EPISODE #5


Throwdown Showdown


Premier Date: 09/06/2011

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Competitors endure some old school playground dynamics as the teams call each other out with primitive weapons...namely the tomahawk and knife. Also included is one of the earliest weapons known to man...the rock. In the elimination challenge, two shooters compete head to head with the largest, most powerful weapon ever used on Top Shot...the Hotchkiss Mountain Gun.


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The first Team Challenge involves calling out players from the other team to go head to head at six stations. A coin is tossed and BLUE Team wins...with Jake calling out Chris using a tomahawk thrown at a pendulum blocked wooden target 13 feet away...3 tries per competitor...first one to get the most targets out of three tries wins a point for their team. Chris of the RED Team hits two out of three targets to win a point for the RED Team. Then it's Gary of RED calling out Jarrett of the BLUE Team and using the tomahawk again Jarrett misses three times and then Gary of the RED Team steps up and throws once to win another point for the RED Team. Then Gary of the RED Team calls Billy of the BLUE out using knifes thrown at targets 11 feet away with Billy of the BLUE Team hitting once and Gary missing all his throws to give the BLUE Team 1 point. Then it's Mike against Mike using the knife again...with Mike of the RED Team missing all of his shots and Mike of the BLUE Team hitting his last shot to score another point for the BLUE Team. Now it's tied up...2 points RED and 2 points BLUE. The last part of the challenge involves throwing rocks at 9 panes of glass...with any three panes touching to win the points. First up is Phil of RED Team versus Bill of BLUE...it goes back and forth until finally Phil of the RED Team wins the points. Then it's up to the last two contestants...Cliff of the RED Team and Dustin of the BLUE...both throwing rocks at six cans on a rail.
Dustin throws alot and misses more, but Cliff steps up and knocks can after can down until all six are gone and he wins it all for the RED Team...the points score is RED 8 and BLUE 3.


WINNER: RED Team ( 8 to 3 )


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The nomination picks for the Elimination challenge for the BLUE Team are: Jarrett & Mike


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The BLUE Team members now move on to the Elimination event which involves firing the historic Hotchkiss Mountain Gun...a breach loading 42mm cannon that fires a 2lb projectile of zinc...at six water towers, three for each team...at distances between 180 and 220 yards. Both Jarrett and Mike have 15 rounds each to hit their targets downrange. Jarrett is the first to hit a tank...then Mike hits his first...then Jarrett keeps missing and Mike keeps hitting until all his towers are blown away...and Mike is saved from elimination.


WINNER: Mike


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HOTCHKISS MOUNTAIN GUN

Model 1875... 42mm Rifled Barrel... 2 lb Projectile





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The 1.65-inch (42 mm) gun and accessories could be packed on two mules. The gun was introduced as a modern replacement for the aging twelve-pound mountain howitzer. The first gun purchased by the U.S. military from the French arms firm of Hotchkiss was employed against the Nez Percés in 1877. Over the next twenty years the U.S. would purchase only 56 of the guns. They were used at the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, and again in Cuba for the attack on San Juan Hill in the Spanish–American War.

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HOTCHKISS TECHNOTES:

Total Weight: 362 pounds
Range: 3500 yards (2miles)

GUN TUBE
Material: Steel
Total length of tube: 3.83 feet
Length of bore: 3.43 feet
Travel of projectile: 3.10 feet
Calibre: 1.65 inches
Weight: 121 pounds
Grooves: 10
Twist of Rifling, uniform: 1 in 29.83 cals.
Muzzle velocity: 1298 feet per second

CARRIAGE:
Material: Steel
Weight, complete: 241 pounds
Height of trunnion axis above ground: 27.55 inches
Diameter of wheels: 37.4 inches
Track of carriage: 2.46 feet

AMMUNITION:
The 1.65” Hotchkiss Mountain Gun fired two types of projectiles. A common shell, either base fused or nose fused or a canister. The common shell would explode on contact showering the enemy with jagged shell fragments. The canister would rip open at the muzzle spraying the enemy with a fan shaped pattern of hardened lead ½ inch balls. This projectile was used at close range. The early cartridge case did not have a primer. Instead there was a hole in the center covered internally with a diaphragm. The gun was fired by a friction primer inserted into the back of the breech housing.

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EPISODE #6


Turn the Corner


Premier Date: 09/13/2011

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Contestants are shocked to see two Top Shot champions return as honorary captains for the team challenge. First Season Winner Ian Harrison guest captains the BLUE Team and Second Season Winner Chris Reed guest captains the RED Team, with each team sponsoring a designated charity who will stand to win $5000. BLUE Team's charity is the Wounded Warrior Project, and RED Team's charity is the Make A Wish Foundation. The Marksmen will compete with a just-released, ultra modern assault rifle and an Israeli made special forces gadget. Tensions flare when an argument erupts between two competitors on the same team.

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The first Team Challenge involves using a newly released AR platform from VLTOR...the TS3. The competitors must run and shoot under stress between 5 platforms 16 feet apart, connected by ropes of various design...shooting at two targets set at 75 and 100 yards in front of each platform. The team that hits all their targets and transitions the fastest between the platforms ( fastest time total ) wins the challenge. RED Team goes first and burns up the course, finishing in 2 minutes and 27 seconds. The BLUE Team has a slow start when Billy takes 14 shots to hit the first two targets...then they pick up the pace a little and finish with a time of 3 minutes and 12 seconds. RED Team wins the challenge and the Make a Wish Foundation wins the $5000 prize donation.


WINNER: RED Team


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The nomination picks for the Elimination challenge for the BLUE Team are: Jake & Paul

( And Jake is pissed !! )


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The BLUE Team members now move on to the Elimination event which involves using the Israeli made "Corner Shot"... which uses a platform designed to hold a Glock 18 in a frame that pivots around corners and uses a heads up video display to let the user stay hidden behind cover while negotiating the shot. The two contestants go one at a time as they run to 3 separate stations and engage 3 targets ( jars ) set at 35 feet around barriers...first left...then right...then through a opening above...the first contestant to hit all 9 targets the fastest wins the challenge. Paul goes first...runs to the first stage and hits the first target with the first shot, then hits the second target with the third shot and then the third target with the fifth shot. Then he scrambles to the second area...hitting his three targets in six shots...then runs to the third area and hits three for three...finishing with a time of 2:34.

Now it's Jakes turn...he scrambles up to the first stage and hits all 3 jars with just 3 shots...goes to the second stge and does the same...3 for 3...and then repeats it again 3 for 3...using unbelievable skill to win the challenge in only 48 seconds.


WINNER: Jake ( who takes out his frustrations on being nominated on his BLUE Teamates )


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VLTOR TS3



ISRAELI CORNER SHOT

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So, what did everyone think of this weeks show ?!

They did say they got the very first VLTOR TS3's to use for the 1st team challenge...a flat top M4 platform setup with BUIS's.

And the Israeli made Corner Shot platform, holding a Glock 18 was an interesting design that I had first seen last year on the Military Channel.

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Anybody watch last night...!?

Anybody even care ?!

I watch the series to see the weapons and the competition...not the hype. Hell, I guess you could just go to the History Channel and look up the results...

If I'm wasting my time posting this event every week, just let me know...!!

I got plenty of time...but none to waste !

Hey Shooter!

Not a waste of time my friend!

I like the weapons too, my favorite part! I honestly dont understand the hype of the VLTOR rifle, though its a flat top M4 which is pretty sweet in itself! I like MRP platform allowing a level plain for BUIS. To me however, I dont know how the VLTOR is much different than a Colt. Though on a similar note, I have a friend at work who served in Afghanistan and Iraq with a forward unit with the Navy, on the ground and ahead of regular units. He was in a support unit with operators. The Operators had their choice of weapons and the prefered rifle was the HK 416 or 417, an M4 gas piston platform. He himself carried the issued M4 and asked an operator the difference and the operator looked at him like he had two heads... So while my knowledge is very limited, I can appreciate that there is a difference.

The corner shot is cool and would fun to try out! While I cant stand Jake, he posted an impressive performance!

Man I hope he doesnt win... I really like Dustin.

Just didn't want to waste time if no one cared...

Hoped that more than one person would reply, but since it was you...I guess I could keep doing it...

I'm worth it!

I've heard about that show! Unfortunately I don't get it on cable...