The .375 and Leopard - I need a bullet

[xausa]

I used a 300 grain Silvertip Winchester factory load in my .375 H&H. The leopard was sprawled across a tree limb, back toward me, at about 80-90 yards. I aimed right between the shoulder blades, hoping that I would not have to deal with a wounded leopard. The shot went off and the leopard did not move a muscle, as far as I could see. I immediately fired the second barrel of my Krieghoff Teck O/U double rifle, and still no perceptable motion. One of the gun bearers with me in the blind said "Bas", "Piga", "Kufu" (Stop, you hit him, he's dead) He, my gunbearer and I left the blind and started walking toward the bait tree. Suddenly the cat's hind quarters fell off the limb he was stretched out on and the carcass was left hanging over a smaller limb protruding to the left. He was quite dead.

The first bullet had hit the spine and the second one was about an inch away from it. He never knew what hit him. I was one relieved Bwana. One of the "boys" had to climb the tree to dislodge him.

 

[rdog]

Never having shot a leopard & only seen one at the zoo i think a 235 g Speer 375 at about 2700 fps should just about cut them in half , you should see what they do to large pigs.

 

[DLSJR]

Don't worry...nobody noticed...it happens all the time...we have a few who are chronic resurrectionists...

I know. I’m occasionally guilty of that very thing.

 

[xausa]

This gives a better image of the leopard in the tree than my description, I think.

The first bait, which had been largely consumed, was a zebra's hind quarter. The new bait was a warthog carcass, minus head.

 

[RockSlinger404]

What is the verdict on 270gr Hornady Interlock in 375H&H for leopard?

It should tick all the boxes and most importantly is available locally.

 

[Jonathan Kashouty]

I believe your best choice is Barnes 250 grain TTSX.

 

[RockSlinger404]

I believe your best choice is Barnes 250 grain TTSX.

Not interested in monolithic bullets for cats

 

[IvW]

Not interested in monolithic bullets for cats

Good choice

 

[HWL]

A 12 year old post, resurrected…

After 12 years, a completely new generation of leopards is out there..... non of them has an idea what we intend to do!

HWL

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Out of all the leopards which I have shot with a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum so far, I have used the following bullets:
- 300Gr Winchester Silver Tip (the post 1954 Aluminum Jacketed one)
- 300Gr RWS KS Cone Point
- 300Gr Nosler Partition
- 300Gr Federal Power-Shok
- 300Gr Barnes X (the old unbanded blue one)

My favorite bullet for lion & leopard will always be the Nosler Partition. But there’s an universal shortage of new Nosler bullets world wide for quite some time. So my second favorite choice is the Federal Power-Shok.

Buy Power-Shok Rifle 375 H&H Magnum Ammo 300 | 375B

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The old fashioned cup & core soft nosed design is actually a very good thing on thin skinned game such as leopard.

For leopard and lion, I am not at all a fan of the Barnes TSX bullet (or indeed, any monometal expanding bullet). They need a relatively high velocity in order to perform optimally. They seldom open up properly on lion, and perform even worse on leopards shot on bait. The Barnes TSX is the worst bullet especially for heart-lung shots on lions and leopards. They frequently punch right through the cats like a solid (without any expansion whatsoever).

 

[Slider]

375 isn't always the Minimum for Leopard. Depends on the Country. In Namibia it is rated in Joule's (The joule is the unit of energy in the International System of Units) PH's recommend High Velocity with expanding Bullets. I was able to meet The Joules requirement in Namibia using a 264 Win Mag with 140gr Partitions.

 

[Dewald]

A leopard shot with a correctly placed .375 bullet (or 7mm, .308, .338, 8mm 9,3mm etc) will not know the difference between any premium bullet. It simply doesn’t make sense that bullets that perform superbly on antilope of the same size and larger will not do the same on leopard. The anatomy and physiology is still the same. What I have seen on multiple predators from jackal to leopard is unacceptable pelt damage because of fast soft bullets. You are not going to beat a 260gr - 300gr Soft at a moderate velocity, ie Woodleigh, Swift, Partition etc

 

[RudiB]

Barnes 250gr TTSX

 

[Slider]

I don't see any Pelt Damage using a 6.5mm Including Coyotes.

 

[Mountaineer]

I have been using 260 grain nosler partitions in my 375 H&H for whitetail deer. It opens up great and leaves a huge blood trail. The best of any caliber or bullet I have used. If I was leaving tomorrow for leopard or lion that’s what I would take.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Pendleton Ammunition

pendletonammunition.com

Hand loaded exceptional ammunition. I saw a coupon on Facebook for 15% off.

HH

 

[Luvthunt]

Yes, I’m with the 260 Nosler part in the 375.

 

[pilar]

Federal Power-Shok 375 H&H Mag 300 gr Jacketed Soft Point
i like only one type of round to pack and keep up with

 

[MBaugh]

300 Sierra Game King worked perfectly

 

[meigsbucks]

I have never hunted leopard and actually, heresy I know, really don’t have a desire to hunt one. However, I’d choose the 260gr Nosler Partition or 270gr Hornady.