Add another major National Rifle Championship to the list of shooting events cancelled in 2020. We’ve lost the CMP matches at Camp Perry, and the NRA High Power and Smallbore Championships at Camp Attebury in Indiana. Now the 2020 NRA National Silhouette Championships in Pennsylvania have been cancelled due to Pandemic concerns. Here is the official statement from the NRA:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the many ensuing federal and state safety regulations and mandates, the Ridgway Rifle Club has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 NRA National Silhouette Championships which was to be held July – August 2020 at the Ridgway Rifle Club in Ridgway, Pennsylvania.

The NRA and the Ridgway Rifle Club share your disappointment that these competitions had to be cancelled.

A decision regarding the 2021 NRA National Silhouette Championship dates and location(s) will be announced later this year. The NRA and the Ridgway Rifle Club wishes everyone good health and the best of luck. For more information please visit Competitions.nra.org.

American Silhouette shooter Eric Mietenkorte delivered a superb performance at the recent Canadian National Silhouette Championships in Fort Steel, British Columbia. Eric recorded a 1-2-3 Trifecta with 1st Place in Master Standard Rifle, 2nd Place in Master Hunter Rifle, and 3rd place in Master Smallbore Hunter. Eric is coming home with quite the trophy harvest. Other top shooters included Team Lapua members Mark Pharr and Cathy Winstead-Severin.

Erich called this a “target rich environment”…

Eric tells us: “The Canadian National Championships are all wrapped up. Thanks to the Bull River Shooters Association (B.R.S.A.) for hosting an incredible event! What a great [week] of shooting! Such a beautiful range with the nicest people! It was great seeing old friends and making new ones. [There were] definitely some challenging wind and mirage conditions, but lots of great shooting, and I even took home some hardware.” Erich has posted these photos from the event.

Erich was quick on the trigger shooting pigs at 300 meters. He says “I love hearing that clang from hitting the steel.” Click speaker icon to hear audio.

6.5mm Chamberings Favored for Centerfire (High Power) Silhouette
The 6.5mm caliber seems to be the “sweet spot” for High Power Silhouette shooters. Erich says: “I use the .260 Bobcat (6.5×250) wildcat. Most still use the .260 Remington and 6.5×47 Lapua.” Other popular chamberings for High Power Silhouette include the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mmBR, 6mm Dasher, 6×47 Lapua, and 7mm-08.

One wicked cool paint job — the Fighter Plane graphics on Erich’s smallbore rifle drew admiring glances.

Here Erich spots for fellow American shooters Mark Pharr and Cathy Winstead-Severin of Team Lapua.

The Cranbrook Daily Townsman News did a nice story on the Championships, complete with this informative video.

Fort Steele in British Columbia is a beautiful venue. Stunning scenery all around…