|
|
By Iain Harrison
This week’s show saw the return of Jeff Gonzales who, like Craig Sawyer in previous episodes, qualifies as the Real Deal, and if you ever get the chance to attend one of his training classes, I guarantee you’ll want to take the opportunity. The first challenge had the competitors working out of a holster, which was a novelty for Top Shot and indicative that the comfort level of the producers is improving. If nothing else, the fact that the show has introduced a number of TV creative types to guns has to count as a check mark in the positive column.
April 18, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
There is so much that goes on behind the scenes when the filming an episode of Top Shot, such as obtaining experts to train the competitors. When Kelly was first approached by History to return as an expert on long range shooting, he naturally wanted to know what would be expected of him in order to put in the necessary research. Being the good engineering student that he is, his first order of business was to get some time behind an Accuracy International rifle, which meant a trip down from Seattle to see me. I’ve occasionally mentioned the unofficial TS alumni network—this was one of those instances where it came into play.
April 11, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
When I was contacted by the producers for this episode, I have to admit I was a little apprehensive being called in as the expert. Sure, I own a couple of the guns in question and have fond memories of some of their siblings from the British martial arsenal, but expert, I ain’t. So what do you do when you need the inside scoop and historical background on a Webley revolver? Simple, you contact Phil Schreier at the National Firearms Museum, and pick his brains, long before you get anywhere near a plane bound for California.
April 04, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
After the departure of Tim Trefren, falling to several well placed atlatl darts, the red and blue teams team found themselves with an equal number of members. I must confess, I have no idea why my friend Bob Vogel was chosen as the expert for this week, other than he’s an absolute ninja with any handgun, current World IDPA champion and all-round good guy. Come to think of it, those are probably sufficient qualifications for any of the current crop of shooting shows.
March 29, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
I mentioned some of the ways in which the mid season blahs might be countered in previous posts and this time around, the producers of Top Shot rolled out a gorgeous (and huge) example of a Victorian machinists' art. Bear in mind that that the 3.2-inch bag gun was made one at a time, and that each individual part was hand fitted to its neighbor over the course of assembly, making the guns incredibly expensive. Also, because of the charging system, there was no effective means of containing propellant gasses inside the breach. If you watched closely, you could see a puff of smoke escaping toward the teams during the challenge.
March 23, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
This week’s edition of Top Shot proved once again that a single brilliant performance isn’t enough to ensure a win. Instead, victory goes to the team that makes the fewest mistakes, even if you make a few mistakes of your own in the process.
March 14, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
This week's show opened with Terry Vaughan employing the skills he uses in his everyday life to try and instill a little unity to the dysfunctional blue team (he's a motivational speaker, amongst other things, in case you missed his bio), which seemed to have a positive effect, at least in the short term. At the practice range, I have to fault the editing as neither of the teams appeared to hone in on the critical aspect of the challenge to come—that of cocking and loading the crossbow quickly and smoothly. The shooting aspect would have been familiar to everyone (stock, trigger, sights), but no one apart from Tim Trefren was used to getting the crossbow into action. Unfortunately for him, his acknowledgement of this fact meant he sat out the challenge.
March 09, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
This week’s episode saw the welcome return of my friend Chris Reed to the fold, and I bet he got flashbacks as he walked up to the house. The competitors are shuttled around the property in blacked-out vans so that challenges in the process of construction are hidden from view until it’s time to go to work. So any time you get to see the process from the other side of the camera, it feels a little weird. The elimination challenge coach was 3-Gun phenomenon Taran Butler, and if you’ve never seen him run a Benelli, you’re missing one of the virtuoso performances of the practical shooting scene.
February 29, 2012
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
Has it really been almost two years since I first became involved with Top Shot? Time has flown. The cast of Season 1 had no idea what lay in store from them as they assembled in a business hotel near LAX to go through the casting process for a show that most of us thought, secretly, had no chance of getting off the ground. Sometimes, it’s great to be proved wrong.
February 16, 2012
|
|
|
Three shooters discuss the reality show that changed their lives.
February 10, 2012
|
|
|
After determining there would be little in the way of actual survival skills portrayed and absolutely no cannibalism on “Survivor,” I had little interest in reality television. But while I am still unlikely to voluntarily watch the “Real Housewives of Anywhere,” and could not give a whit about Snooky’s angst or what a Kardasian does or does not wear, I have changed my mind. And that’s because reality television has changed to include things that interest me and those like me.
February 10, 2012
|
|
|
On McChord AFB, Iain Harrison swore allegiance to the United States of America.
December 07, 2011
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
Since the first two seasons established a template for the finale that works, the producers seem loathe to change. So, last night we were treated to the spectacle of Mike, Gary, Chris and Dustin going head-to-head shooting dueling trees, playing HORSE and, finally, the all-in culmination of the show.
October 26, 2011
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
Whoever thought up the wheel used during the competition should have taken a bow at the closing credits. Not so much for the concept, but for the ability to jury-rig that contraption out of components that were obviously laying about the back yard of some prop house, and making it safe enough that someone would willingly strap into it. Although the SP89 was a decent choice for the challenge gun, I’m sure a lot of viewers were disappointed that the show didn’t provide a real MP5K and let the shooters take it in full auto mode.
October 25, 2011
|
|
|
By Iain Harrison
Let's deal with the main dramatic element first. Did anyone notice how choppy the editing was in this week's episode? It was almost as if Jake had a story to tell, but it didn't fit the narrative. According to Mr. Zweig, three out of the four malfunctions he experienced with the STI pistol were left on the cutting room floor. Whether these were self-induced or due to the gun and ammo is probably not going to be resolved, however, his stoppage drills as portrayed left a little to be desired.
October 14, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
