Congratulations to Team Vihtavuori member Doug Koenig on winning the 2026 CMP Bianchi Cup Championship, one of the world’s most prestigious pistol tournaments. Koening took the 2026 title with an impressive Grand Aggregate, shooting a Ruger SR1911 pistol. Koenig’s 2026 Bianchi Cup title marked a major milestone — his 21st Bianchi Cup Championship. The 2026 Bianchi Cup Championship brought together top competitors from across the country, making Koenig’s first place finish a major accomplishment. Throughout the Bianchi Cup match, Koenig demonstrated consistency, precision, and competitive excellence.

“I’m proud to represent Ruger and grateful for their continued support,” said Koenig. “This victory means a lot to me personally. I put in the work, trusted my preparation and trusted the products backing me.” To learn more about Doug’s accomplishments, visit KoenigShooting.com.

The 2026 CMP Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament was held at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri. The renowned competition, hosted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), took place May 21–24, 2026 — just last week. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has governed the international competition for the past few seasons. In partnering with Green Valley, the CMP seeks to grow the event with more shooters and new divisions. The Bianchi Cup, known as the gold standard in action pistol shooting, has a 40+ year history and attracts the world’s leading competitive pistol shooters.

These two videos show Doug Koenig in action in past years at the Bianchi Cup Range.

Capstone Precision Group and Team Lapua USA announce with deep sadness the passing of Steve Reiter, one of the most accomplished competitive pistol shooters in history and a foundational member of Team Lapua in the United States. Steve passed away on May 18, 2026. In the slow-fire pistol shooting disciplines, Steve is probably the greatest American shooter ever.

Reiter was among the original members of Team Lapua USA when the program was established in 2009, helping to define the standard for excellence, sportsmanship, and brand representation that continues today. Throughout his career, he served not only as a world-class competitor, but also as a dedicated ambassador for the shooting sports.

Steve Reiter’s record in high-level competition is extraordinary:

34 National Championship titles, including five National Championships at Camp Perry
63 National Records, including a historic .22 Aggregate score of 899, the highest ever recorded
40+ Regional Championships
First-ever Quadruple Distinguished Marksman under the CMP
Triple Distinguished Marksman under the CMP
Two-time President’s 100 Champion in Pistol
Two-time National Trophy Individual Match Champion in Pistol
10-time Winner of the National Match High Senior Pistol Trophy
Five-time Winner of Citizens’ Military Pistol Trophy
Canada International Service Pistol Champion
Two-time Free Pistol National Champion
Seven-time Interservice Champion
Standard Pistol National Champion
Member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team (Free Pistol)

Reiter continued to compete at an elite level well into his later years, achieving many Senior titles. Following his retirement from active competition, Reiter remained an integral part of Team Lapua as an Emeritus Member, continuing to mentor shooters and support the sport he loved.

Steve Reiter Senior Championships:
2017 NRA National Pistol Championships — 1st Place, Super Senior
2013 NRA National Pistol Championship — Grand Senior Champion
2014 Mid-Winter Championship — 1st Place
2014 Indoor National Sectional Championship — 3rd Place and new Senior National Record

“Steve Reiter was more than a champion—he was one of the foundational figures of Team Lapua in the United States,” said Adam Braverman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Capstone Precision Group. “His achievements speak for themselves, but what truly set Steve apart was the way he carried himself and the impact he had on others. He represented our brand with integrity, passion, and a genuine love for the shooting sports. Steve helped shape what Team Lapua stands for today, and his legacy will continue to inspire our team and the broader shooting community for years to come.”

In 2022, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) honored Reiter by establishing the Reiter Cup National Champion Trophy. This award is presented to the winner of the Match Pistol 2700 Any Sights National Championship, which recognizes the highest combined scores from the .22, .45 ACP, and Centerfire 900 Aggregate matches held during the annual National Matches at Camp Perry.

Beyond his competitive accomplishments, Reiter was widely respected for his humility, sportsmanship, and commitment to growing the shooting sports community. His influence extended far beyond the firing line, impacting countless shooters, teammates, and fans across generations. Capstone Precision Group and Team Lapua extend their deepest condolences to Steve’s family, friends, and the entire shooting sports community.

Jessie Harrison is arguably the best female action pistol shooter in history. Numero uno among all lady handgun competitors. No other lady has amassed as many championships or set so many speed-shooting records. Over the past two decades Jessie Harrison (who has also competed with with married names Jessie Duff and Jessie Abbate) has earned dozens of major titles including twenty-two U.S. Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Ladies Championships.

Jessie is the first female shooter to obtain Grand Master status in the U.S. Practical Shooting Association. Competing in five different shooting disciplines, Jessie has won both world and national championship titles, including the prestigious Bianchi Cup, Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships, and numerous USPSA National Championships. Most recently she was the Lady’s Open Champion at the 2024 World Speed Shooting Championships.

This Saturday at the Movies feature showcases Jessie Harrison shooting in competition as well as Jessie offering shooting and firearms safety tips. You can see dozens more action pistol videos featuring Jessie on the Jessie Harrison YouTube Channel.

Blast From the Past — Young Jessie in Cowboy Action Mode

Early in her shooting career, Jessie enjoyed Cowboy Action Shooting. She honed her skills shooting revolvers and lever guns “on the clock” with steel targets. For this Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) sport, all competitors use an official “alias” at matches. Jessie’s SASS alias was “Jasmine Jessie”. Watch this video from 2009 to see a young Jessie in action with a slick shotgun-loading trick.

Jessie Harrison, Successful Huntress

Jessie also enjoys hunting. Back in 2019, the chance to bag a Muley buck drew action-shooting ace Jessie Harrison out to Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains region. Jessie, who is probably the best lady action pistol shooter on the planet, had a successful hunt with Big Horn Outfitters. Jessie, Shooting Team Captain for Taurus USA, really enjoyed getting out into the Wyoming wilderness. And she got her buck!

Congratulations to Team Vihtavuori member Doug Koenig on winning the 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup Championship, one of the world’s most prestigious pistol tournaments. Koening took the 2024 title with an impressive 1920-183X Grand Aggregate. Koenig’s 2024 Bianchi Cup title marked a major milestone. This was Koenig’s 20th time winning the prestigious pistol championship. To learn more about Doug’s accomplishments, visit KoenigShooting.com.

The 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup was hosted by the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri on May 21-24, 2024. For the second year, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) governed the international competition. In partnering with Green Valley, the CMP seeks to grow the event with more shooters and new divisions. The Bianchi Cup, known as the gold standard in action pistol shooting, has a 40+ year history and attracts the world’s leading competitive pistol shooters.

Koenig, who loads his pistol ammo with Vihtavuori N320 powder, was in a tight race with fellow Team Vihtavuori member Bruce Piatt. Piatt finished in a close second place, followed by SSG Walter Johnson, SSG Anthony Heinauer, and Benito Martinez. The top finishers were only separated by a mere 5 bullseyes.

These two videos show Doug Koenig in action in past years at the Bianchi Cup Range.

Jessie Harrison is arguably the best female action pistol shooter in history. No other lady has amassed as many championships or set so many speed-shooting records. Over the past two decades Jessie Harrison (who has also competed with with married names Jessie Duff and Jessie Abbate) has earned dozens of major titles including twenty-two U.S. Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Ladies Championships. Jessie won her 22nd USPSA title at the USPSA Race Gun Nationals in October 22–24, 2021 at the Talledega Marksmanship Park in Alabama.

This Saturday at the Movies feature showcases Jessie Harrison shooting in competition as well as Jessie offering shooting and firearms safety tips. You can see dozens more action pistol videos featuring Jessie on the Jessie Harrison YouTube Channel.

Jessie with Team USA at 2022 IPSC World Shoot

American shooter Jessie Harrison was part of a victorious USA Team and took second in the Ladies Open Division at the IPSC Handgun World Shoot held in November, 2022 in Pattaya, Thailand. The IPSC World Shoot is considered by many to be the most prestigious action pistol competition in the world. “The IPSC Handgun World Championships are our equivalent to the Olympics, the pinnacle of matches,” said Harrison.

Blast From the Past — Young Jessie in Cowboy Action Mode

Early in her shooting career, Jessie enjoyed Cowboy Action Shooting. She honed her skills shooting revolvers and lever guns “on the clock” with steel targets. For this Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) sport, all competitors use an official “alias” at matches. Jessie’s SASS alias was “Jasmine Jessie”. Watch this video from 2009 to see a young Jessie in action with a slick shotgun-loading trick.

Jessie Harrison, Successful Huntress

Jessie also enjoys hunting. Back in 2019, the chance to bag a Muley buck drew action-shooting ace Jessie Harrison out to Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains region. Jessie, who is probably the best lady action pistol shooter on the planet, had a successful hunt with Big Horn Outfitters. Jessie, Shooting Team Captain for Taurus USA, really enjoyed getting out into the Wyoming wilderness. And she got her buck!

This week’s edition of Shooting USA, which airs Wednesday, February 12, features the NRA Bianchi Cup. This competition is one of the most prestigious and popular events in the world of handgun shooting. Officially, the annual competition in Columbia, Missouri is known as the National Championship of NRA Action Pistol. But to everybody, world-wide, it’s the Bianchi Cup, the trophy named for one of the founders, John Bianchi. In the past 30 years the match has become the richest handgun tournament in the world, with cash and prizes for the best scores on four stages of fire. Shooting USA will spotlight top male and female Bianchi Cup competitors in both wheelgun and and semi-auto pistol divisions. Along with North American shooters, the Bianchi Cup draws top handgun competitors from around the globe. Shooting USA airs Wednesday nights, on the Outdoor Channel, at 9:00 pm Eastern and Pacific, and 10:00 pm Central.

CLICK HERE to Preview Shooting USA Episodes »

John Scoutten and his team report the action from the Bianchi Cup. This year shooters from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, and Japan traveled to Columbia, Missouri in search of the perfect 1920 match score. Each round is the aggregate of the four (4) fired events: Practical, Barricade, Falling Plate, and Moving Target Events. Each of the four events requires 48 shots to complete. 480 points possible on each event. Three of the four are scored on the NRA tombstone P1 target. You must hit in the 10-ring or inner X-Ring on EVERY shot to shoot a “clean” 1920.

27 Years ago Doug Koening set the standard with a 1920. Since then, every Open shooter knows that he or she must “clean” this match (i.e. score a “1920”) to have a chance to take the title of “Champion”. The X-Count is the tie-breaker.

Here are the top four women shooting the Practical Event during the Colt Championship Final in 2017. From top: 2017 Bianchi Women’s Champion Cherie Blake, third place SFC Katie Bahten, second place Anita Mackiewicz, and fourth place Jessie Duff. Shooting Sports USA Photo

In this video, 18-Time Bianchi Cup Winner Doug Koenig demonstrates Fast Follow-up Shots

Bianchi Cup — Classic Course of Fire
The MidwayUSA/NRA Bianchi Cup is a combination of Speed and Accuracy. Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages. Stages may combine stationary and moving targets. As conceived by former police officer and holster-maker John Bianchi, the Bianchi Cup originated in 1979 as a Law Enforcement Training match. The Course of Fire consists of four separate matches:

• The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.
• The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.
• The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8 inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
• The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.

Due to the high accuracy required in each stage of the Bianchi Cup, the tournament is widely considered one of the most difficult handgun championships on the planet.

The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) World Championship comes to Alabama this month. The main portion of the 2019 SIG SAUER IDPA World Championship will take place October 23-26 at the Talladega Marksmanship Park, drawing competitors from around the world. CMP staff began constructing stages on October 14. Ppreliminary firing begins at the end of this week. The 4-Day IDPA Worlds are expected to draw 350+ pistol shooters from 20+ countries.

Realistic Competition — What Makes the IDPA So Popular
Among the many action pistol disciplines, IDPA competition is probably the most “realistic” — the closest to actual defensive handgun use. Competitors use off-the-shelf pistols, suitable for carry. No exotic race-guns are allowed. Match stages simulate self-defense scenarios and real life encounters. An IDPA match is more than just a trigger-pulling contest. Shooters must use cover when available, and employ the same defensive strategies they would use in a real gunfight.

The IDPA’s founders developed the sport so that practical gear and practical guns may be used competitively. Shooters can spend a minimal amount on equipment and still be competitive. The main goal is to test the skill and ability of the individual, not equipment or gamesmanship.

In IDPA competition, firearms are grouped into five divisions: 1) Custom Defensive Pistol (.45 ACP semi-autos); 2) Enhanced Service Pistol (9mm or larger semi-automatics); 3) Stock Service Pistol (9mm or larger caliber double action, double action only, or safe action semi-automatics); 4) Enhanced Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers); and 5) Stock Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.

IDPA Scoring System
The official IDPA Target (right) has multiple scoring zones. If you don’t hit the target’s center mass zone or head zone (both appear green in illustration), you drop one or three points. Here’s the formula: Score (in seconds) = Time + Points Down + Penalties. In IDPA, “points down” (and penalties) are added to your time. If you hit the outer edge of the target, you get 3 points down. Nearer center can be 1 point down. Center hit or head shot is 0 points down. See IDPA Scoring for Dummies.

About the IDPA — Fast, Fun, and Popular Worldwide
Held virtually every week of the year, IDPA matches attract over 25,000 members from the United States and over 70 other countries. Scores are classified by a number of divisions in a 1- to 3-stage Course of Fire. These events are held regularly throughout the country. Learn more at IDPA.com.

“Civilian teams are not supposed to win the Gold Cup”, said Christopher “Neil” Roberts, a member of the North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association (NCRPA) team that achieved an historic win at Camp Perry. The NCRPA squad was the first civilian team in history to win the National Trophy Team (NTT) Pistol Match.

The Gold Cup is awarded to the top scoring team in the NTT Match held as part of the CMP’s National Trophy Pistol Matches. Every year since 1920, the prestigious NTT Gold Cup has been won by military teams — that is, until this year.

Breaking the near 100-year history of the event, Roberts, along with teammates Cecil Rhodes, Jon Shue, and Tom Willats, claimed the overall spot and the accompanying Gold Cup after out-shooting all other civilian and military teams, with a combined score of 1109-30X.

Civilians and military shooters competed together at the 2019 NTT Pistol Match.

The NC shooters have known each other for many years, especially from the Eastern CMP Travel Games at Camp Butner in North Carolina. At that event, Shue and Willats have won the Pistol Team Match together in the past. All four team members have earned Distinguished Service Pistol Badges.

Jon Shue Tops Field — Winning Individual Trophies
Leading his team to victory was pistol ace Jon Shue, 38. Shue won individual honors along with sharing the Team’s Gold Cup Trophy and the Oglethorpe Trophy. Shue won numerous awards, including the Military Police Corps Trophy as the highest scoring individual in the NTT. Shue also won the CMP EIC Pistol Match, and the National Trophy Individual (NTI) event. Shue took home the Citizen Military Pistol Trophy as the High Civilian in the NTI and the Anheuser Busch Trophy as the High Civilian in the NTI-NTT Aggregate.

Dramatic Opening Day 2019 at Camp Perry

The 2019 First Shot Ceremony at the Camp Perry CMP National Matches featured former U.S. Army Golden Knights skydiver, SFC (R) Dana Bowman. SFC Bowman lost both of his legs an in-air collision. SFC Bowman descended with a giant 60-foot-long American flag.