Historic Elimination

posted on July 25, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rackley2015_fs.jpg (5)

The producers of Top Shot sure seem to love the trick shots, as well as grouping the shooters into squads to force them to rely on the abilities of others. It almost seemed like prophecy when Kelly discussed how he had gone to the Proving Ground every time he had been grouped with others, but had never placed lower than second competing on his own.

Since last week's challenged ended the run of my other favorite, I sure was hoping I was wrong. Of course, I wasn’t really concerned because Kelly is good and has really dominated at the Proving Ground with whatever gun has been placed in his hands.

To be honest though, the competitors weren’t that impressive in the expedition shooting portion. Everybody was missing, with the extreme exception of Peter who nailed all three thrown soda cans to give his Blue squad the win, and since Gary was able to hit two cotton swabs at 25 feet, the Gray squad, consisting of Adam, Chris and Kelly, traveled to the Proving Ground. There Chris placed a bullet from a SIG P229 1.5 inches from the bullseye of the target 50 feet away. This, of course, meant that Adam and Kelly had to compete in the Elimination, but they didn’t seem too disappointed when they learned they would be competing with a Hotchkiss Mountain Gun that served in the 1902 Battle of Manila.

While Kelly seemed to do better during practice, under the pressure of the challenge, Adam was a little more consistent and continues his quest for $100,000 and the title of History’s Top Shot. Kelly was sent home, but he summed up his feelings with a single line: “I shot a freaking cannon.”

Latest

Functional Tension Handgun Grip Tarani
Functional Tension Handgun Grip Tarani

Tension Destroys Your Shooting Performance. Here's How to Manage It.

Whether you’re managing a lethal-force encounter, running a stage in competition or working a timed drill from concealment, performance shooting reigns king, and one of the most brutal and insidious king-slayers of all time is self-induced tension.

EchoCore Suppressors: Embracing The Silence Using Innovative Design

It’s difficult, especially for a brand-new manufacturer, to stand out in a very crowded space, but EchoCore Suppressors has accomplished just that and notched some prestigious accolades along the way.

Gun of the Week: Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway

The Dark Mountain Arms Stowaway rifle is a bolt-action, single-shot design chambered for the 5.7x28 mm FN cartridge.

The Armed Citizen® Feb. 27, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

The B22 Jaguar: Beretta's New Cutting-Edge .22

Beretta's new B22 Jaguar is a .22 Long Rifle-chambered pistol optimized for the range, competition and introducing new shooters to the sport. 

Review: Daisy Smart Target System

The Daisy STS is a digital target system geared toward younger shooters and featuring an array of colorful monsters that must be dealt with using a trusty Red Ryder BB gun.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.