5.22.2025
Cissi Lindberg and Erik Stjernlöf are two of Sweden’s top competitors in IPSC pistol shooting. Both use the Aimpoint® Acro® and are currently preparing for the IPSC World Shoot this September.
Road to the World Shoot: Two shooters – one goal
Cissi Lindberg and Erik Stjernlöf are two of Sweden’s top competitors in IPSC pistol shooting. Both use the Aimpoint® Acro® and are currently preparing for the IPSC World Shoot this September. They live close to each other, train together, and support one another as teammates – and friends.
Two paths to one goal
For Cissi, the journey into shooting sports began during her police academy training. She had started studying for her hunting license at sixteen, but it was during her police education that her interest in pistol shooting truly took off. While still in the academy, she began training with her service pistol – and what started as a casual interest quickly grew into something much more serious.
"I never thought I’d end up firing 40,000 rounds a year and training until my elbows gave out,” she says. “But I’m competitive by nature. I always want to get better."
Erik grew up in Värmland, Sweden, with an early interest in firearms. His breakthrough came as an adult, when he saw a photo on a colleague’s office wall – someone competing in dynamic shooting.
"I didn’t know what it was called, but I knew I wanted to try it. Shortly after, I joined a club in Karlstad. Then I moved to Gothenburg and kept going from there."
Cissi and Erik met at the club in Gothenburg and eventually started training together.
"Now we’re like brother and sister," says Cissi.
Training – and what drives them
With the World Shoot approaching, their training routines are split between physical conditioning, technical drills, and live-fire practice. Cissi places a strong emphasis on what she calls calibration – a methodical approach to identifying and addressing weaknesses after each match.
"A match shows me exactly what I need to work on. Under pressure, you see where the cracks are. Right now, I’m focusing a lot on steel and on precision shooting – I dropped points in a match recently by rushing those."
Erik trains several times a week, handloads his own ammo, and analyzes every detail of his performance.
"I’m pretty analytical. I like measuring, evaluating, and making adjustments. It’s a full-time job on top of my actual job."
Focused – but different
At competitions, Cissi is fully locked in.
"I like to be left alone. It’s not about being rude – it’s about conserving energy and giving myself the best chance to perform."
She’s aware that her temperament sometimes draws attention – especially as a woman in a male-dominated sport.
"I get frustrated when I underperform. I’ve learned to handle it better over time, but it still shows now and then."
"I could never shoot with both eyes open using iron sights. With a red dot, a whole new world opened up. It’s way more fun – and easier on the eyes."
The gear – and the joy
Erik has been competing in Open Division since 2015. He built his own pistol and is constantly experimenting with optics, compensators, and gas pressure.
"It’s like Formula 1. You can do whatever you want with the gun – so you better understand the tech."
He also explains why he trusts his ACRO sight:
"I’ve fired over 65,000 rounds with this optic. It’s still going strong. That’s what matters most."
Cissi competed for nine years without an optic before switching to Carry Optics in 2022. It changed everything.
"I could never shoot with both eyes open using iron sights. With a red dot, a whole new world opened up. It’s way more fun – and easier on the eyes."
Friendship – and the World Shoot
Having someone close to train with has been crucial for both of them. It’s given structure, motivation – and a sense of community.
"Having someone to bounce ideas off, to grow with, and to encourage each other means the world," says Erik.
"Without Erik, I would never have come this far," says Cissi.
Eyes on the prize
Both Cissi and Erik have high ambitions – but they’re also realistic about the competition.
"The American shooters are professionals. I have to work a regular job on the side," says Erik. "That makes it harder to go all the way – but a top-five finish is a realistic goal."
"Of course I want to win," says Cissi. "But just being there, shooting well, and feeling that warmth in your chest when everything clicks – that feeling is worth everything. That’s what drives me."
Fact box: What is IPSC?
- IPSC stands for International Practical Shooting Confederation – a global sport based on dynamic shooting.
- Competitors move through stages with a variety of targets and challenges, where speed, accuracy, and safety are all scored.
- Each stage is unique, pushing the shooter to quickly analyze, plan, and execute a strategy.
- IPSC includes pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines – often under tight time pressure – and is one of the fastest-growing shooting sports in the world.
