Top Shot (season 3)

Top Shot (season 3)
Country of origin  United States
No. of episodes 12
Release
Original network History
Original release August 9 (2011-08-09) – October 25, 2011 (2011-10-25)
Season chronology

The third season of the History Channel television series Top Shot, commenced airing on August 9, 2011. The season contained twelve episodes, and was filmed over a period of 35 days in Santa Clarita, California. The season was won by Dustin Ellermann.

Gary Quesenberry, Alex Charvat, and Phil Morden returned for Top Shot: All-Stars. Charvat finished in 11th and Quesenberry finished in 3rd, while Morden was the season's winner.

Contestants

Contestant Occupation / background Original Team Merged Team Eliminated
Amanda Hardin
33, Birmingham, AL		 Firearms Instructor, Nurse, Realty Broker Red Team 16th Place
Sara Ahrens
38, Beloit, WI		 Police Training Sergeant, former SWAT team member Blue Team 15th Place
Drew Shprintz
27, Philadelphia, PA		 Firearms Instructor, Bartender, Outdoorsman Red Team 14th Place
Mark Schneider
45, Largo, FL		 USPSA Competitor, Customer Service Professional, Air Force veteran, Outdoorsman Red Team 13th Place
Jarrett Grimes
42, Tyrone, GA		 Department of Homeland Security Agent, USAF Veteran, Former Police Officer/SWAT Team Member, Competition Shooter Blue Team 12th Place
Paul Marinaccio
31, Fairfield, NJ		 Detective, Firearms Instructor Blue Team 11th Place
Billy Rogers
33, Virginia Beach, VA		 Restaurant Operator, Competition Shooter Blue Team 10th Place
Michael Marelli
28, Long Island, NY		 NY State Court Officer, Competition Shotgun Shooter Red Team 9th Place
Cliff Walsh
41, Tierra Verde, FL		 Airport Driver, Competitive revolver shooter, Revolver World Champion, USPSA National Revolver Champion, Former Sheriff's Deputy Red Team 8th Place
Mike Hughes
Returned to game		 Firearms Training Equipment Company President, Competitive Pistol Shooter Blue Team Green Team Returned
Jake Zweig
39, Steilacoom, WA		 College Football Coach, Former Navy SEAL Blue Team 7th Place
Phil Morden
25, Milford, MI		 Video Producer, Three Gun Competitor, Gunsmith Red Team 6th Place*
Alex Charvat
38, Green Bay, WI		 Structural Engineering business owner, former Forester, Outdoorsman Blue Team 5th Place
Chris Collins
25, Collinsville, OK		 United States Shooting Academy Firearms Instructor, Sales and Marketing coordinator, Former Marine Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team member and infantryman Red Team 4th Place
Gary Quesenberry
41, Cleveland, OH		 Department of Homeland Security Agent, U.S. Army Veteran, Competition Shooter Red Team 3rd Place
Mike Hughes
38, Maple Falls, WA		 Firearms Training Equipment Company President, Competitive Pistol Shooter Blue Team 2nd Place
Dustin Ellermann
28, Zavalla, TX		 Christian Camp Director, Accountant, Outdoorsman, Lumberjack, Minister Blue Team Winner
*Mike Hughes was originally eliminated in 7th place. After Jake Zweig refused to compete in the elimination challenge when nominated, Mike took his place and defeated Phil Morden in the challenge to re-enter the competition.

Contestant progress

#ContestantEpisodes
123456789101112
1 Dustin WINNOMWINWINSAFESAFE WINWINWINWINSAFEBTM2WINTOP SHOT
2 Mike WINSAFEWINWINNOMSAFEWINWINOUTINNOMWINWINSECOND PLACE
3 Gary SAFEWINSAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFENOMSAFESAFEWINOUT
4 Chris SAFEWINSAFESAFEWINWINSAFENOMSAFESAFEWINOUT
5 Alex WINSAFEWINWINSAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFEOUT
6 Phil SAFEWINSAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFESAFEOUT
7 Jake WINSAFEWINWINSAFENOMWINWINSAFEQUIT
8 Cliff SAFEWINNOMSAFEWINWINNOMOUT
9 Michael SAFEWINSAFENOMWINWINOUT
10 Billy WINSAFEWINWINSAFESAFEQUIT
11 Paul WINSAFEWINWINSAFEOUT
12 Jarrett WINSAFEWINWINOUT
13 Mark NOMWINSAFEOUT
14 Drew SAFEWINOUT
15 Sara WINOUT
16 Amanda OUT
     The player's team won the team challenge (Episodes 1 - 8).
     The player(s) won an individual challenge (Episodes 9 - 12), earning immunity from elimination for the current round.
     The player's team lost the team challenge, but the player was not nominated for elimination (Episodes 1 - 8); the player(s) lost the individual challenge, but was not nominated for elimination (Episodes 9 - 11).
     The player was nominated for elimination, but won an elimination challenge (Episode 9 - 11); or the player finished in the bottom two but won a tiebreaker (Episode 12).
     The player lost an elimination challenge and was eliminated.
     The player voluntarily withdrew from the competition.
     The player won an elimination challenge to re-enter the competition.
     The player won the $100,000 grand prize and the title of Top Shot.
     The player came in second.

Episodes

Episode 1: "The Gauntlet"

Premiere date Preliminary challenge weapon(s) Preliminary challenge Red Team Members Blue Team Members
August 9, 2011 Smith & Wesson Model 500 revolver Two players at a time fire at separate sets of targets from 30/50/70 feet. The first to hit all three joins the Blue Team; the other player joins the Red Team. Amanda, Chris, Cliff, Drew, Gary, Mark, Michael, Phil Alex, Billy, Dustin, Jake, Jarrett, Mike, Paul, Sara
Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
LaRue Tactical Optimized Battle Rifle (based on the AR-10/AR-15 rifles) "Up The Pole Challenge": Each team carries a 16-foot, 220-pound pole to four shooting stations. At each station, two shooters climb the pole up to an elevated platform and shoot at two targets from 75/100 yards, with each shooter in the pair firing at one target and spotting the other, then climb back down. First team to complete all four stations wins. N/A Blue Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Winchester Model 1873 rifle "Stagecoach Shootout Challenge": While riding shotgun on a stagecoach traveling at 25 miles per hour, fire at 10 targets that pop up along the road, 15-25 yards away. Maximum 10 rounds per player. Amanda, Mark Amanda

No practice sessions were held for the preliminary and team challenges. The trainer for the elimination challenge was Jim "Long Hunter" Finch, cowboy shooting specialist.

^1 Repeating rifles were a significant advance over single-shot rifles for use in combat due to their greater rate of fire.

Episode 2: "Down and Dirty"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
August 16, 2011 AK-47 rifle "Down and Dirty Challenge": Run an obstacle course with 4 prone shooting stations while carrying the rifle; two targets at 50/75 yards are set up at each. Each team splits into three pairs and a solo shooter, who runs last. Obstacles are a 20-foot pipe crawl, a waist-deep water pit, and 25-foot crawls through mud and sand. Once one pair completes a station, the next shooter(s) must run the entire course up to that point and pick up the rifle(s) to move on. First team to complete all stations wins. Jarrett Red Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Smith & Wesson M&P semiautomatic pistol (.45 ACP) "Light It Up Challenge": Shoot at 6 rows of 8 glass bulbs each that rotate into view from behind a wall 30 feet away, a new row every 10 seconds. Shooters have 60 seconds to hit as many red "foe" bulbs as possible while avoiding the blue "friend" bulbs. Sara, Dustin Sara

The trainer for both challenges was Craig Sawyer, Navy SEALs instructor and former sniper.

^2 Smith & Wesson's "M&P" stands for "military and police". Its design is based on input from law enforcement and the military.

Episode 3: "Slug It Out"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
August 23, 2011 Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun, loaded with 1-oz slugs "Slug It Out Challenge": Teams fire at separate sets of 50 jars from 40 yards, one shooter at a time per team. Each shooter loads and fires 5 rounds per turn, carrying 4 in a belt caddy and the last in hand. First team to hit all targets wins. N/A Blue Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Glock 34 9×19mm pistol "Cannonball Run Challenge": From 35 feet, shoot targets next to 5 gaps in a set of descending tracks in order to close them and allow cannonballs to roll by. A gap will reopen once a ball has passed it; any ball that falls through a gap is out of play. Higher number of balls reaching the end of the run wins. Drew, Cliff Drew

The trainer for both challenges was Taran Butler, national/world pistol champion.

Episode 4: "The Bulldog Gatling"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
August 30, 2011 Remington Model 1875 revolver "Shooting Dice/Close Out Challenge": From 35 feet, pairs of shooters (one per team) fire at separate sets of targets arranged to resemble the 6 faces of a die. At each station, the revolver is pre-loaded with one round for each target; any additional rounds must be loaded by hand. A station ends as soon as one shooter's targets have all been hit. Higher total number of targets hit wins. Mike Blue Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
1877 "Bulldog" Gatling gun "Bulldog Gatling Challenge": Shoot at separate sets of 4-inch-wide poles from 15/20/25 yards, trying to split them. First shooter to split all three poles wins. Mark, Michael Mark

The trainer for the team challenge was Spencer Hoglund, historical weapons expert and four-time national champion speed shooter. The trainer for the elimination challenge was Garry James, historical weapons expert.

^3 The original Gatling gun was invented in 1862 by Richard Gatling, a dentist by profession.
^4 There was a three-way tie between Chris, Michael, and Mark with 2 votes each. It was broken by Gary, who voted for Mark, and Cliff, who voted for Michael.

Episode 5: "Throwdown Showdown"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
September 6, 2011 Tomahawk
Throwing knife
Hand-thrown rock		 "Primitive Weapons Challenge": A member of one team challenges an opponent to a faceoff at each of 6 stations.

1) Tomahawk; 3 throws at a pendulum target from 13 feet.
2) Tomahawk; 3 throws at a spinning wood block from 13 feet.
3) Knife; 3 throws at a target behind two swinging beams from 11 feet.
4) Knife; 3 throws at a board of 52 playing cards from 11 feet, trying to get the highest face-value total possible.
5) Rock; both players throw at square grids of 9 glass panes from 15 feet, trying to be the first to break 3 in a row.
6) Rock; both players throw at rows of 5 tin cans from 15 feet. Challenge ends when one player has hit all 5 cans.

A coin toss determines which team gets to issue the first challenge; each station's winner decides who will participate in the next one. One point each for stations 1 through 5, and one point per can hit in station 6. Higher point total wins.

 Paul, Alex Red Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Hotchkiss Mountain Gun "Bombs Away Challenge": Each shooter fires at 3 water towers from 180-220 yards. First to hit all towers wins; shots must hit the towers' tanks in order to count. Maximum 15 rounds per player. Jarrett, Mike Jarrett

The trainer for the team challenge was Jack Dagger, primitive weapons expert. The trainer for the elimination challenge was Rick Pohlers, cannon expert.

^5 Hotchkiss Mountain Gun (France 1877) was used to devastating effect in the battle of San Juan Hill and Wounded Knee Massacre. (Contestants used two of the 1857 originals)

Episode 6: "Turn the Corner"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
September 13, 2011 Vltor TS3 rifle (based on the M4 carbine) "Hang in There Challenge": Run a relay race with 5 elevated platforms, shooting targets from 75/100 yards at each.

1. Climb an 8-foot cargo net to the first platform.
2. Cross a downward-angled, 16-foot rope to the second.
3. Use vertically aligned parallel ropes to reach the third.
4. Cross a 16-foot gap to the fourth on horizontally aligned parallel ropes.
5. Cross a single rope to the fifth.

Shorter time to complete all stations wins.

 Dustin Red Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Glock 18 9×19mm pistol fitted into a CornerShot "CornerShot Challenge": Run a course with 3 shooting stations, standing behind a wall at each and firing at 3 targets from 35 feet around the edge of a small window. The CornerShot must be straightened out before running to each station. Shorter time to hit all targets wins. Jake, Paul Paul

The trainer for both challenges was Jeff Gonzales, former Navy SEAL and counter-terrorism instructor. Iain Harrison and Chris Reed, the winners of Seasons 1 and 2, served as honorary team captains (Blue and Red, respectively) during practice for the team challenge and offered their own advice. A $5,000 donation was made to a charity selected by the captain of the winning team (the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Chris' choice; Iain had appeared on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project).

Episode 7: "Tricked Out"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
September 20, 2011 Smith & Wesson Model 686 revolver
Volquartsen semiautomatic rifle (.22 caliber)		 "Trick It Up Challenge": One shooter per team competes at each of 4 stations.

Exhibition Shot #1: Holding the revolver upside down, fire at 3 beer bottles from 30 feet.
Exhibition Shot #2: Fire the rifle at three 1/8 inch cotton swabs from 25 feet.
Exhibition Shot #3: Fire the rifle at 3 compact disks from 35 feet, trying to shoot through the center hole without breaking the plastic.
Exhibition Shot #4: While blindfolded, use the revolver to fire 3 pairs of shots at 2 gallon jugs from 25 feet.

One point awarded to the team whose shooter hits more targets at each of the first three stations, and one point awarded for each pair of shots that hit the targets at the fourth. Higher point total wins.

 Chris Blue Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Schofield Revolver (5-inch Barrel Pinkerton Model) "Shoot from the Hip Challenge": One shooter at a time fires at 10 targets from 25 feet, shooting from the hip so that the bullets pass under a hitching rail. Shooters use two revolvers, each loaded with 5 rounds. Higher number of targets hit wins. Michael, Cliff Michael

The trainer for both challenges was Jerry Miculek, holder of four revolver world speed records.

Before the practice sessions for the team challenge, Billy withdrew from the competition due to complications in his wife's pregnancy. Since this decision left the Red Team with one extra member, they were allowed to decide for themselves which player would be benched.

^6 The Schofield Revolver used in this challenge was referred to as the "Pinkerton Model" because the barrel was shortened to 5 inches so Pinkerton detectives could easily conceal it.

Episode 8: "Ramp It Up"

Premiere date Team challenge weapon(s) Team challenge Benched player(s) Winning team
September 27, 2011 Modern recurve bow "Ramp It Up Challenge": Teams fire at separate sets of 6 targets mounted on rotating wheels 50 feet away, trying to bounce arrows off a metal ramp to hit them. One player at a time per team; a player's turn ends after he has either fired 3 arrows or shot a target that has not yet been hit. First team to bounce arrows off the ramp and hit all targets wins. N/A Blue Team
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Modern recurve bow "Slider Challenge": From 20 yards, with unlimited arrows, both players fire at 4 two-color targets moving back and forth at different heights. Player with more hits on his assigned color (including accidental hits by his opponent) after 3 minutes and 30 seconds wins. Cliff, Chris Cliff

The trainer for both challenges was Chris Palmer, archery expert and world-class archer.

Episode 9: "Stacked"

The teams were dissolved at the start of this episode. All players received green shirts and began to compete directly against each other for the rest of the season. After the individual challenge, all players voted for one of the lowest performers. The top two vote-getters then competed in an elimination challenge as in earlier episodes.

Premiere date Individual challenge weapon(s) Individual challenge Winning player(s)
October 4, 2011 McMillan Tac-50 rifle "Go Big or Go Home Challenge": Shoot at a moving 30-inch target from 500 yards, in wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour. The four fastest times to hit it are safe from elimination. Dustin, Jake, Phil, Alex
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player
Walther P38 pistol "Stacked Challenge": From 35 feet, shooters fire at separate sets of 36 targets holding up 8 planks in a vertical frame. They must work from the bottom up and are each given 30 rounds pre-loaded into magazines. First shooter to break all targets and drop the planks wins. Gary, Mike Mike

The trainer for both challenges was Craig "Sawman" Sawyer, Navy SEALs instructor and former sniper.

^7 There was a second-place tie between Chris and Mike. Each fired one shot at a target; the one who hit closer to the center was safe from elimination.

Episode 10: "Odd Man Out"

Premiere date Individual challenge weapon(s) Individual challenge Winning player(s)
October 11, 2011 Infinity Sight Tracker race gun (.40 caliber) "Infinity Speed Challenge": One shooter at a time fires at targets that randomly appear behind 12 4-inch holes in an 8-foot-diameter board wheel target at 35 feet. Each shooter gets 10 sets of random targets, 10 seconds per set. The three highest numbers of hits are safe from elimination; ties are broken by fewer rounds fired. Dustin, Chris, Alex (Alex won in tie with Gary)
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player(s)
Sako TRG rifle "Zig-Zag Challenge": Using a kneeling position and a bipod, shooters fire at separate sets of 20 suspended light-fixture targets set 75-100 yards away in a zigzag pattern. Each is given 2 pre-loaded 10-round magazines and must work from closest to farthest away. First to hit all of his own targets wins. Jake, Phil, Mike (reinstated) Jake (QUIT), Phil

The trainer for the individual challenge was Taran Butler, national/world pistol champion. The trainer for the elimination challenge was Michael Voigt, president and CEO of the United States Practical Shooting Association.

Jake resigned from the competition after being nominated. As the last individual shooter eliminated before him, Mike returned to compete alongside Phil in the elimination challenge.

Episode 11: "Wheel of Fire"

Premiere date Individual challenge weapon(s) Individual challenge Winning player(s)
October 18, 2011 Heckler & Koch SP89 pistol (based on the MP5K submachine gun) "Roundabout Challenge": One shooter at a time fires at a 35-foot-diameter ring of 20 targets from 35 feet, while strapped to the end of a vertically rotating 16-foot arm. Each shooter is given one full revolution of the arm to get up to speed, then must fire during a second revolution using one 28-round magazine. The two highest numbers of hits are safe from elimination; ties are broken by fewer rounds fired. Chris, Dustin
Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Nominated for elimination Eliminated player(s)
Steyr SPP 9×19mm pistol (based on the Steyr TMP) "Reverse Zipline Challenge": Fire at 20 ground targets placed among obstacles and debris while riding a zip-line backwards at 15 miles per hour. Higher number of hits wins. Mike, Alex Alex

The trainer for both challenges was Matt Burkett, practical shooting expert and weapons manufacturer.

Episode 12: "Season Three Finale"

No practice sessions were held in this episode. Each of the final two shooters had his wife and a friend watch the final challenge.

Premiere date Elimination challenge weapon(s) Elimination challenge Winning player(s) Eliminated player
October 25, 2011 Glock 34 9×19mm pistol From 35 feet, two shooters at a time fire at 4 sets of 3 double-sided, moving targets. They have 45 seconds to flip as many as possible to their assigned color. The two first-round winners advance, with the losers competing against each other; the loser of this second round is eliminated. 1st round: Gary, Mike
2nd round: Dustin		 Chris
Handguns: Smith & Wesson Model 686 revolver, Infinity Sight Tracker race gun, Heckler & Koch SP89 pistol
Rifles: Volquartsen .22 semiautomatic, AK-47, Winchester Model 1873		 Two rounds are played, with each player choosing a weapon, target, stance, and distance in both; all three players try every shot. No weapon or target may be chosen more than once. After all six weapons have been used, the player with the fewest hits is eliminated. Targets available include golf balls, jugs, glasses, tin cans, and bottles. Dustin, Mike Gary
Final challenge weapon(s) Final challenge Eliminated player Top Shot
Remington Model 1875 revolver
Rock
Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun loaded with 1-oz slugs
Recurve bow
LaRue Tactical Optimized Battle Rifle
Vltor TS3 rifle
Smith & Wesson Model 500 revolver		 Run a course with 7 shooting stations, crawling through a 25-foot sand pit under barbed wire to reach the first one.

1. Use two Remingtons to hit 6 targets at 35 feet.
2. From 15 feet, throw rocks at a square grid of 9 glass panes until 3 in a row are broken.
3. Hit 10 jars at 40 yards with the Benelli.
4. Using the bow, bounce an arrow off a metal ramp to hit a target 50 feet away.
5. Climb a pole to an 8-foot-high shooting platform, then shoot targets at 100/200 yards from the prone position with the LaRue.
6.Cross a rope to another platform and use the Vltor to hit targets at 75/100 yards while standing.
7. Climb down, then shoot targets at 30/50/70 feet with the S&W.

First to complete the course wins.

 Mike Dustin

Epilogue: Behind the Bullet

Premiering after the final episode, Top Shot Season Three Behind the Bullet, was a one-hour documentary involving behind-the-scene interviews and footage taken before, during, and after the season three competition. At the end of the episode, the show profiled each of the contestants, post-competition.

Nomination Range

Original Teams Merged Team
#
Episode123456789101112
Nominated Mark
3/8 Votes		Dustin
3/8 Votes		Cliff
2/7 Votes		Michael
3/6 Votes*		Mike
2/7 Votes		Jake
3/6 Votes		NoneCliff
1/5 Votes		Chris
2/4 Votes		Gary
3/7 Votes		Jake
3/6 Votes		Mike
Re-enter		Mike
2/5 Votes		NoneNoneNone
Eliminated Amanda
4/8 Votes		Sara
3/8 Votes		Drew
4/7 Votes		Mark
3/6 Votes*		Jarrett
3/7 Votes		Paul
2/6 Votes		Billy
No Votes		Michael
4/5 Votes		Cliff
2/4 Votes		Mike
2/7 Votes		Jake
Quit		Phil
2/6 Votes		Alex
2/5 Votes		ChrisGaryMike
ContestantsVotes
1 Dustin BillyJarrettJakeNoneChrisJakeNoneAlexNoneNoneNone
2 Mike DustinJarrettJakeNoneGary AlexNoneNoneNone
3 Gary AmandaCliffMichaelMichaelCliffChrisJakeNoneMikeNoneNone
4 Chris NoneDrewMichaelMichaelCliffGaryPhilNoneMikeNone
5 Alex DustinNoneJakeNoneMikePhilNoneGary
6 Phil AmandaDrewMarkMichaelChrisGaryJakeNone
7 Jake SaraMikePaulNoneMikeGary
8 Cliff AmandaDrewChrisMichaelChris
9 Michael MarkNoneMarkCliff
10 Billy DustinJarrettPaulNone
11 Paul SaraMikeBilly
12 Jarrett SaraNone
13 Mark AmandaDrewChris
14 Drew MarkCliff
15 Sara Jake
16 Amanda Mark
  1. Episode 4: 3-way tie between Michael, Mark, and Chris; Gary and Cliff were chosen to break it by casting one more vote apiece.
  2. Episode 9: 2-way tie between Mike and Chris; Chris won a shoot-off to avoid the elimination challenge.
  3. Episode 10: After being nominated for the elimination challenge, Jake nailed his own plaque to the wall and quit the show. At practice the next morning, Donaldson announced that according to the rules, the last eliminated shooter would take his place. Mike therefore returned to the show and competed against Phil, winning the elimination challenge and re-entering the competition.

References

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