower blind waiting for Mr. Schwein to come in where I can see him.

You need the same scope I hunt with, and hundreds of thousands of other European hunters hunt with. Mine is a Zeiss V8 with a 50mm objective, but a 56 is better. It will probably give you the best light transmission at 8 power. As that is the design.

This is not going to be a good scope for buffalo.

This is why you would be better off with a 243, 308, 7x57, whatever has zero recoil with a 2.5-10x56 or a 3-12x56 or similar scope, from the best brand you can afford as long as it has the words Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, Kahles, Minox, Schmidt Bender or Meopta on the side.

I looked at the Zeiss V8 1-8 in my local gun store. Fantastic scope but I am leary of Zeiss being able to provide warranty work since they are getting out of the rifle scope business.

I have tested several of my Swarovski and higher end Leupold scopes out at dusk and I can't tell any difference between them as far as low light performance.

 

[Happy Myles]

See if your PH will loan you a little tamer rifle. Flinching on a leopard shot is a no no. It is my understanding leopards injure more hunters than buffalo

 

[codofish]

See if your PH will loan you a little tamer rifle. Flinching on a leopard shot is a no no. It is my understanding leopards injure more hunters than buffalo

Thanks Miles but flinching is not a problem. If I don't use the 458 on the leopard I will use my 338 win mag which is lighter so the recoil is about the same. Along with shooting my 6.5 pound 300 win mag I am shooting a stout recoiling rifle 4 to 5 days a week so I am fairly acclimated to recoil.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I haven’t shot a leopard, but have shot a few buffalo. IDK what scope you are using on your 458, but it would be unusual to have one that will pick out a certain rosette on a leopard at last light in the darkness of a tree from 100 yards, if that’s where you end up having to set the blind. I use 1-4 power on all my big bores, but would definitely want more scope if hunting a cat under less than idea conditions. Just my thoughts, and you may have that covered.

 

[Happy Myles]

I love the spotted cats. I have used 300 Win Mag, 338 Win Mag, 375 H & H, 416 Rigby. Chui is a worthy quarry

 

[Surgeon1]

OMG are you kidding me! Only someone who is from NY, California or Colorado would "overthink"
that one. Maybe Dirty Harry would try that. Take 2 rifles or borrow a suitable one.
Leopard hunting is a very specialized hunt on a Dangerous Game Animal that is likely the most dangerous you can ever hunt. If the first shot is not the kill shot, you, your PH, trackers, game ranger,
and anybody in the area's life is in danger, why would you risk that?
You should never consider shooting a leopard with anything that can't consistently hit a dime size target from 100yd or less!
I love my double rifles but would never consider using one on Leopard (except maybe a follow up tracking on a wounded one if a short barrel shotgun with buckshot isn't available)
Hunting them from a blind at night in minimal or no light and a PH would agree to having a client use
a 458 or double rifle or any other Big Bore, IMHO is not someone I'll hunt with!

 

[codofish]

I haven’t shot a leopard, but have shot a few buffalo. IDK what scope you are using on your 458, but it would be unusual to have one that will pick out a certain rosette on a leopard at last light in the darkness of a tree from 100 yards, if that’s where you end up having to set the blind. I use 1-4 power on all my big bores, but would definitely want more scope if hunting a cat under less than idea conditions. Just my thoughts, and you may have that covered.

Thanks Dude, I may start a separate thread on my leopard rifle so I can get feedback on that setup

 

[expresshunt]

I used Woodleigh Hydro's 300gr in a Kimber 375H&H at Caprivi area in 2019, and with one bullet type shot Hippo, Wildebeest, Warthog, Dieker, Croc, Zebra... wound chanel was very good on all. Leupy VXR 3-9x40 scope was mounted forward as much as possible. I always take a pre sighted spare scope on my hunts. The second scope was a Leupy VXR 3-9x50 if needed for poor light, mounted back 3/8" from rings. Only hassle I had, was lying down to shoot the croc at 150yards, my shot was perfect into brain, but it was moving around, and outfitter was semi yelling shoot again, shoot again... so scope cut me 2 times, more blood on me than the croc... Obviously laying prone with 375H&H (and scope a touch closer) was the problem.
Last year I found a lovely old, AS NEW, Ruger 458 M77 and just yesterday found an (oldish) 3x Leopy, so scope is being posted to me, and with no power adjuster section, this can be mounted way forward. After hitting 60yo, my eye sight doesnt work as well on opens, and me I often forget to hold bigger rifles tight.. so occassionally scope comes back on me.
Back to your subject... I have seen many hunters shoot large calibers very well.. so.. 1/ any 458 WM caliber Buffalo bullet will kill the Leopard if you hit it properly... (wound it with any rifle and its angry, as is PH)... OR 2/ have a XXXXXX x50mm scope for the 400 grainers and the Leopard... and a XXXXXX scope for the 500 grainers for the Cape Buffalo, in your QD mounts.... OR 3/ also bring the ideal 30 caliber with XXXXX x50mm scope for Leopard... as a high chance a 200 yard shot (or further) on other game will happen on safari.
Ha... all this overthinking and sorting gear, is the half the fun.
My last trip last year to Caprivi, and then Plains game area, I took 404 Jeffery after Eli with Byron Hart, and 7x57 after Gemsbuck, Warthogs, Jackals, Steinbuck with Zana Boates... Had an awesome time. I could have used the 404 on everything... however this 7x57 is a lovely custom job I've waited on for ages, and it was nice to take shots prone or resting with ease.

 

[Joker12]

I should first say that I have never shot a leopard but if I was going to with a 458WM I would use a Barnes Original 400gr bullet. They are pure lead core and pure copper jacket designed to expand and stay together. Also available at Midway and affordable as well. Very good bullets when expansion is more important than penetration.

 

[DLSJR]

Lots of different opinions and I am grateful for all of them.

I think I will explore loading to 45-70 levels for the leopard with an expanding bullet since I have all the dies. I have a 2-10 Leupold scope with the CDS dial system so I could just change dials when I change bullets.

I have a 300 grain Barnes TSX load worked up for a bear hunt that could for for the buffalo but I think it would not expand enough on the cat.

Whoa, FULL STOP!!

Please don’t screw around with multiple loads, bullets, scopes. Pick one good load using a Bearclaw or A-Frame, Northfork or Nosler Partition, 400 grains is not a bad idea at all, but a 300 grain bullet in 458 for a buffalo IS a bad idea. Sight your gun in for 100 yards but also know exactly where it hits at 50 yards and just go have a great hunt.

One bullet for both, same load for both, one zero at 100 but know how high you are at 50 and just go have a fantastic time. Screwing around with different loads, scopes, zeroes is asking for trouble. Keep it simple, take lots of pictures and when you get back write a report and tell all of us what a fantastic time you enjoyed.

 

[thriller]

For what it’s worth I shot mine with a 200 grain tbbc out of a 300 win mag. It stoned the cat but I saw absolutely 0 expansion pencil hole entry and exit. Cat came out of the tree upside down head fist dead, but I would not have wanted to see what that follow up would have been like in that grass if the shot hadn’t landed perfectly.