Live posting: Top Shot Episode #1

[kilopaparomeo]

First, glad it is back on.  Anything that mainstreams shooting is a good thing.

Second -- impressions:
+ I know it is "just TV" but it bugs me when they screw up facts.  It bugged me that they represented a cartridge firing Sharps as a "Civil War sniper".  About 20 years too early.  Either get a black powder Sharps or change the story.
+ I was amazed that several people came down on the Blue Team captain for interviewing people to get to know them and understand their skills.  Seems like a smart practice to me. 
+  I already know who I hate.  That USAF Sniper is an a-hole.  I'm sure it's "just for TV"...but I doubt it.
+ Amazed that they female 3-gun competitor was picked near last.  Even more amazed that she missed every pistol shot.  Flabbergasted that she wasn't picked in the elimination round (isn't that what they agreed to?)  Crappy team dynamics took over.

[tombogan03884]

While you are right that Berdan's sharpshooters used percussion Sharp's rifles (along with Whitworth sporting rifles ) you are off on the dates that cartridges came out. the 50/70 cartridge was developed in 1866 for the soon to be adopted "Trapdoor" conversion of the tens of thousands of Springfield muzzle loading rifles in service. Sharps was producing a cartridge version by 1869 the model 1874 was a refinement of the earlier model 1869.

[PegLeg45]

I liked that particular team challenge.
Sprinting a good distance and shooting around one object to hit another.
All on a timer for added pressure.
Very surprised at the ones who hit vs the ones who missed.

I don't care for the drama and politics, but the shooting challenges look like they may be tougher this time around.

[kilopaparomeo]

you are off on the dates that cartridges came out. the 50/70 cartridge was developed in 1866 for the soon to be adopted "Trapdoor" conversion of the tens of thousands of Springfield muzzle loading rifles in service. Sharps was producing a cartridge version by 1869 the model 1874 was a refinement of the earlier model 1869.

You are right on my bad math...not sure I how I got 20 years out of thinking of the 1874 Sharps.  To be exact, you're speaking of the Allin conversion of the 1863 (and other) Springfields.  Out of interest, was there a difference between the Allin conversion of rifled muskets and the '73, '82, etc purpose-made Springfields?

Also, if we're going to be picky then we should mention that the .44 Rimfire cartridge in the Spencer was used during the conflict, predating your reference of the .50-70.  

The fact remains...the gun was wrong for the story.

[sledgemeister]

Your all missing the point, the chick is hot!! 

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

You are right on my bad math...not sure I how I got 20 years out of thinking of the 1874 Sharps.  To be exact, you're speaking of the Allin conversion of the 1863 (and other) Springfields.  Out of interest, was there a difference between the Allin conversion of rifled muskets and the '73, '82, etc purpose-made Springfields?

Also, if we're going to be picky then we should mention that the .44 Rimfire cartridge in the Spencer was used during the conflict, predating your reference of the .50-70.  

The fact remains...the gun was wrong for the story.

I'm not sure about your questions KPR, I just Wiki'ed the "Sharps sniper Rifle" There was a picture of a 50/70 cartridge and I used the caption to illustrate that cartridges were available earlier, in fact, I forgot about the Spencer and Henry cartridge guns used during the war.

[bbbean]

What was the deal with precision shots on guns they'd never seen before, had no clue where the zero was, and didn't get a follow up shot with? The sights on the Sharps were obviously WAY off any reasonable zero, given the fact that a bunch of proven shooters were doing all they could to keep the shots on the broad side of a barn.

It would have been a lot more interesting (to me) to have seen what they could do with s 3-5 shot group. I suspect we'd still have seen a lot of wild first shots, but several pretty tight groups once they knew where the hell the thing was shooting at 200 yards!

I was also pretty surprised to see so many bad grips on a 1911. While I realize most of these guys are long gun shooters, a 1911 isn't an obscure gun, and you'd think they'd at least know not to use the cup and saucer!

I'd like to see more challenges that would let the shooters showcase their existing strengths. If you've got a bunch of the best shooters in the world together, why not let them do what they're good at? 

[Bill Stryker]

Big surprise to me was Gunny Zinn missing his first shot with a 1911. He is the perennial pistol champion at Camp Perry. But then I remembered, the Gunny pioneered the use of the red dot sight in competition. And, he is retired from the Marines. So, I figure old eyes, like mine, vs. open sights. 

[Timothy]

Big surprise to me was Gunny Zinn missing his first shot with a 1911. He is the perennial pistol champion at Camp Perry. But then I remembered, the Gunny pioneered the use of the red dot sight in competition. And, he is retired from the Marines. So, I figure old eyes, like mine, vs. open sights. 

Heck, even a good shooter can pull a shot once in a while.  I'm an average shooter at best, I hit what I aim at for the most part but last year at a pin shoot, I couldn't miss.  Went through three or four rounds without using more than the first mag loaded with 6 rounds for 6 targets.  Some where clay birds, some pins, alternated, etc....

The last round, the "Championship" round, they put up this f*@king chicken silhouette in the middle of the table as the last shot target.  I used my 6 round first load to kill the other targets and two more mags loaded full, another 16 rounds, before I hit that damn chicken.  Scared the holy hell out of it but my .45 ACP's were just whizzing by until the last round....

Thing had it in for me I think...

The shows OK, the girls need to shoot in wet t-shirts though....Sledge has it right, they were pretty good looking and even better when they start shooting...