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BO: How did you initially learn about “Top Shot?”
CG:Actually, Michael Bane from the Outdoor Channel sent me an email when he received the initial press release from the History Channel about the upcoming show.
BO: Did you think you had a shot at being chosen? Describe how you felt the moment you found out about being selected.
CG: Honestly, not really! When I saw the 50 shooters that had been assembled for the final audition, I was thinking, “there is no way they’ll pick me.” Then they did, and I was elated and little nervous. Thirty days is a long time to be away from family and friends.
BO: Take us inside a day on the show. How was an episode filmed?
CG: The episodes are filmed over a three-day period. Day one would be the practice, and then day two would have the team challenge and the nomination range visit for the losing team. Finally, day three would have the elimination practice and the elimination challenge. Lather, rinse and repeat!
BO: Which event do you feel like you did the best in? The worst?
CG: It was hard to judge relative performance, because each event was so different. If I had to pick the event I was most proud of, it would have been the first team challenge. While I hit my target with the first shot, I had four or five light primer hits before that, which forced several malfunction clearance drills. I’m still proud of staying patient and staying on the gun. I think my worst performance was definitely the flintlock challenge. I’ve shot flintlocks quite a bit before, and had the best performance in practice, so I volunteered to take the 125-yard shot. With everything on the line, I had a chance to tie things up for my team and I let them down.
BO: Adam was playing some mind games in the last episode, after all that went down how do feel about him?
CG: I still don’t have any ill will toward Adam. I understand what he was trying to do, which was play the reality TV show aspect of the game. I just wasn’t there to play that game. Sure, I didn’t like his reaction to the whole thing, but me getting upset about it wouldn’t have helped an already bad situation. And I have to give Adam his props, he shot very well at the elimination challenge.
BO: Describe the experience at the elimination challenge. Did you feel like anyone was rooting against you?
CG: You know, I couldn’t tell. Once Colby said “go,” my world contracted down to the rifle, my target and me. I wasn’t aware of who was yelling what in the background, and I was only peripherally aware of Adam’s actions while he was shooting.
BO: Describe how you feel about the nature of your exit from the show?
CG: Personally, I’m proud of how I went out. I came to “Top Shot” to do one thing—shoot guns. While I did end up getting involved in the politics of the game more than I’d like, ultimately it came down to a shooting competition, which I lost fair and square. There’s no shame in that.
BO: Do you still talk to any cast members post show?
CG: You bet. Each episode brings regular text messages with several cast members. I shot the USPSA Area 5 championship with Blake, and I actually still talk to one of the experts, Ben Stoeger.
BO: What did you take away from the experience with regard to competitive shooting?
CG: The biggest lesson I picked up is mindset. I used to get nervous before shooting a club match. Then I shot some major matches, which I’d get nervous before shooting. Now that I’ve pulled triggers in front of 5 million people, Bianchi Cup isn’t so scary any more.
BO: How do you feel about reality television competition shows after doing “Top Shot?”
CG: I now am officially a reality TV junkie. Having an inside look at what goes in to the making of a show, especially the competition/elimination type shows, gives me a real appreciation for the amount of hard work that brought that show to our TVs.
BO: Would you do something like this again? What is your greatest regret?
CG: As a contestant? Maybe. I’d really like to go back to Top Shot Season 2 as one of the experts though, because that’s where it’s really at! And as far as regrets go, my biggest regret? Not winning!
Caleb is a competitive shooter and writer living just north of Indianapolis. When he’s not competing in IDPA events or the Bianchi Cup, he’s updating his personal website at www.gunnuts.net with shooting sports information and news.