Saw this show for the first time yesterday. Am I the only one thinks this show blows? How can you screw up a great mixture of guns and competition? The cast is, of course, politically correct and carefully chosen to have someone to root for whether you're a cowboy, African-American, strong, silent military, a woman, an older guy, a young, overly confident whippersnapper, an ex-cop, ...etc.... The show's host is a powerful, macho guy who can't speak without putting his hands on his hips. God, please..... I shoot with guys at the range who can smoke some of these contestants with certain disciplines of shooting. This show is like the crab fisherman show. Like a comedian I heard on the radio, "After the second season of Deadliest Catch, I was rooting for the crabs." A great idea by the History Channel, it's too bad it's really just another "reality" show where you get thrown off the island. Let's hope there's no shootouts in the clubhouse before the end of the season.

Hi:
I do not watch the show on a regular basis. The one I had a question about was the "Hot Shot" military guy who couldn't hit the target at 100 yards with a Springfield Model 1903. His partner did at 50 yards.
Mr. "Hot Shot"'s excuse was the Springfield's rear sight was loose.
In my lifetime I have used Model 1903s a "Bunch" and have never used one or ever heard of one with a "loose rear sight". These weapons are checked prior to using them on the show.
Probably Mr. "Hot Shot" forgot that the Springfields battle sights are set for 525 yards. At 100 yards using the battle sights and a "Six O'clock" sight picture, the bullets are going over the target.

I saw on one advertisement for the show that one of them told the other "You have to cock it every time" on a single action army clone, and another one said he felt "uncomfortable" with it.

Are you kidding me??!?!?!
Not only that, but if the show has any budget at all, why not let them use a real Colt 3rd generation too- not some knock off.

Imagine what would happen if you handed them a Schofield clone or a Webley!

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Lost it all in a boat accident

DVR is the greatest invention since television. I record the show,
fast forward through commercials and the b..s... twenty five minutes on with my life.

Is that the show with the Red team vs the Blue team?.. Where the two teams face each other in a competition and the losing team picks two members to have a face off.... the loser of that face off goes home?

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- The Federalist #46 -

last Sundays show had a contestant trying to set up a deal , if the team lost ,his coalition of 4 would pick the 2 best shooters , not his group , to compete against each other and get rid of 1 of them. To my joy one of the coalition went to the 2 best shots and explained what was happening.The major conspirator then kept proclaiming that the person that exposed his plan was a RAT and mouthed off as to how the RAT should be gotten rid of . In my way of thinking he is the one at fault for trying to get rid of good shooters on his team possibly so he has a better chance of winning.
This is just another reality show not a shooting show

Saying "Top Shot" is all BS, is like complaining WWE is fake. Of course it is! But it's kinda fun.

Ah c'mon, you didn't think the road runner & coyote were real did you?

I was too lazy to check, but I suspect this subject has been discussed here before. Regardless, I would register my vote in favor of the show, regardless of the many controversies it may provoke among us gun-loving viewers. Most important, in my opinion, is that the show tends to promote an acceptance of shooting sports among the general public. People would be bored to death if they had to watch contestants shooting holes in paper, or if the contestants were ordinary shooters who got along well with most other shooters. So the producers dreamed up some gimmicks that, while annoying to some of us, can appeal to the limited attention span of the general public and maybe even convince some viewers that shooting sports are not bad and may actually be worth trying.

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Quoth the raven:
"Nevermore"

I concur. I enjoy the show, and look forward to each week's episode.

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not limited by 30 characters

What he said-supposedly these folks have some familiarity with firearms. Not being able to hit something that close with an '03? I thought I heard he tried some 30 shots?
Oprah could do better...

They are casting for the second season. So the guys who are better shots than the current crop can try signing up. :>)

I am too old, slow, and cranky, to try out. But my son, The Bullseye Shooter, may if it lasts till he's old enough.

I was waiting for a well thought out reply like this...now I don't have to type it myself.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I love the show. There are enough boring shows on the history and development of Mosin Nagant, etc etc. This is a mass appeal show and is lots of fun. If it gets more people to see the sport in a positive light its a good thing.

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Rule of law, not a man.

The idea of the show is to test the shooters with weapons they AREN'T familar with and see who can adapt. A couple of weeks ago they were using Long Bows and Crossbows for Pete's sake.
That part I like. Seeing who can step completely outside their own disipline and adapt their skills to something totally different than what they're used to. That's a challenge.
The soap opera I can do without. For example, the previously mentioned guy who was plotting against his own team. Lordy that pissed me off. But then that was the point wasn't it?
Reality TV. Nothing much real about it.

This show is a giant pant load of poooooooooo. Contrived doesn't begin to explain the content. By accident I watched this week's episode. Who are these people? How were they chosen? Supposedly they are well know competitive shooters. I don't recognize a single person.

The loser of the shoot off stated that he was known as the "Little Giant" in shooting circles. Ha! I bet he is best known at his local XXX theater.

Out
West

Click here:

Pilgrim Films & Television - The largest reality television production company in Los Angeles, CA

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Rule of law, not a man.

Its horrible, I can't stand to watch it becuase it reminds me of "Survivor" with guns. Why do you need drama in a gun show?

It's just not for me.

I agree. I think a traitor is much lower than a rat, and the plotter was a traitor, IMO.

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Front sight and squeeze

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Great idea for a 30 minute show. Pro's go out, shoot up a BUNCH of ammo, someone loses adn goes home. Come back tomorrow and we'll shoot the next 30 minute segment.


Think about it, Blue team and red team pick one shooter each, they shoot at a 200, 400 and 600 yard target. Red team shoots 4 bullets and the game is over????????????????????????????????? Blue team looses

No match should be less than 100 rounds total for each team. Score the targets and then do a shoot off if necessary. This shooting 5 rounds every other day and sitting by the pool "strategizing" blows.



BUT, way to much BS, Drama and far too little shooting of any kind. It's more of a "Big Brother" show than shooting.

The shooting requirments are well thought out and you must be able to adapt, unlike the Grand Master Glock Shooter who isn't winning his "Voting" game very well.

Don't waste my time with it any more.

I agree with the 30 minute show sentiment. I love the different weapon aspect of the show, and obviously the shooting portion, but the who 45 minutes of clubhouse banter sh..stuff, is way too much. Glad someone else mentioned this, as well as the show host who puts his hands on his hips to talk. Wish I had DVR as everytime I watch the show now, I get extremely irritated at a contestant. Hopefully, the pro-Glock shooter who complained endlessly about the Beretta 92, and blasted through ammo in the test session, the Marine with the big scheme to eliminate shooters, who wouldn't stop saying the word "rat." At least the contestant that couldn't shoot the Springfield got sent packing the first night.

It promotes shooting sports to the general public so I'm not seeing anything bad here. I'm also not going to carp about details that might offend serious shooters since I know nothing about TV production that will appeal to mass audiences.

The OP also mentions Deadliest Catch and I think maybe you have to have been there to enjoy that show(I do). If you've fished far offshore and/or done dangerous work you get it and if you haven't, perhaps not.

Bob

I completely agree with your first topic. If non gun owners get into this show that's good enough for me. Sure all that soap opera rivalry gets a little silly, but if that's what it takes to make this more interesting to people that's OK.
Ther's something for everone on the history channel. I've never watched that guy that cuts everything in half. Doesn't interest me at all. Or Ice Road Truckers. But I love Pawn Stars and American Pickers because you learn about all kinds of cool old stuff and it's like a treasure hunt.

I'm with Wyatt....Ice Road truckers is a snooze and I noticed way too many set up shots....Deadliest Catch and American Pickers I never miss...would love to give Pawn Stars a try but I can only Tivo so much....what with Rescue Me, Louie, Entourage, Top Chef and Rosie O' Donnell's new reality show coming out this fall, "Are you fatter, stupider and more opinionated than me?"

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

You didn't recognize JJ Racaza or Blake Miguez?
I like the show. It's a game show where competitors spend a ton of time with a bunch of strangers, compete against each other, and vote each other off. Why wouldn't there be soap opera drama?

I don't understand, if it's "Top Shot" why don't they get folks like Michael Plaxco, Todd Jarrett, Jerry Miculek or etc.?

I know why...those fellers are too busy with their lives to do a show.

At least, I know I'd be too busy to do a show...taking care of Mrs. Griffith, the cat and the garden.
But then again, I'm not a "top shot" either.

(Mrs. Griffith is a full time job- I'm tell'n you!)

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Because it's still basically a reality show and it needs personalities...pro shooters like Jerry might be too stiff and not get involved in the drama of the show...and that is what sells it to the people who aren't looking for proper stance or a lock on the gun.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

If you are skilled with a pistol, rifle or any other firearm, you could win $100,000 in prizes on season 2 of History Channel’s hit competition show TOP SHOT. Producers are looking for anyone with mind-blowing shooting skills and a big personality to take on exciting physical challenges with multiple guns and mystery projectile weapons. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professionally trained shooter or a self-taught, average Joe (or Jane!). As long as you’re in good physical shape, have mastered a firearm and can adapt to new weapons and demanding physical situations, you could be America’s next “Top Shot.”

APPLY TODAY!

To apply, email [email protected] with your name, city/state, phone number, a recent photo of yourself and a brief explanation of why you should be on the show. Deadline to apply is August 12, 2010. For more information, visit Pilgrim Films & Television - The largest reality television production company in Los Angeles, CA and click on “CASTING” or call 818-478-4570 for more information TODAY!

* Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, a resident or citizen of the United States and reasonably proficient with shooting and marksmanship.

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ASA/NSA 67-71
NRA Benefactor

Speaking of Rosie O'Donnell.....I was listening to XM radio on a trip recently and they were doing a promo for her new show....airing clips of some of the taped shows.....in one she says "Nothing kills the taste of clam juice like a big hunk of chocolate" I almost spit coffee all over my car.

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Bob

"Its horrible"....

I just don't have the ability to endure the 2 minutes of contrived shooting in a rich matrix of BS and advertising ad nauseum.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

No... but a don't watch the Road Runner either.

i watched top shot on the history channel briefly and i am a gun guy but i did Not like the show at all Too Much Soap Opera drama between the players on the teams that is just my humble 25 year old 2 cents on the subject of course

Top Shot isn't my fav, but I think it does present the shooting sports to the unwashed masses in a positive light. Hey, it's better than Bachelor, Bachelorette, anything with Hilton, Kate plus 8, etc., etc., etc.

The show needs condensed to 30 minutes as mentioned. Guns are for ending drama, not starting it.

I tried to watch it twice, gave up. Too Hollywood for me.

A few of my thoughts on TOP SHOT:

1) I love the show. I've seen enough shooting competitions on The Outdoors Channel to be bored to tears with them. Same old super fast shooting with guns and holsters and situations never used in the real world. Watching others shoot guns can be like watching golf. Boring.

2) The show is filmed in California and some guns are not "on the list" and cannot be used. That's why certain firearms are used and not others.

3) People are complaining about the type of guns being used. Easy killer. This is just season number one. They can't use every gun ever made. Give them a chance. There will be more seasons and maybe, just maybe your favorite gun from history will be used.

4) They make it interesting with their super expensive slo-mo 40,000 images per second cameras. I can watch those slow motion shots of cases ejecting, bullets exiting bores, and targets exploding again and again.

5) Like the first season of Survivor where viewers complained, "It's not real surviving!" Yeah, it's a game show. "It's not real shooting competition!" Yeah, it's a game show.

6) The reason the "well known" shooters in the industry are not on the show are because they have contracts, because they don't have the time, and because some of their contracts will not allow them to participate. They have exclusive contracts. It wouldn't do to have a shooter firing the competition's brand and it certainly wouldn't do to have a well paid, contracted expert lose.

7) I enjoy the drama and the big personalities. I find them fascinating. It seems I know many of their kind. The quiet guy who outshoots everyone else. The cocky guy who loses. The guy who blames his equipment (oh, we've all met that guy!) instead of his ability.

8) I'd like to see Jerry Miculek show up as an instructor. "Today we'll be shooting S&W Model 617 10-shot .22 caliber revolvers at 25 yards." The participants will all smile and think this will be easy. Then Jerry says, "And we'll be shooting them double action, upside down, pulling the trigger with our pinkies like this...."

9) I'd also like to see firearms manufacturers donate guns to be used in the competitions. Let's see Kahr/Thompson donate a Thompson .45 full auto machine gun. Let's see the competition be pulling the trigger once and firing 50 rounds from a drum magazine on target. If they let go of the trigger, their out. Oh, and the winner gets to keep the gun. Engraved with TOP SHOT on the receiver too.

10) I am lucky enough to live in Northern Illinois and Tara from TOP SHOT watches each episode locally at a bar with her friends and family. I brought my wife and daughter to watch and Tara was absolutely the nicest person you could ever meet. She was fantastic with our 13 year old daughter, talking guns with her. Of course, I am rooting for Tara to win. We'll see what happens!

Uh...if you say so. I think OUTWEST hit it on the head, that is, the show is like pants full of poo.

Somebody forgot to tell that little girl who's found a new role model that the show is a "pants full of poo".

Good job Dad!

Bob

For a bunch of "men" they are way too "catty" for me to waste my time watching.

Impossible Shots is much better....

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Non gratum anus rodentum

[I] will agree with you about Tarra , Her comments about the name calling by the X- Marine made her a person to look up to.She has shown some class.
 

Good point....whether or not I like the show, if it gets anyone new to shooting interested in firearms it's a good thing.

Not being able to shoot the Springifeld was bad enough, the one that killed me was shooters vying for top shot not being able to find their partner's target in the spotting scope. Not being able to hit a playing card @ 25 yds. with the SAA was pretty pathetic too.

Occasionally I take a look at that program and always come away amazed at these "experts." Where do they get these people? Last night most of them were transfixed by the complexity of operating a SAA! It was as if the SAA had appeared from another planet and operating it was beyond mere human intelligence. Experts my foot!

Not quite as bad as I thought they were - I thought it was 25 feet.

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In dog years I'm dead.

No, it was 25 FEET. I was amazed at how they were aiming the thing, making it shoot 3-6" high at that 25 feet. They didn't have the sights aligned properly.

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

hmmm..perhaps we should send jerry miculek in and watch him clean house LOLOL!

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I just saw the ad for this Sundays show.Trick shooting and a few well known celebs.This show might get interesting after all.

DG

I got to see last nights episode with the SAA, so, it took someone explaining to some of these folks how to sight it. Remember, the rear sight is a simple V notch on the hammer, not necessarily what they are used to. Once shown the error of their ways the two in the shoot off seemed to have cleaned up the skill measurably. Big deal, the kid missed a card.

The cowboy guy, Denny I think, that was his gun, and yep...he blew it. I also think he should have redeemed himself by demanding to go to the shoot off. But then again, I'm not the producer.

I did see the coming attraction for next weeks show. It appears one of the guns they'll be using looks to be an early K22, maybe even a .22 Outdoorsman (looked like a large ejector knob).

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Non illegitimae carborundum

TOP SHOT is only going to keep getting better.

Season 2's applications are available. Okay, to all the big shots who say, "I'm a better shooter than all of them!" So submit your well crafted, attention grabbing letter of intent, a quality photo of yourself, the application, and a video that showcases how good a shot you are and why your personality will look good on tv.

Go for it! Put up or shut up!

The next season will film in October. I would be putting in my papers, but I have to attend an exhibition for work that I already tied in with a family vacation that's already paid for.

Season 3 though, I AM putting in for! Half my video is already done!

Monday night (or any time) at History.com TopShot is available for internet viewing commercial free. Ok for a 35 minute show.

After watching all the episodes, I do believe I can make it into the top 16 and top 17 for sure. But why when all those egoes fill up the available shooting time? Yes, I do cheer for the crabs and the ice.

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S&WHF 366