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By Iain Harrison
Chris Cheng is the self-desribed IT geek and winner of Top Shot Season 4 That self-deprecating description belies the fierce competitive streak that underpins his success on the show, despite his lack of formal training.
May 07, 2012
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American Rifleman Field Editor Bruce N. Canfield is one of the nation’s leading authorities and authors on American military arms. You may not know his name, but if you read a story about guns ranging from the 1861 Springfield to the Garand or M1 Carbine in American Rifleman over the past two decades, you know his work. A genteel, soft-spoken Southerner, Bruce seems an unlikely choice for reality television, but he is a part of the History Channel’s hottest new show. Bruce told me that for executive producers, two things are hot right now on television: guns and Louisiana (I’m sure Will Hayden from “Sons of Guns” would agree). Both are combined in “Cajun Pawn Stars,” which airs Monday nights on History, and is filmed at Jimmy “Big Daddy” DeRamus’ Silver Dollar Pawn & Jewelry in Alexandra, La.
February 21, 2012
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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
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This week sees me on the road again, headed to the largest 3-gun match of the season in Kentucky, so it was perhaps apt that Episode 3 of "Top Shot" would feature one of the biggest names in the sport as shotgun expert. Taran Butler demonstrated his prowess with a Benellli and showed why reloading is such a critical skill to master.
August 26, 2011
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On week 1 of Top Shot Season 3, teams were divided ont he basis of who won and who lost. Will this affect the future of the competition?
August 12, 2011
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Season 3 got off to a great start last night with the producers choosing to create an instant winner versus loser dynamic, via the medium of the S&W .500 Mag. In the initial head-to-head shoot off, competitors were paired up according to their backgrounds and Mike Hughes showed his mettle with a smoking run, despite being much more familiar with a Glock. Both ladies were forced to deal with recoil that was way out of their comfort zones—a pretty harsh way to kick off the competition, but great for showing the audience dramatic high speed footage of flames blowing out of the barrel/cylinder gap.
August 10, 2011
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If you've been following along with Reality Shots so far, you've undoubtedly enjoyed our inside look at the guns, contestants and challenges of History Channel's Top Shot Season 2. You've also enjoyed analysis of the show from its first champion, Iain Harrison. The heralded shooter and British army officer has provided clever insights and behind-the-scenes tidbits from episode one to the exciting finale last week.
May 04, 2011
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I must confess that when the AmericanRifleman.org folks approached me to provide my insight on "Top Shot," I was a little bit hesitant. I'm really not a TV kind of guy, but they persisted. I guess my take is somewhat akin to a kid in Willy Wonka's factory—there's a ton of stuff happening that looks cool, but I have no idea what it does so please take any views offered with a basketball-size grain of salt. What has been interesting is the way the show has gotten bigger and better, and how it has brought many non-shooters into the fold. I've talked to a lot of people who've seen the show and want to go shooting as a direct result. So, if you have a similar encounter, please take the time to show them just how safe, satisfying and challenging our hobby can be.
April 28, 2011
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Top Shot Poll: Who Will Win?
April 21, 2011
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Last night's thrilling episode is brought to you from the lobby of a mid-priced business hotel, north of Los Angeles. Sitting next to me is the winner of Season 2, and I'll leave it to you to figure out why we're here. You might draw a conclusion from the fact that the casting process for Season 4 is underway. Hmm, we're talking about one, two, and four....what's missing? I'm pleased to say that, based on having worked with him a few months ago and again over the past few days, the winner of Season 2 is one heck of a stand-up guy. He has his own story to tell, which I'll leave for him to recount after next week, but suffice to say that "Top Shot" only scratches the surface. There's a whole stack of stories behind how he got to where he is today.
April 20, 2011
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So, did anyone notice the connection between the firearms on last night's show? I had the opportunity to choose just about any firearm in the inventory of the the biggest prop house on the west coast, but went with a few familiar friends in the AR15, the FN-FAL, Browning Hi-Power and SIG, figuring that most firearms aficionados had shot at least one of them. They'd also been mostly absent from the show so far. In case you were wondering, they're all variants of guns that have shown up in British service over the years. If only I could have snuck in a WG revolver and an Enfield...
April 13, 2011
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OK, full disclosure: I love shooting .50 BMGs. Why? They are loud, obnoxious, excessive and very, very American. When I lived in New York, the legislature decided that, despite the fact that the cartridge was conspicuously absent from the roll call of those found at crime scenes, they were going to ban it. Until that point, I had absolutely no interest in the round, but as soon as it was under threat, I knew I had to have one. So, I plunked down my hard-earned cash on a single-shot bolt-action upper for an AR-15. While not the most refined or accurate contraption, it brings a huge grin to the face of anyone who shoots it, and the blast from the muzzle brake removes anything on the bench at the range.
April 07, 2011
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On this week's episode of Top Shot, the contestants will face a long-range test that most shooters don't get to experience, the 1000-yard shot. The remaining competitors, who have made it to the individual stage, will be settling in behind the biggest gun ever used on the show—the Barrett 82A1, chambered in .50 BMG.
April 05, 2011
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Last night's team challenge showed that, despite the 10/22's old school wood stock, simple iron sights and complete lack of a tacticool railed forend, it is nonetheless a great equalizer. Chris Reed demonstrated his knowledge and insight of this when he said, “with the .22, in ten minutes I'll tell you who's the better shooter.” And he should know, having regularly placed in the Total Outdoorsman Challenge.
March 30, 2011
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Reality Shots once again got to pick the brain of the most recently ousted Top Shot star: competitive shotgun shooter Kyle Frasure. Despite some rough performances in the first few challenges, Kyle made it past the halfway point and had only positive things to say about his experience.
March 24, 2011
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