Missoula, Montana– June 2026– Team Lapua’s Erich Mietenkorte has won the 2026 Iron Man Silhouette Championships for an unprecedented fifth time, tying the all-time Iron Man aggregate record.
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The annual Iron Man Silhouette Championships returned to Deep Creek Range in Missoula, Montana, June 6–7, drawing top shooters from across the United States and Canada for two demanding days of competition. Hosted by the Hellgate Civilian Shooters Association, the event tests precision, endurance, and mental focus, with competitors firing 320 shots from the standing position across Smallbore (.22 LR at 40–100 meters) and High-Power (centerfire at 200–500 meters) disciplines. Challenging conditions with shifting winds, heavy gusts, and rain made every shot hard-fought.
Mietenkorte dominated the field, winning all four individual titles, Smallbore and High Power in both Standard and Hunter Rifle. He clinched the Overall Aggregate Championship, tying the all-time high set by fellow Team Lapua member Cathy Winstead-Severin in 2017.
Mietenkorte competes in Smallbore Rifle using Lapua Midas+, which was matched and lot-tested for peak performance at the Lapua Rimfire Performance Center in Mesa, Arizona.
“In a match like this, there is no room to wonder whether the ammunition is going to perform. With Lapua Midas+, I know that when I do my part, the bullet goes exactly where I point it,” said Mietenkorte. “That level of confidence allows me to focus entirely on execution, even as conditions and pressure build. Lapua rimfire ammunition continues to set the standard for consistency, precision, and reliability.”
In High-Power, Mietenkorte shoots 6mm BR in the Hunter Rifle division and 6mm GT in the Standard Rifle, both using Lapua premium cartridge cases, Vihtavuori propellant, and Berger bullets.
Winning all four individual championships, tying the all-time record, and validating a new high-power rifle combination under match conditions made this an especially meaningful weekend in Mietenkorte’s shooting career. It was a true test of equipment, preparation, and execution.
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.
New Berger 6mm LRHT
Berger’s new 6mm 120 Grain Long Range Hybrid Target (LRHT) bullet has officially made history, powering Erich Mietenkorte to victory at the 2026 Iron Man Metallic Silhouette Championship. Using the 120 LRHT, Mietenkorte not only claimed the High Power and Overall Aggregate titles but also tied the all-time aggregate record and completed the prestigious Bull River Ultra Slam (knocking down 20 consecutive Rams)
The Iron Man Silhouette Championship lives up to its name. Over the course of the two-day event, competitors fire a grueling 320 shots for record, all from the standing offhand position—two 40-shot Smallbore Rifle matches each morning, and two 40-shot High-Power Rifle matches each afternoon. Targets range from 40 to 100 meters for Smallbore (.22 LR) and 200 to 500 meters for High-Power (centerfire).
“Berger’s new 6mm 120 Grain Long Range Hybrid Target bullets performed exactly how you’d want in a championship,” said Mietenkorte. “Vihtavuori N140 with 120 LRHT’s produced outstanding precision from the start. Five-shot groups at 200 meters averaged 1/4 MOA, and that accuracy held all the way to 500 meters.”
Designed for long-range precision, the Berger 6mm 120 Grain LRHT is the heaviest-in-class and highest performance, and features:
- Industry-leading 0.328 G7 ballistic coefficient (BC)
- Hybrid ogive design for easy tuning and jump tolerance
- Meplat Reduction Technology (MRT) for enhanced consistency
- Doppler radar-verified performance with less than 1% BC Standard Deviation
Berger 6mm 120 Grain Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are available now at authorized Berger retailers in 100-count, 500-count, and new 1,500-count Competition Packs.
About Berger
Berger manufactures precision projectiles and match-grade ammunition for Target, Hunting, and Tactical applications in Mesa, AZ. Berger is part of the Capstone Precision Group, the exclusive U.S. distributor for Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori, and SK-Rimfire products. For more information, visit BergerBullets.com
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