Top Shot (Season 4)

[Tom K]

The elimination shootoff between Dylan and William proved the old adage, “You can’t miss fast enough to win.” There were ten bowling pins, each in two pieces for a total of 20 targets. They had two minutes to shoot – 120 seconds. That averages out to six seconds per shot, not counting any time for reloading or changing guns. Knocking off 20 seconds for reloading and changing guns still leaves 100 seconds, or five seconds per shot.

Dylan was popping off rounds far too fast – if he had just taken his time and aimed he could’ve done much better. I don’t know how many pre-loaded magazines they get but I was amazed to see that he had gotten to the point of having to reload the Browning .22 mags with loose rounds. William kept his cool and “took his time in a hurry.”

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I switched the pic up for a bigger view (Thanks again mdmorden) I don't think it's as much the camera angle as she is one short little puppy. Notice the rifle barrel angle and you will see what I mean. From HER position, id have to say she could only see half the target above the bottle bottom.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The bigger picture is much better.

You can tell it is camera angle, because the ground looks like it slopes upward from the shooter to the target...it didn't.

Also, if you look at how she missed. Her bullet strikes on the backboard aren't above the bottle opener. They are beside it...lateral displacement...and about halfway up the handle

 

[Seattleimport]

As with Survivor, when watching Top Shot I'm always struck by the notion that a lot of folks would pay a lot of money to attend some kind of weekend (or weeklong) camp that mimicked the show.

You pay a certain amount of $ in exchange for food, lodging, and participation. You get to be part of a team, engage in fun competitions using both exotic and familiar weapons, and the winner gets a big prize (say, 10% of each entrant's fee goes to a prize pool). Film the whole thing and send DVDs to the participants.

To pull it off you'd have to charge... oh, $5k per participant with 20 participants per "show". And hold multiple shows over the year (and multiple years) so you could amortize capital investments like guns, land, props, etc. You could lower that entrant fee via sponsors, or even partnerships for broadcast or webcast (Amateur Top Shot).

 

[allaroundhunter]

From the opening credits, it looks like you'll get your wish - along with a guest sniper expert from a previous season...

Just started watching this season a couple days ago. We don't have cable, so I wait for the season to get rolling a little before downloading via iTunes. So far, I've really enjoyed all the episodes and challenges. I also really appreciate the contestants this year. With the exception of Littlejohn, they seem close to the level-headed camaraderie of Season 1.

It is also on historychannel.com and Hulu.com

 

[mac66]

"As with Survivor, when watching Top Shot I'm always struck by the notion that a lot of folks would pay a lot of money to attend some kind of weekend (or weeklong) camp that mimicked the show.

You pay a certain amount of $ in exchange for food, lodging, and participation. You get to be part of a team, engage in fun competitions using both exotic and familiar weapons, and the winner gets a big prize (say, 10% of each entrant's fee goes to a prize pool). Film the whole thing and send DVDs to the participants.

To pull it off you'd have to charge... oh, $5k per participant with 20 participants per "show". And hold multiple shows over the year (and multiple years) so you could amortize capital investments like guns, land, props, etc. You could lower that entrant fee via sponsors, or even partnerships for broadcast or webcast (Amateur Top Shot)."


That is probably a good idea but other than the gimmicky courses of fire, most shooting competitions are already like.

 

[Ryanxia]

The paint can shot seemed pretty hard, and maybe it was just me but it looked like the blue team paint cans didn't go as high in the air as the red team.
I could see being able to make that shot with a 9mm or .40 but with a .45 at that distance I know I'm not good enough to do that.

 

[9mmepiphany]

How high the upper can would fly would be determined by how centered your hit was on the lower can...to transmit force to the upper can evenly

 

[theautobahn]

How high the upper can would fly would be determined by how centered your hit was on the lower can...to transmit force to the upper can evenly

Do you mean centered laterally or horizontally? I'm no physics genius (or any other kind of genius, really), but I would think hitting the bottom can lower on the horizontal axis would transmit more force upward (or perhaps it wouldn't matter where on the vertical plane as you'd still be displacing the same volume of water)???

 

[gathert]

I was wondering how they pulled that one off so well when it got hit each time. I don't remember, but the top of the bottom can might have been left off, allowing the water to push upwards without any resistance, launching and empty top can upwards easily.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Do you mean centered laterally or horizontally? I'm no physics genius (or any other kind of genius, really), but I would think hitting the bottom can lower on the horizontal axis would transmit more force upward (or perhaps it wouldn't matter where on the vertical plane as you'd still be displacing the same volume of water)???

Both

I would think that if you hit the bottom can too low, that two bad things could happen:
1. You'd hit low and hit the wood
2. You'd displace the can off the vertical and you wouldn't get the full push upward...it isn't as if the bottom can was anchored to the bench

...plus there was the bullseye on the lower can, I'm thinking that was a hint for the shooters...sort of like the best compromise for launching a projectile the furthest is at a 45 degree angle

I was wondering how they pulled that one off so well when it got hit each time.

They used a new bottom can each time

 

[gathert]

I meant how they got the can to launch based on water pressure alone. I knew they used a new can each time. That would be silly not to.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Ah...Don't know for sure.

You'll notice that it wasn't consistent, that leads me to believe it was based on the bullet strike and the hydrostatic pressure imparted to the water in the can. You wouldn't leave the whole top off...not enough pressure...you'd need to concentrate the hydraulic pressure into a stream to launch the top can

 

[theautobahn]

Again, not a physics expert, but...

I would imagine that you would leave the top off the bottom can and fill it completely full of water (to the tip-top). Stack the top (empty) can on the bottom, they'll usually "nest" together, creating a slight seal (not 9mm's hydrostatic pressure theory). When the bullet impacts the bottom can, one of two things is going to created the hydrostatic pressure needed to eject the top can. Either the bullet striking the paint can will cause the outside of the can to compress, creating pressure, or the bullet going through the water will create the pressure (I would think it would be more impressive using hollow points). Think of the temporary wound channel created when a bullet passes through a body (or gelatin).

I'm thinking I'm going to try to replicate this at some point this summer (maybe not shooting the second can, but at least figuring out the best way to launch it).

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

It would probably be best to seal the bottom can completely off. Not extremely tight, but just bump the lid in. That would launch a top can VERY well.

 

[gathert]

Now somebody has to go try it. I know the guys that make the show probably went over all aspects of the challenges to make sure they work every time.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Now somebody has to go try it.

I volunteer for that. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[gathert]

If my neighbors didn't mind I would have done it already. Pesky neighbors...

 

[leftyz]

The top lid of the bottom can was gone.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Had someone from the crew on the show post on another forum.

There is no lid on the lower can. When they were setting up the shot (pre-production) they found that hitting a bit further down (a little below center) gave the highest launch without kicking the can off center

 

[Elkins45]

Was anyone else surprised when a Colby held up a Webley? When I heard him say "the Rolls Royce of revolvers" I looked at my wife and said "hey, it's gonna be a Colt Python!" Boy was I wrong. I'm not sure how a revolver with a DA trigger so hard that Gabby can't pull it deserves that title, nor do I consider it to be the finest combat revolver (or whatever exact title Colby gave it) either.

This show is proving to be a good demonstration of that old adage "a slow hit is better than a fast miss."

 

[35Rem]

Rolls Royce must equal imported, overpriced junk.

 

[Kaeto]

I think Gabby just has an exceedingly weak grip. My Webley Mk VI has an easier double action trigger than my PA-63. I would like to beat the person who had that one Webley nickeled though.

I noticed neither of the guys who went through the elimination challenge used the technique to speed shoot the Enfield.


Rem35: If you have never fired a Webley do not call it junk. I am fed up with know-it-alls who put down guns they have never touched.

 

[gathert]

The Webley is a great revolver, and its has its place in evolution of guns. While the nickel plated one looked good it made me cringe a little.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Well at least Terry wasn't subjected to the dirty handkerchief of friendship. And yet again the worst 2 shooters didn't go to elimination.