First Impressions – History Channel’s Top Shot
The History Channel's Top Shot
I've just finished watching the first episode of Top Shot from The History Channel and I have to say, I like it. For one, I like the idea of firearm competitions. Then when you add physical activity to that and it's just candy. The one thing I'm unsure of is The History Channel putting effort into "reality" based programming. Well, it is hosted by Colby Donaldson of Survivor fame (whom I like), but we'll just have to see how it pans out.
The format is a team-based competition with a split cast of 16 marksmen (and woman) of varying skill levels and weapon specialities. Everybody from Marine Scout/Snipers, IPSC/IDPA competitors, and even Archers are represented. The teams will compete against one another with the winning team being "Immune" and the losing team having to go to "Elimination". The losing team must vote two players to go to an Elimination Challenge where those players will compete in a head-to-head stage, the loser going home. This will continue until only one Marksman is left, to be named the Top Shot.
It appears that the teams will be given an amount of time to practice with the weapons to be used in the challenges away from the other team, with some coaching from professional instructors. Then a competition using those weapon types and possibly multiple stages will be underway. In this first episode the teams competed in a relay "race" of sorts with four stages using four different historical rifles: the Mosin-Nagant, SVT, 1903 Springfield, and the M14. The teams were broken into four shooting groups of two, with each person acting as a shooter and spotter for one stage. The shooting group had to maneuver an obstacle such as a low crawl under wire, a mud slough, rope hang, and a woodrod thicket before progressing to the shooting station. At the station the shooters were permitted to use the structure however they wanted so long as they were behind the station (most appeared to be sandbag posts with windows). Targets were placed at differing lengths. Once a shot was confirmed good by explosion of an incendiary target, the next shooter could take aim, and so on this went.
The first competition was won by the Blue Team. Which forced the Red Team to vote two members into an elimination match. Now here's a good part. The voting is not secret. In this first episode the members of the losing team were taken to the "Elimination Range" where each member had a target with their name on it. Each person must come up to the line and take a shot at whomever's target they wish to go to the elimination challenge, right in front of the team. The two with the most shots on target go to the challenge. This week was a head-to-head long range competition using what appeared to be scoped Remington 700's. Targets were placed at 200, 400, and 600 yards. First to knock out all three wins. Mike Seeklander, a US Air Marshal and FLETC instructor was sent home this week. Pity, because next week looks to be all pistol competitions with the Beretta 92f. We probably could have learned something from him.
That all being said, and it was quite a bit, Top Shot looks to be a good hour of TV with some educational value and good competition based entertainment. Don't let History Channel's deviation from the norm effect you too much. Hopefully Top Shot will not be to History Channel what The Colony was to The Discovery Channel.