History Channel's "Top Shot" on Sunday night

[Quilbilly]

Desidog-

"History Channel used to have a great wealth of historically accurate educational shows, now their line-up has little or nothing to do with history."

This is exactly right. It is sad you can not even learn History from the History channel any more. I am not surprised with what they have done with this show. I still find it somewhat entertaining so will continue to watch it.

 

[Dr.Rob]

The swoopy jib arm camera angles of the outside of the house are pure MTV, a shot used in "Ultimate Fighter" and every episode of the "Real World."

As for the show... I missed the first half introducing all the competitors but 'arrogance' is pretty common in ALL competitive sports. Frankly I didn't see a lot of chest thumping in the second half of the episode when the team events started. Shooting sports are notoriously difficult to film in an interesting way.. I'd make the targets at close range smaller for sure. But that 'kid' bullseyed a 600 yard target without waiting for a correction from his spotter.. he didn't need it. great shot.

As for Mike? You ever been on television? Live TV? That's a LOT of pressure, like 100 times more than your average match.

As for you all saying 'so and so should be on the show'... History Channel recruited actively for this show, there were multiple threads about it here. Tom Knapp might be the bee's knees in trick shooting, maybe his contract wouldn't let him do so--there are a LOT of factors in getting 'all the big names' in one setting.

I still enjoyed it overall, but I'd rather spend a day shooting than an afternoon watching someone else shoot. I'll make a point to watch it after derby practice next week.

 

[KodiakBeer]

can guarantee that the messed up sights were intentional as well as I'm sure they were not allowed to adjust them

What messed up sights? His partner hit the bull in 3 shots at 50 yards. He couldn't hit the bull in 37 shots at 100 yards. He says he was aiming low left by 15 feet, so... I'd say he just allowed himself to get rattled. If he had been a little more collected, he could have just asked his partner where he held for his shot, then aimed accordingly.

He's probably a fine shooter on his own turf and comfort zone, but he's now shooting in front of a TV camera for the whole world to see. He got rattled...

 

[MAKster]

Just goes to prove that just because you are experienced on one firearm doesn't mean you know anything about other types. I'm sure Mike could shoot bulleyes all day long with a M4 but he clearly knows nothing about the ladder sight on a 1903. When it is folded down I believe it is set for over 500 yards so he should have been aiming about two feet low to hit the target at 100 yards.

 

[thebigc]

i didint like how they picked that kid to go up agasint the guy when he didint even have a chance to shoot.

 

[desidog]

You ever been on television? Live TV? That's a LOT of pressure, like 100 times more than your average match.

It's a camera, not a live studio audience! I have to imagine that part of screening for a show is figuring out who can hack a photo-shoot... and a video of yourself was part of the application.

I don't know, i wasn't there, but the fact that we're all talking about it means something-ain't-right.

 

[FLAvalanche]

I'm glad the kid made smiley faces and talked crap about it. Why? Because everyone else treated him like a snot nosed kid with no experience.

He simply went out there, saw he was getting dumped on, talked crap then backed it up.

He got pushed then drew his line in the sand and then did his job when someone crossed his line.

Good for him!

 

[Mags]

I think it is rather strange and dissapointing for a show with such potential to have a social aspect not much different from Survivor.

 

[FLAvalanche]

I think it is rather strange and dissapointing for a show with such potential to have a social aspect not much different from Survivor.

True but if it didn't have the social aspect of Survivor or American Idol your everyday sheep wouldn't watch it.

 

[Warhawk83]

I was hugely disappointed in this show. Top Shot's doing a team competition @ 50 and 100 yards?

This may be good promotion that all gun owners aren't trigger happy rednecks to the "Survivor" watching sheep.


I was proud of the 22 year old and he did some damn fine shooting.I can't believe they treated him like a know nothing punk when he's on the friggin USA rifle team. I've been treated like that before, I usually have someone older tell me how to shoot every time I go to the range unless I'm there by myself.I shoot just fine, most of the time better than them, and I'm 26.

 

[testosterone]

He sent 30 rds down range?

I think about my 15th miss, I would have pulled the bolt out and done a quick boresight to get the irons at least somewhere near the target.

If it indeed was the rifle, the other guy smacked the 50 in 3 shots.

 

[brassdog]

It's definitely a "mixmaster" of reality shows and firearms.
While the concept is intriguing, the execution could have been better.

Of course, the whole point is to create human interest by editing drama shots throughout the entire format.

Ultimately, my reaction is that I fell asleep because it's really not my "cup of tea". However, I will catch a few more episodes to see how it proceeds.

 

[brassdog]

Having read Mike's post on the shooting performance website. I can say that he did the best he could with the monkey junk that the show purposely threw at all of the contestants. I wouldn't put it beyond people to sabotage their own team in order to get ahead.

At least Mike has a good attitude about the whole thing. Don't Quit. When you fall. Just pick yourself up and keep going.

 

[flhtcuibyhd]

I'm just happy to see a show come out with a pro gun story line! It was entertaining.

I was also glad to see the kid stand up for himself, and the smiley face was hilarious. I hope he does well. As far as the whole loose sight deal, that sounds a little fishy to me. His partner nailed the 50 yard target no problems, and he nailed the first target in the shoot-off no problem.

Ben - You will have to let us know if any of the Beretta's turn up with loose sights or bent barrels ..............

 

[Ben Stoeger]

I can promise you that the 92s on the show were in good order. Pressing into episode 2, nobody will have any equipment excuses!

 

[joeq]

Delete

 

[bubba15301]

if these are the top shooters i would hate to see the ones that didnt make it
i will not watch again

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Ok, I just wasted 40 minutes of my life going back and re-watching this. Here are my thoughts:

The show did a really good job of making Mike look like a pompous nincompoop, or he is one.

First Mike talks about how good he is, “We’re all strong with the rifles aren’t we…..”
Or as his partner Andre put it, “We were comfortable with the Springfield … he’ll [Mike] take the longer shot with all the talking about how good he was.”

Then he shows how poorly he shoots, both with an unscoped rife and pistol. And how poorly he spots. “3 clicks left, one click down…..” while spotting for a guy shooting an 03 Springfield, *** does that mean. What clicks are they making on an iron sighted rifle. I’m guessing he is the only one professional enough to know what he is talking about.

Afterwards, Mike blamed Andre for his spotting, but Andre called the first shot correctly top, left corner. Instead of making slight adjustments, he shifted so far off neither he nor his spotter could see where he was shooting. And he blamed being unfamiliar with the rifle, but he had a chance to practice. The show actually showed him taking shots prone with the m14 and 03 I think. Instead of availing himself of the opportunity to familiarize himself with the rifle he was to shoot, he shot a variety of weapons. He should have done so instead of getting himself appointed “leader.” He also should have taken Kelly’s advice “Don’t touch the sights, take three shots exactly the same…”

He also shows how much confidence he has by re-loading the whole mag, after he missed his first couple of shots. And he showed his sportsmanship by calling the other team the “smurfs.”

Here is what I took away from it.

1. It's wonderful to see a pro-gun program for the masses.
2. It’s refreshing to see the weakest competitor go.
3. I am going to put tape over the rear sight of my mosin the next time I go to the range, and see if I can shoot a pie plate at 100yds without using a rear sight, in less than 37 shots.
4. I am going to familiarize myself with more types of rifles. If anyone else would like to familiarize themselves with the aforementioned mosin and has a nice 03 Springfield, Garand or mint Mk III enfield they would like to trade. Please let me know.

 

[Rembrandt]

Gotta wonder if these are the best "unemployed" shooters available.....the good ones couldn't take the time off from work to do a lengthy TV show.

 

[Heavies]

I was dissappointed in the format(I can't stand those "reality" tv shows!). I guess it was mildly entertaining. I wish I could have stayed up for the entire program. Haha
Good for the non shooter types. Hopfully it'll get my wife interested in comming with me to the range once in a while. =p

 

[ironcode]

The show actually striked a good balance as far as non-shooting audience goes, in my opinion. My wife actually watched it with me without complaining once! If they were more history- or weapons-oriented, the result would probably have been me watching it alone after the first 10 minutes... If it promotes the sport and entices non-shooters to try it for themselves, I'm all for it.

As far as Mike goes, it was BS. The guy was all over the place, both with the rifle and with the pistol, after others had shot them just fine. He might have been nervous or just jerking the trigger, but it wasn't the equipment; it was himself. He should own up to the fact that he messed up.

 

[EddieNFL]

Well, I DVR'ed the show. Guess I can delete it now.

 

[NMGonzo]

Did any of the shooters had a flat bill cap?

THAT would make it to MTV in a heartbeat!

 

[Slamfire]

I watched the show.

Shooting at what looked to be 12 inch circles at 50 yards and 100 yards with a rest? I was not impressed.

I do not see the shooters adjusting the zeros of these rifles. Each and every mil surplus I have owned, I take them to the range and drift adjust and file adjust the sights so the rifle shoots to point of aim at 100 yards. It is not uncommon for a military surplus rifle to be off windage and elevation by feet at 100 yards.

The 03 Springfield would have been shooting 16" high with the battle sight. I did not see anyone flipping the ladder up and using the peep or the notch.

Incidentally, if your Springfield 03 is zero'd, you really do not want to touch the windage. It is better to aim off. The windage adjustment on a 03 is rough and inexact. The slightest movement will really move the point of impact.

I thought the 200, 400, and 600 yard shoot off was interesting and a test of markmanship. Even though they were using scopes and sand bag rests.

I believe the team selection process, of voting with all seeing the vote, is designed to create tension within the group. I suspect the creators of this series wanted to see cat fights between the competitors.

 

[Gord]

I had high hopes, but yeah, 50/100 yards with an '03 Springfield isn't what I'd call a tough shot, and Mike's big embarassing failure was obviously manufactured for drama quotient. I'm fairly certain that I could shoot an '03 without any sights whatsoever and manage to walk it onto the bullseye in 37 shots.

Also, am I the only one who cringed whenever they butchered the pronunciation of Mosin Nagant?