Team Lapua's Erich Mietenkorte delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Bernd Meier Silhouette Invitational Championship, securing both the smallbore and high-power titles at the Mission and District Rod and Gun Club.

Set against the rugged backdrop of British Columbia, this year's championship once again challenged competitors with a demanding test of precision and consistency. Held March 21–22, the event drew top shooters from across the Pacific Northwest.

Saturday's smallbore competition featured four 40‑shot matches with silhouette targets positioned at 40, 60, 77, and 100 meters. Mietenkorte delivered a commanding showing, relying on Lapua Midas+ rimfire ammunition, custom tested and matched to his rifle at the Lapua Rimfire Performance Center in Mesa, Arizona.

Momentum carried into the high-power portion of the match, where a unique short‑range course of fire introduced an added challenge. Scaled‑down steel targets preserved the difficulty of a full‑distance silhouette match while eliminating the need for a traditional 500‑meter range.

Shooting a Hunter Class 6BR rifle, Mietenkorte once again rose to the top. His winning load utilized Lapua 6BR cases and Vihtavuori N140 powder, paired with 95‑grain Berger VLD Target bullets for chickens, pigs, and turkeys, and 115‑grain Berger VLD Target bullets for the heavier rams. The combination delivered the accuracy and energy needed to secure the high-power aggregate victory.

Reflecting afterward, Mietenkorte emphasized the importance of dependable components:

"In rifle silhouette, accuracy is only part of the equation. You need consistency, and you need enough energy to take the target off the stand. If it doesn't fall, it doesn't count. That's why I put so much emphasis on my ammunition and components. From rimfire to centerfire, everything has to fly straight, load consistently, and hit hard without coming apart. I need to trust every shot, and there isn't a better combination than Lapua brass, Vihtavuori powder, and Berger bullets to get that done."

Lapua congratulates Mietenkorte and looks forward to following his 2026 silhouette season.

About Lapua
Lapua produces the highest quality small caliber cartridges and components for civilian and professional use. Lapua is imported by Capstone Precision Group, exclusive U.S. distributor for Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori and SK-Rimfire products. For more information, visit Lapua.com.