Team Ruger Captain Doug Koenig posted a final aggregate score of 1920-183X to win the Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Championship for mind-boggling 20th time over the course of his distinguished competitive shooting career. The match was held at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri, May 21-24.
This year, Koenig secured the top spot in the Open division and claimed the overall title shooting his Ruger Custom Shop SR1911 Competition pistol.
Koenig posted perfect scores of 480 in each of the four events that comprise the Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Championship: the Practical, Barricade, Moving Target and Falling Plates events—giving him an aggregate score of 1920. His total X-ring hit count of 183.
“After 36 years of shooting this competition, it is still exhilarating to get out here and compete alongside these other great shooters,” Koenig said. “Winning my 20th Bianchi Cup is special, but it is even more special to win my second title with Team Ruger.”
Finishing in second place this year was seven-time Bianchi Cup Champion Bruce Piatt, who walked away from the match with as score of 1920-181X, which was only two down in the X-count from Koenig. Additionally, Piatt was the 2023 Bianchi Cup Champion.
In third place was Staff Sgt. Walter Johnson of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit after posting a final score of 1920-178X.
This year’s Bianchi Cup Women’s title went to Cherie Blake of Australia with a score of 1910-150X.
A match with an international scope, each year the Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Championship attracts shooters from around the world. Koenig noted the tight-knit nature of Bianchi Cup competitors.
“If you’ve never shot the Cup, it needs to be on all shooters’ bucket lists,” Koenig said. “The camaraderie, sportsmanship and pursuit of perfection is second to none. This group is like my second family and I love seeing and competing alongside everyone.”
Designed in collaboration with Doug Koenig, the Ruger Custom Shop SR1911 Competition pistol he was shooting at the match features the precision-machined Koenig Shooting Sports low-mass hammer and competition sear, plus a custom flat-faced trigger shoe, precision-machined disconnector and hand-tuned sear spring.
“Doug is the greatest of all time at this event, and he is an even more impactful contributor to Team Ruger,” Ruger Vice President of Marketing Rob Werkmeister said. “From mentoring young shooters to helping develop great new products, Doug provides wins for Ruger every day. We are delighted to celebrate this milestone for Doug and proud to have him on our team.”
Koenig was not the only member of his family competing at the Bianchi Cup this year. His son, Bradley, was a first-time shooter at the match, and it seems that shooting talent runs in the family, as the younger Koenig took second place in the Junior division and 40th overall.
“It’s awesome to see the next generation of young shooters attending,” Koenig said. “I still remember my first two years as a Junior (1987 and 1988) and getting to see all of the big names in the sport—John Pride, Mickey Fowler, Rob Leatham, Brian Enos and John Shaw. It’s cool to see it come full circle for me with having Bradley there to complete.”
The Civilian Marksmanship Program took over administering the Bianchi Cup National Action Pistol Championship in 2023. Prior to that, the Bianchi Cup was run by the National Rifle Association from 1984 to 2022.
See the full match results at the CMP website.
Learn more about Ruger at ruger.com.
Visit koenigshooting.com to find out more about Doug Koenig.
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