Mike Hughes Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) I have to say that Mike's strategy of turning the rifles into pistols was pure genius. Yep, great strategy making a big stretch like that, and huge props for getting Top Shot to show it at all. I'm sure there were a few producers in the background going "Hell no we can't do that on TV!". Ha, that was a lot of fun. Can't believe Gary and I made that shot, the front sight was dancing around left and right like crazy and we did not get a chance to dry fire them right before shooting, so didn't really know when it would break. So it was like incrementally prepping the trigger more and more each time the sights came in on target. And that AK was about 6"@10:00 at 100yrds. Some folks asked why not use the pistol, but I have a lot of deficiencies with rifle craft that could have been exploited by Gary, so it made sense to bring the rifle into my realm of control and tax sight alignment, strength and above all trigger control. I know Matt Siglock (show RO, great guy!) said he was initially concerned about the one handed manipulation of the rifle, but then said, oh hell, let them do it! Ya I didn't perform on the Benelli, but you know, really the equation is simple training = performance. I really need to broaden out. Very motivated to shoot more than just Production. Looking to start hitting 3 gun after Area 2. I just feel like I am not yet even 500 miles into the 1000 mile journey on pistolcraft mastery. Top Shot was an experience. I tried my best to represent the competitive shooting community well. Hope to see you all on the range sometime!! Mike Hughes Edited October 27, 2011 by Mike Hughes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midvalleyshooter Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 You did good Zombie Mike Dustin can shoot! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbbean Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 "I didn't come to win, I came to play" Sounds like advice that might be given in the mental conditioning forum here. I dunno, I am not sure I am buying this laid-back country boy act. Look at this body language during a stage. As intense as Mike or anybody. He did great and he planned on doing great. And that, by the way is not a bad thing Being intense and being in it for the pleasure of doing it aren't mutually exclusive. I can think of another activity we all enjoy and I know I'm pretty intense when I'm doing that, even of there isn't a clear "winner". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I have to say that Mike's strategy of turning the rifles into pistols was pure genius. Yep, great strategy making a big stretch like that, and huge props for getting Top Shot to show it at all. I'm sure there were a few producers in the background going "Hell no we can't do that on TV!". Ha, that was a lot of fun. Can't believe Gary and I made that shot, the front sight was dancing around left and right like crazy and we did not get a chance to dry fire them right before shooting, so didn't really know when it would break. So it was like incrementally prepping the trigger more and more each time the sights came in on target. And that AK was about 6"@10:00 at 100yrds. Some folks asked why not use the pistol, but I have a lot of deficiencies with rifle craft that could have been exploited by Gary, so it made sense to bring the rifle into my realm of control and tax sight alignment, strength and above all trigger control. I know Matt Siglock (show RO, great guy!) said he was initially concerned about the one handed manipulation of the rifle, but then said, oh hell, let them do it! Ya I didn't perform on the Benelli, but you know, really the equation is simple training = performance. I really need to broaden out. Very motivated to shoot more than just Production. Looking to start hitting 3 gun after Area 2. I just feel like I am not yet even 500 miles into the 1000 mile journey on pistolcraft mastery. Top Shot was an experience. I tried my best to represent the competitive shooting community well. Hope to see you all on the range sometime!! Mike Hughes Mike You made an exemplary Example of a true sportsman/ competitive shooter It would be a great pleasure to meet you on the range Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j0n Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 The entire finale was a joy to watch. Afterall, that was the point wasn't it! Congrats to Dustin, even though I was pulling for Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I tried my best to represent the competitive shooting community well. No second place finish there Mike. You took top honors in this regard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristianHE Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Wow, just watched in on DVR, never would'a thunk it would'a been the benelli that made such a big difference, wow. After a 1-handed AK shot at smaller targets?! Congrats Dustin! Jehovah jirah was the provider. Congrats Mike on being such a good representative and sportsman! Congrats Jake! 1st place all-time on TopShot in the quitting category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Mike you represented us well. You are a gentleman and a class act. Look foward to meeting you on the range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeMartens Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 From a Guns and Ammo online interview that season one winner Ian Harrison with Dustin: After a long and grueling six weeks of shooting with both guns and cameras, the final four contestants of Season 3 of History’s Top Shot faced off for the last time tonight. As you probably already know, the show has catapulted competitive shooting into the mainstream in its first three seasons and has become a staple of the History Channel lineup. After the thrilling season finale of Top Shot, I’m proud to welcome Dustin Ellerman to the Top Shot Champion fraternity that now includes the new champ, myself and Season 2 winner Chris Reed. We now have a Christian camp counselor, country boy from down South and well, me, for whatever that’s worth. I got to talk with winner Dustin to get his take on events and the inside scoop on his showdown with eventual runner-up Mike Hughes. Iain Harrison: Why did you apply for the show? Dustin Ellerman: It looked like fun! Any time you can get to ride a zipline or a get hauled up on a crane while shooting guns, well I want to play. IH: What’s the first firearm you’re going to get now that you’ve won? DE: Actually there are two. That Larue OBR is such a sweet shooter, I had to have one and the 10/22 is one of my favorites, so I had to have one that Volquartsen perfected. IH: What other plans do you have following the show? DE: I’m going to be signing a lot of autographs! Seriously, though, I’ve had such great support from kids, that I’m going to be headed to a bunch of schools and churches to talk with the kids and have photos taken with them. I’m also planning on running a youth marksmanship camp in the Spring, once things have died down a little. IH: Now, for the final episode, tell us about the dueling tree challenge – seems like they threw in a twist this time around. DE: Yeah, the plates were a little bit bigger, but they were moving. That was the fourth time I’d shot a Glock, so that was cool, and I was kinda glad that Gary beat me because I want people to feel safe & it wouldn’t look good if this DHS agent gets beaten by a nobody from east Texas. IH: At the HORSE challenge, why did you pick the golf balls as your first target? DE: At home, one of my favorite targets are golf balls; I’d set them at 100 yards & check zero my rifles with them. I’d mentioned this in the house, so when we walked up, Gary said, “Hey Dusty, there’s your golf balls.” When Mike chose the AK one handed we were like, “are you nuts?” I tried to take up the trigger to the end of the first stage, but I was totally unprepared when it went off, but that’s what happens when you have an 8 lb. rifle on the end of your arm. IH: The final shoot off wasn’t even close. What happened? DE: Yeah, we had go back and reshoot parts the next day because I left the cameras behind. I caught Mike on the rock throwing part of the course because I’d been practicing back at the house, throwing rocks for maybe an hour a day then it was on to the Benelli. I had to throw in maybe four or five extra shells and then took off. Going into it, I gave Mike an 80/20 chance of winning, but he told me later that buried the front sight in the bottom of the ghost ring on that Benelli instead of centering it and kept repeating his mistake. IH: Planning on heading to SHOT Show? DE: Yeah, I read about the party you guys had last year. While I’m not a big drinker, I’m not missing out on that! Who watched the show this season? Let’s talk Top Shot in the comments section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Dustin shot well in the final but not THAT well. Did we watch the same final? Come on guys, Michael V or Jerry M and several others would have smoked him on that challenge. I don't have a problem with giving him due credit for a good run but it wasn't world class except maybe the rock throwing. I could have won the lottery, if I had played the winning numbers. You can't win if you aren't in the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Campbell Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Come on guys, Michael V or Jerry M and several others would have smoked him on that challenge. I don't have a problem with giving him due credit for a good run but it wasn't world class except maybe the rock throwing. I could have won the lottery, if I had played the winning numbers. You can't win if you aren't in the game. To me, part of the beauty of the show, is that anyone, on a given day, can win. Who is to say that, throwing rocks, shooting moving targets from a ramp with an arrow, would not get anyone eliminated, not to mention, the merry go round, that looked to be a absolute hoot to shoot. Which to me is and was, absolute, shooting on demand. Dustin outshot the competition, he won, Congrats to him, for Being TOP SHOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2alpha Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I'm just real sorry my humor appeals to no one but the other guy in my head. I will remove my post and you guys continue with your bromance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I figured that Dustin would likely pick up one of those Volquartsen rifles. Watching Gary, Mike, and Dustin shooting the game of "Horse", I wondered why Mike did not have the revolver shot in double action with support hand instead of single action. I guessed that he was not confident shooting double action given the stakes. After seeing him choose to shoot the AK one handed no support I was perplexed that he had not shot the revolver in double action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I'm just real sorry my humor appeals to no one but the other guy in my head. I will remove my post and you guys continue with your bromance. Heeeey....kinda like Jake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strangedays Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I was thinking Dustin would make it to the top from watching his previous matches. He earned the win 100% and who better to beat than Mike. A great match and a even better win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowrider Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Gotta say that the final 4 were all Class A individuals in my book. I wasn't going to be disappointed with any of them winning. Bringing Mike back kind of "made my day" when that happened on a couple of levels. Glad to see you got to shoot "for it all" Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 This was the best season yet. I hope it gets more and more "about the shooting". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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