Ibex caliber and bullet

[whitecoyote]

What are your favorite calibers and bullets for ibex. The guy I booked with said he recommends no smaller than a 7PRC. He said most shots will be between 300-500.

 

[WBT]

Where are you going?

 

[Starbailey]

I’d say he’s giving you good advice as ibex can be tough. I’ve personally seen & have taken them with 7mm saum 160 accubonds, 7mm rem mag 168 Berger, 28 Nos 195 Bergers. All have done just fine.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Im not going until next year but from everybody I've talked to, they recommend 300wm for ammo availability.

 

[alaska_bou]

What country are you going to?

I shoot a .300 win for almost any hunt around the world because I HAVE arrived at a destination with my rifle and no ammunition. If you are going to Kyrgyzstan, for example, it is illegal for an outfitter to provide a camp rifle for foreigners, so keep this in mind when planning. A .300 PRC might be better on paper, but you aren't likely to find emergency ammo for any "new" caliber like this in Asia.

Ibex are tough, resilient creatures that like to climb into the most inhospitable country when wounded, so my advice is to not wound one. Use a bonded bullet that won't explode at high velocities. Practice out to 800 yards regularly and it will greatly enhance your confidence at 400. I have shot nine ibex, and eight of those were at ranges from 80 to 500 yards, for what that's worth.

 

[whitecoyote]

What country are you going to?

I shoot a .300 win for almost any hunt around the world because I HAVE arrived at a destination with my rifle and no ammunition. If you are going to Kyrgyzstan, for example, it is illegal for an outfitter to provide a camp rifle for foreigners, so keep this in mind when planning. A .300 PRC might be better on paper, but you aren't likely to find emergency ammo for any "new" caliber like this in Asia.

Ibex are tough, resilient creatures that like to climb into the most inhospitable country when wounded, so my advice is to not wound one. Use a bonded bullet that won't explode at high velocities. Practice out to 800 yards regularly and it will greatly enhance your confidence at 400. I have shot nine ibex, and eight of those were at ranges from 80 to 500 yards, for what that's worth.

Thank you for the great advice! I will be going to Kyrgyzstan. I have a 300 rum that I is extremely heavy that I don’t want to take or pack and I have a light 6.5 prc. I imagine they wouldn’t have that either of those calibers. I Might have to think about getting a new gun.

 

[swavescatter]

223 with 77 TMKs will do just fine.

 

[idig4au]

Their advice is good. I’ve shot ibex with 300 wby and 30-378 wby. Mid Asian ibex for whatever reason can be very tough to take down and shooting distances are often extended. I wouldn’t recommend 6.5 prc for that hunt.

Also with all the international hunts I have done, not once have I had issues with my ammunition missing or need to go find ammunition. Take 40 rounds and have a great hunt

 

[idig4au]

What country are you going to?

I shoot a .300 win for almost any hunt around the world because I HAVE arrived at a destination with my rifle and no ammunition. If you are going to Kyrgyzstan, for example, it is illegal for an outfitter to provide a camp rifle for foreigners, so keep this in mind when planning. A .300 PRC might be better on paper, but you aren't likely to find emergency ammo for any "new" caliber like this in Asia.

Ibex are tough, resilient creatures that like to climb into the most inhospitable country when wounded, so my advice is to not wound one. Use a bonded bullet that won't explode at high velocities. Practice out to 800 yards regularly and it will greatly enhance your confidence at 400. I have shot nine ibex, and eight of those were at ranges from 80 to 500 yards, for what that's worth.

This is sound advise

 

[HuntingGriff907]

I harvested my Ibex late December of 2025 in Tajikistan with a 300wm, 180 gr sst. My hunting partner used a 6.5 creedmoor with a Berger bullet. We were both fortunate to have shots under 250 yards.

A rifle that you can confidently dial to 500 yards is the sweet spot for Ibex based on our hunt. The Ibex we encountered in the Pamir Mountains were very intelligent in how they used terrain to escape and exist in safety. We each had several stalking attempts over multiple days before success. They are a very tough animal, and I would recommend the 300wm.

We were limited to bringing 40rds each by the government, and I think it would be a struggle to locate any ammunition in Tajikistan. I agree with idig4au about ammunition going missing. The level of scrutiny on the rifles and ammunition through the entire flying process from the airlines and government doesn't lend much room for error. We had individual AirTags in our luggage, rifle case, and ammunition locked cases.