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.

The initial challenge itself showed that even the best shooters can have off days, but that the key to success is in winning more than you lose, Mike Hughes being a case in point. One aspect of the elimination challenge that was particularly striking was the difference in mental attitude of each shooter. Alex approached the course of fire without a real game plan, deciding to adjust his strategy on the fly when he found out what being propelled at 15 mph backwards felt like. When Mike, on the other hand, was being pulled into position, you could see him taking a sight picture and trying to commit the target layout to memory. He watched the last target disappear from view knowing this would be the one he’d pick up first when the flag dropped. When he left the starting line, he already had a solid plan in mind.

He took the first three targets on one side and then rapidly transitioned to the opposite array, alternating as he went downrange. The result was almost impossible to beat and a great illustration of the mental discipline that top-level competition instills.

Going into the final, I’m sure all of us have our own picks as to who will win the title. Chris has shown himself to be a versatile all-around shooter, Mike has bounced back from elimination three times, Gary has the background and training to see him through just about anything and Dustin’s natural abilities and unbridled enthusiasm just might be enough to overcome his lack of experience. Any of these guys would be a great ambassador for firearms owners in general, so I’m not going to be upset whatever the outcome. Given the amount of money spent on this season’s challenges, I’m pretty sure the finale will be every bit as spectacular as the preceding episodes. I’ll be watching and I’m sure many of you will be as well.