McMillan TAC-50 – Top Shot 3 Mind Dump

I’ve been flying a little high lately. I got to interview Dustin Ellerman last Monday, have a giveaway we’ll be posting results to in the morning thanks to the History Channel, and last night I got to spend a half hour on the phone with Gary Quesenberry. Top those events with the fact that tonight’s episode breaks out the green polos and the McMillan TAC-50 rifle (watch for my show review of the rifle in the morning) and you better believe I feel like Ralphie from Christmas Story unwrapping my Red Ryder BB gun on Christmas morning. Almost forgot to mention I’ve got another interview lined up for Friday, but we’ll let that one be a surprise for next week.

Let’s get down to the Nitty Gritty…

•  And OF COURSE the show starts off with a recap of last week reminding us of Blue Mike and Jake’s “tense” moment in the house.
  

  The McMillan TAC-50 = Long Range Perfection

• Dustin is right, Cliff is a big elimination. Chris Collins should be very proud.
• GREEN SHIRTS!
• SAWMAN SAWYER is back too! This guy is all class, and who I picture to be a REAL SEAL. The TAC-50 is designated the MK 15 to him.
• ROFL Chris, “this thing kicks like a 3 legged ninja.” Personally I don’t think the video does a great job of demonstrating the amount of recoil this rifle produces.
• Everyone really seems to be listening to Craig Sawyer’s advice. This is  gonna be fun. Just like Gary told me last night, some of his techniques are revealing some weaknesses. He’s positive and learning though, gotta love that.
• Jake’s right (and surprisingly humble). Playing field is leveled by the wind. Colby taking some language lessons from Jake dropping the EFF bomb.
• 30″ MOVING TARGET at 500 yards in hurricane force winds. HECK YES! FINALLY some performance based challenges. Top 4 shooters with the McMillan TAC-50 get immunity. Bottom 3 in danger of going home. I’m so flipping pumped right now I’m giddy.
• It’s literally so windy Colby is having to lean into it to stay standing in one spot.
• ROFL Dustin to Alex going first, “I’ll pray for ya.”
• Alex up first and it just dawned on me he’s a lefty. BALLS. HE NAILED IT FIRST SHOT SO FAST! 12 Seconds, gonna be so hard to beat. He’s been a sleeper all along.
• Chris struggling, but gets it in 3 shots and 51 seconds. It appears as though he’s loading the rounds individually, no 5 round box mag on this rifle.
• Phil FIRST SHOT hit in 9.5 seconds. Give it up for the 3 gun competitor.
• Gotta remember here that a 700+ grain bullet out of something 2700 fps it might surprise us how much that sucker bucks the wind.
• Jake’s up, ALSO first shot. 9.02 seconds. He guessed he was first and he was right. Impressive.
• Gary just behind it on his first two shots. In front and over it on his third shot. Behind it on the fourth AND fifth, and I lost track. Visibly frustrated, but still competing even with Colby giving his live narrative about composure. Jake even showing some sensitivity to his embarrassment. Classy of everyone to cheer for him. 14 shots, 5 minutes and 9 seconds.
• Blue Mike Hughes up now. He’s so chill and serious. First shot back. Evidently disappointed he didn’t hit it first shot. Second round shooting behind it. Obvious he’s not a rifle guy but gets it in the third shot. 44 seconds so for now he’s safe in front of Chris.
• Dustin Ellerman up now and Jake offers a valid point about Dustin’s haste. But he’s a first shot connection and gets it in 8 SECONDS AND WINS THE CHALLENGE!!! And once again, he’s my homeboy.
• Gary, Chris, & Mike are up for the elimination challenge based on overall performance.
• Let’s be honest, I think Gary just wanted to shoot the TAC-50 more than he got to in the practice session.
• Weird watching a green shirt “team meeting.”
• Jake’s honest. He has always been, “you’re the last grand master flash in the house” – to Mike H. Mike even said it, “You’re transparent, it’s great.”
• Well at least Gary can be happy about one thing, the nomination range has the Colt Peacemaker .45 waiting for them.
• Chris obviously felt bad about voting for Gary at the range, but Gary did own up to deserving it. And then Gary returns the favor by voting for Chris. Phil has same sentiments as Chris, then Mike H. votes for him to so he’s in.
• Dustin votes Chris. Jake votes Mike with a bullseye. Big surprise. Alex chooses Mike and creates a tie. Alex also notes that he now agrees with Jake’s strategy.
• AAANNNNDDDDD….. a shootout to break the tie. Mike’s goes a bit left so it’s up to Chris to beat Mike with a closer shot. And he does so with a perfect bullseye and surprisingly calm nerves. So it’s Gary and Mike headed to elimination.
• The Walther P-38. Wow, too bad they couldn’t have used something a little more boring (sarcasm) #Nazis.
• Gary no slouch with a pistol guys. He’s a TRIPLE NICKEL COIN holder which only 89 people in the WORLD today have. He’s family with the reps needed to master a weapon and his practice time is showing it.
• Let’s see how Methodical Mike does. And he has thumb issues. So dialed in to what he needs to do. His only hindrance could be how pre-formed he is to his comp pistols.
• I like how humble both Mike and Gary are going into this. A good amount of respect for the other guy going into this, so nothing’s going to be taken for granted here.
• Head to head is the only way  to go in elimination IMHO. More pressure, more hustle, no question about the winner. That and they’re going to have to reload some of their own mags with only 30 rounds preloaded.
• Preview indicates this is going to be down to the wire. Can’t wait!
• Mind games with the other guy shooting next to you has to be painfully stress inducing. Oh, AND they still win the $2k to Bass Pro when they win.
• Mike knocks out that first plank pretty quick. Gary slowing himself down in order to be more effective with his accuracy. Gary so sincere in his interviews. He’s that type of guy 1 on 1 too. Just the type dude you hope he’ll be.
• Manual loading now coming into play. Halfway in both guys are now manually reloading and neck and neck.
• I’m loving this!
• Gary reloading with just one target left!!! GARY WINS!!! Talk about seeing relief on someone’s face. Surprised to see Methodical Mike leaving this early in. But how much does it build Gary’s confidence to beat “Grand Master Flash” with a pistol?
• Mike’s exit interview very classy saying he wanted to be beaten with someone of Gary’s quality. I couldn’t agree more.
• Thanks for checking out another mind dump, folks. This was my favorite episode to date no question. Great anticipation and great competition.

Adios Methodical Mike, your stoic face will be missed.

Just in case this is your first Mind Dump to follow, check out the rest of them here: Top Shot Mind Dump Series. We’ll be back next week with ANOTHER interview and another Mind Dump!