Vihtavuori's Chad Heckler secured first place in the Tactical Division at the 2026 K&M Kahles Precision Rifle Competition, held May 23–24 at K&M Precision Rifle Training in Finger, Tennessee.
Competing against a deep field of top shooters, Heckler delivered an outstanding performance on a demanding 20-stage course spanning 50 to 1,200 yards, featuring steel, reactive, and moving targets of varying sizes, positions, and time limits, finishing with an impressive 181 impacts out of 192.
Stage Highlights:
- Cleaned stages included: Nightforce PRS Skills Stage, Shoot House Hustle, Rocky Rocks, Hell with Hay, K&M Hustle Drill, Shoot House Speed Mover, Field Fire Rack, P-Dogs, Shoot House Field Fire, Speed Barricade, Rock Field Fire, and Long Range Field Fire.
- Strong performances were also recorded on technically demanding stages like "Big Small from the Bus" (7/8) and "Speed Bunker Field Fire" (5/6)
"The annual PRS Qualifier Pro match at K&M in Tennessee is always one of the highest-attended matches of the year, with around 200 competitors from across the country," said Heckler. "I was able to clean 14 of the 20 stages and only dropped 11 shots all weekend. Knowing that I can trust my equipment and my ammunition makes all the difference in the world."
For the match, Heckler relied on a precision load featuring the Berger 30 Caliber 168 Grain Hybrid Target bullet, Vihtavuori N150 powder, and Lapua .308 Palma SRP brass.
"The quality and consistency of these components is unrivaled, and they allow a rifle's precision to be fully unlocked," Heckler added.
With this victory, Heckler continues a strong 2026 season and currently sits second overall in the Tactical Class standings for the Precision Rifle Series Pro Series.
About Vihtavuori
Vihtavuori is world renowned for producing the cleanest burning and temperature stable smokeless powders with unprecedented lot-to-lot consistency. Vihtavuori is a part of the Capstone Precision Group, exclusive U.S. distributor for Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori and SK-Rimfire products. For more information, visit Vihtavuori.com.