The breakaway hit of the History Channel is Top Shot. This original program is a reality show featuring contestants fighting for a $100,000 grand prize by competing in diverse and atypical shooting events. Sixteen contestants compete in these shooting games, and they involve a variety of weapons, score assessment, strategy, and unique challenges. The contestants come from diverse backgrounds. Some have military training, while others are self-taught. An example of an event might be firing a rifle at 200, 400, and finally 600 yards away and counting the best of three shots at each distance.

Other challenges are more complex and may involve obstacle courses or objects that hinder the person from clearly targeting items. Some challenges mix it up by employing a wide range of firearms, some from even the 18th century. Others will use projectile shooting weapons like crossbows and even slingshots. Ammunition and gun enthusiasts will love the detail each episode gives to a particular weapon. The make, model, year, and type of bullets are explicitly told to the contestants before each challenge. For people who love this sport, the amazing detail and historical information given during the show will be thrilling.

But the show offers more than great information. In the first part of the season, the sixteen contestants are split into two teams, usually a blue and red team. By mid-season, when only 8 contestants are left, they compete against themselves. The day before a challenge, everybody is allowed practice shots for the challenge.

After the training day, they compete in the competition where the challenge’s objective, whether it is accuracy or most shots fired, is assessed and judged. A clear winner will win immunity from elimination. The losing team members must vote who stays or who goes. The person with the most votes against them leaves the show. These complexities add an immense amount of human drama. Even late in the show when the teams dissolve, alliances may be made and broken and competitive spirits become fierce. This drama obviously builds up across the season, so watching the show from the beginning is necessary to follow the character development.

As of 2011, there have been 3 seasons of Top Shot. You should get Direct TV to watch this show in all its HD glory, and you can also catch it in syndication several times weekly. Each future season will have new weapons, challenges and contestants with interesting personalities. This is definitely a show gun nuts shouldn’t miss.