What caliber rifle would you use for Leopard?

[siml]

@Obi Wan Kenobi haven't seen whitetail with huge teeth and claws.

 

[Ray B]

About 50 years ago I was on an extended hunting trip in Southeast Asia. we had our blind for the night set up but instead of the desired objects of the hunt we were approached by a full grown male tiger. We watched him through the starlight scope while he circled our camp, then headed off. We heard the next day that another outpost had more contact with the tiger and had killed it with one full metal jacket bullet (7.62 Nato) from an M14. My guess is that Leopards wouldn't be any harder to kill than a tiger, but then maybe they are; or maybe today's hunters don't have the practice and motivation that we had long ago and far away.

 

[IvW]

If you already own a 300 WSM and you shoot it well, it will be an excellent choice. Just check with your outfitter what the legal requirement is in the country you intend hunting your leopard.

In some countries 375 H&H will be the minimum calibre needed, in which case a soft nose bullet from 270 grn that will rapidly expand(not a hard premium bullet such as you would use on buffalo as an example) would then be perfect.

All the best with your quest for mister spots!

 

[Michael Dean]

Leopards don't have the weight and build that requires calibers such as a 375 or 416. A good 300 caliber is more than sufficient to quickly dispatch one. As always, accuracy and being comfortable with your firearm is paramount.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

" Shot Placement " :
- minimum calibre for Leopard 7 x 57 Mausere
- recommended calibre for Leopard : Any of the 300 Magnums.

My favorite calibre for Leopard 9,3 x 62.
Witold

 

[IvW]

Leopards don't have the weight and build that requires calibers such as a 375 or 416. A good 300 caliber is more than sufficient to quickly dispatch one. As always, accuracy and being comfortable with your firearm is paramount.

True what you say. I have shot them with 7x57mm, 308Win and never had any issues. They are soft skinned animals and die easily if shot in the right place.

However many countries stipulate a minimum caliber for leopard as 375H&H in which case you do not have the option of a smaller caliber if you want to stay legal so to speak.

 

[Cone]

My 9.3x74R double (w/wo its 1 1/4 x 4 Ziess depending on light conditions) with 286 gr or 250 gr Barnes TSX hand loads would be the choice over my .375 H&H & its 1 x 4 Trijicon with 250 gr TSX simply because of the rapid second shot capability. Many consider these two classics rounds equivalent. The 8 PH with whom I have hunted are high on the .375 & it is my go to. I have also taken African game with the .338 Win Mag & 7x57 Mauser. I rarely need follow-up shots. Shot placement is key. No one wants the job of tracking a wounded leopard & I would not want to put my PH in such jeopardy.

 

[Tom Leoni]

Here's the only thing I have to contribute: I've never hunted leopard, but I imagine that the buck-fever factor in that split second when the PH's hand squeezes your shoulder as he whispers "that's it, take him, take him" is as high as it gets. You get that one shot. You may not even be lucky enough for your PH to squeeze off a backup round, the way he almost-always may be able to with another animal.

This results in a simple equation:

LR = ML + SBMHE

Leopard Rifle = Minimum Legal + what you Shoot Best and Have Most Experience with.

 

[Bullet Safaris]

.375 H&H
260 grain Nosler Accubond Bullet
2,900 fps

deadly combination i've been working with for year with great results.
It has saved me many problems on marginal hits.
another huge advantage as one rifle does a safari...bring some 300 grain swift bullets and a box of solids and you are set for anything in Africa.

 

[brettp]

338 win mag with 250gr bullets, so long as you are comfortable shooting it accurately.

 

[Bestguide]

.308

 

[DaveL]

It's a pertinent question, however in my opinion, it is easily answered. Craig Boddington said it best, and I will paraphrase the outdoor writer here. Any adequate deer calibre is going to kill a leopard. But what I think Col. Boddington (or is it General now?) also implied here, is to use a deer calibre in a weapon that you have continuously hunted with in the past and are hence very familiar with. I think that's the important part of the message, especially from a practicing PH's point of view. It is quite concerning when a client steps up to the range on the first day of the safari with some brand spanking new weapon that's only had a handful of cartridges through it. I know it's unlikely the fellow is familiar with the thing and it's peculiarities. When a client brings 'old faithful' that has been in the family a while and has been consistently putting meat in the freezer, I always have a smile on my face. Chances are he/she is proficient with it.

So what is a good leopard calibre, technically? Anything from a .270 on up into the .30's is going to do the trick with aplomb. I know of a young lady client who dropped a big Tom in its tracks with .243. She learnt to shoot with that weapon as a kid (familiarity!) and was coached on exactly where to place that bullet to ensure a clean kill. Just bear in mind if you are going to use a large calibre you are going to waste a lot of kinetic energy as that bullet is going to whistle on through, and you are subjecting yourself to increased recoil which is going to affect your ability to accurately place that shot. Why not let the bullet do its job and expend the majority of that energy inside the cat? Don't get me wrong, an exit wound would be nice - especially when having to do the subsequent follow up- but I want the bullet to do the majority of its work inside the cat rather than accelerating over the horizon. The legal calibre for leopard in Zim is 7mm and 3 kilojoules of energy at the muzzle as well as rifled barrel of no less than 500mm.

I think an important factor to consider also, is the quality of glass on your weapon. Get the best you can afford. An illuminated reticle works wonders too! Invariably that spotty comes as the light fades and you often struggle to pick up fine crosshairs against that feline form in the half light.

However there's something else we need to consider. Your leopard calibre of choice will invariably be needed to procure your bait and your selection of plains game species. So you are going to need something that's going to take Mr. Spots at 50 yards as well as that wildebeest bull out at 200 yards (and everything in between). That's a variation in body weights from 120lb for a leopard, up to 600lbs for the larger plains game species and up to 1800lbs for Eland. In my opinion, you are far better served by using a .300, a .338 or even a .375 for Eland. Just bear that in mind when you plan your calibre selection for your safari.

In conjunction with calibre, is your choice of bullet. Some like bullets that expand quicker - I guess this would be fine if leopard and small plains game are on the menu, but bear in mind safaris are often a mixed bag requiring a calibre to do double duty on cats and the variety of plains game. My choice would be one bullet type and weight (heavy for calibre and one that doesn't mushroom too quickly).

 

[TOM]

125 grain, two blade broadhead!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

125 grain, two blade broadhead!

With two little cheaters?

 

[spike.t]

Ha!! I forgot about Bluey and Patsy We sure don't hear much from either one these days

shacked up on takeri at the moment..........then he heads back to oz for a rest in couple days.........