Harrison used his natural ability and careful observation skills to string himself along as he became more involved in the shooting community. With no real mentor to lead him, he was almost entirely self-taught.

His first formal training came at age 17 when he treated himself to a handgun shooting class with money he had saved from his birthday. The class, advertised in one of the many shooting magazines to which he subscribed, helped Harrison become proficient in drawing, presentation, speed reloading and firing while on the move.

By the time he was 18, Harrison was ready to enter IPSC and test his mettle with a handgun. “I shot on the local level for a couple of years, but my opportunities were kind of limited,” Harrison said. “I shot [IPSC] Modified Division for about two years before I started getting ammunition for free courtesy of Her Majesty.”

Soon after entering college Harrison joined the ROTC, beginning what would be an eight-year military career. He quickly found that the principles he had picked up during competition would help him to assimilate into the army shooting culture.

“The consequences for screwing up were slightly more severe than competition,” he said. “But nonetheless, the skills I honed in competition were easily transferable [to the army].”

Harrison was then commissioned and began his active duty with the armored infantry. He was first deployed to Germany where he gained experience with the General Purpose Machine Gun, or GPMG, which is the U.S. equivalent of the M240 Bravo, and his daily ride, a Warrior Armored Fighting Vehicle equipped with a 30 mm cannon.

Just like any other soldier Harrison relied heavily on his primary firearm, the L85 variant of the SA80 5.56x45 mm NATO bullpup rifle, which has been British standard-issue since 1987.

“As an infantryman, I really appreciated the compact design [of the SA80] which was great when operating from vehicles or in an urban environment, its optical sight and three-point sling,” he said. “The rifle was very accurate, transitioned well and was very controllable in full auto, but the trigger was long, gritty and heavy. It wasn’t very soldier-proof.”

Soon after his return from active duty came the aforementioned exodus from the United Kingdom. But Harrison landed on his feet in no time, settling in Oregon and re-establishing his connection with the firearm world.

After his arrival in the United States, the former British officer returned to his IPSC roots, shooting rifle and handgun matches on the West Coast. He also competed in numerous 3-gun competitions, including the MGM Ironman, in which he placed second in Trooper Class using firearms he built himself.

Harrison even built his own variant of the FAL using a demilled Austrian parts kit and a Brazilian Imbel receiver. With match-grade handloads, it had no trouble placing 10 rounds in a 1 1/4-inch group at 100 yards with iron sights. To top it all off, he used the rifle to place second in Heavy Metal division in the Inland Empire 3-Gun Match.

It is clear that firearms were much more than a basement hobby or passing interest for Harrison, and it had always been that way. He had the pedigree of a first-class marksmen and almost unmatched versatility. It was time for America to see that firsthand.

America’s Next “Top Shot”
Harrison stood at the final challenge with fellow contestant Chris Cerino. They were the last two standing after 10 grueling shooting elimination challenges over 33 days of filming. They were about to tackle a seven-station shooting course consisting of some of the most difficult shooting challenges imaginable. The first man to finish the course would be named “Top Shot.”

The event went fast and furious, with Harrison sticking a throwing knife in the target on the second throw, hitting the bull’s-eye with the longbow and rolling on to the Colt Peacemaker. He looked almost effortless in the face of the pressure.

“Both of us were aware of where each one was one during each of the stages,” he said. “We were neck-and-neck right down to the wire. I think the only thing that saved me was being able to load a couple of rounds into a Springfield M1A.”

In the final stage of “Top Shot” the remaining two competitors had to hit targets at 100 and 300 yards with an M1A. After taking care of the first target in one shot, and with Cerino struggling to reload, Harrison center-punched the 300-yard target to win it all.

“I think the key moment in the final challenge was when Iain and Chris simply walked up to the event,” said contestant Adam Benson. “To be honest, I saw Chris as having more technical skill and shooting ability, but when the two guys walked up to the final event, Chris was giggling happy and Iain was dead stone serious. And it was Iain’s focus and intensity that would win it for him in the end.”

“After the first practice session, I realized that Iain was an incredibly capable shooter, but more importantly an extremely well-rounded shooter,” said Caleb Giddings, fellow “Top Shot” contestant. “Unlike most of the other competitors that had relatively specialized skill sets, Iain was the one that stuck out in my mind as being much more of a ‘total package’ competitor.”

“Iain, every weapon he touches turns to gold,” said contestant Kelly Bachand during the final episode. “He hits his target.”

Harrison had made his debut on the national stage, and he made it count.

“Looking back, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and life is all about experience rather than material things,” he said. “So I feel richer for being there.”

It was easy to see that after all he had been through, Iain Harrison was a richer man. Not only did he take home the $100,000 prize, he was leaving the show with the confidence that his unrelenting love of firearms had paid off. Beyond that, the NRA Life member knew that he would always have the Second Amendment on his side.