Leopard Setup

[Wiley64]

Just kicking around ideas on what is the ideal rifle caliber and scope setup for leopard hunting. Experienced leopard hunters please chime in.

 

[Manny R]

I shot my Leopard with a 300 win mag . Barnes 180gr Ammunition. He ran about 50 yards

 

[IvW]

Right bullet in 7mm or up where legal is all you need....
300 WM is excellent....
375 H&H and 260gr Accubond as well.....

 

[IvW]

No experience with a min mag.....

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Over bait (as done in Zimbabwe or Tanzania or South Africa)- A telescopic sighted bolt action 7x57mm Mauser would get my vote as the acceptable minimum (not too high magnification). Loaded with 175Gr lead cored soft points (such as Hornady Interlock). A .30-06 Springfield with 220Gr Remington Core Lokts is an excellent choice. Or a .300 Winchester Magnum loaded with 200Gr Hornady ELD-X Red Tips. Aim for any of the rosettes behind the shoulder.

Over hounds/bushmen trackers (as done in the Kalahari)- An open sighted double rifle in either 9.3x74mmR or .375 Holland & Holland Magnum or .500/416 Nitro Express with lead cored soft points. My personal choice would be for a Heym Model 89B in .500/416 Nitro Express with 26" barrels, manual safety, wide V backsights & uncovered ivory bead foresight. Loaded with 400Gr Nosler Partition factory loads. Here, you need a larger caliber rifle... because when pushed hard enough, the leopard will eventually charge.

 

[sureshot375]

I would look for something between .243 and .500 nitro that you shoot well with soft bullet.

Seriously, it doesn’t take much to kill a leopard. Shot placement is everything. .375 is ideal. A .300 mag also works where legal.

I think this is really a job for a bolt gun. Any good scope with an illuminated reticle and maximum power range of 8 to 12 will be fine.

 

[IvW]

.243 would be illegal in most countries.....

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

.300 win mag will do the job, if I was goiing for my own.

Lon

 

[wildwilderness]

Accuracy is everything, then a soft expandable bullet. Caliber not so much. I personally would not use a monolithic bullet (like the Barnes) they tend to go straight through instead of rapidly expanding and causing more shock.

The last thing you want with a leopard is a blood trailing job! The only leopard I have shot was with a 9,3x62 with woodleigh bullets. Went 10 yards after hitting the ground

 

[Rare Breed]

Over bait (as done in Zimbabwe or Tanzania or South Africa)- A telescopic sighted bolt action 7x57mm Mauser would get my vote as the acceptable minimum (not too high magnification). Loaded with 175Gr lead cored soft points (such as Hornady Interlock). A .30-06 Springfield with 220Gr Remington Core Lokts is an excellent choice. Or a .300 Winchester Magnum loaded with 200Gr Hornady ELD-X Red Tips.

Over hounds/bushmen trackers (as done in the Kalahari)- An open sighted double barrel rifle in either 9.3x74mmR or .375 Holland & Holland Magnum or .500/416 Nitro Express with lead cored soft points. My personal choice would be for a Heym Model 89B in .500/416 Nitro Express with 26" barrels, manual safety, wide V backsights & uncovered ivory bead foresight. Loaded with 400Gr Nosler Partition factory loads.

booked in Moz to take mine over bait with my 30-06 with a fire dot Leupold variable scope with Nosler 165 grain quick expansion bullets

 

[Hunter-Habib]

booked in Moz to take mine over bait with my 30-06 with a fire dot Leupold variable scope with Nosler 165 grain quick expansion bullets

That's one dead leopard I see in your near future. Noslers are excellent leopard bullets.

By the way, what happened to the .275 Rigby which you were planning on using ?

 

[Graham Hunter]

I shot mine with a 7mm Weatherby Mag Leupold VX5HD 2-10 with firedot and Nosler 160gr. Psrtition. My buddy used the same.

 

[Buck51]

I’m booked for Tanzania in 25. Worked up a load using 180 Scirocco in a 300 Win doing about 2950fps. Using a model 70 with Leupold fire dot.

 

[IvW]

I’m booked for Tanzania in 25. Worked up a load using 180 Scirocco in a 300 Win doing about 2950fps. Using a model 70 with Leupold fire dot.

Will be devastating....

 

[Happy Myles]

I have killed leopard with 300 Win Mag, 338 Win Mag, 375 H & H, 416 Rigby and they all worked fine. I prefer a 300 Win Mag.

 

[Fatback]

I shot my leopard with 180 Nosler Partions out of my 300 Win. Cat dropped stone dead, never even swished its tail.

 

[davidg8480]

Gentelmen,full disclosure here. I don't know squat about hunting for a leopard, and please educate me. Wont some of these rounds just blow up and explode the cat, making it a nightmare for a taxidermist ?
With all due respect. David

 

[IvW]

Nope leopards are tough......

 

[Rare Breed]

That's one dead leopard I see in your near future. Noslers are excellent leopard bullets.

By the way, what happened to the .275 Rigby which you were planning on using ?

You sir have a great memory!!! When my dad died he gave me his favorite rifle which is a Ruger 30-06. Nostalgia hit me and I want to feel him watching me as I take my leopard something he would have never dreamed of

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

No experience with a min mag.....

min mag?