Targeting a title: Marine sniper nears ‘Top Shot’ win - Entertainment, TV, Television - Army Times

Targeting a title: Marine sniper nears ‘Top Shot’ win

A Marine sniper and a former British infantry officer will gun it out in the season finale of “Top Shot,” the History Channel’s marksmanship reality show.

Lance Cpl. Peter Palma shot his way through a field of 15 other marksmen to earn a berth in the show’s final round while putting the $100,000 grand prize firmly in his cross hairs.

A Pennsylvania native, Palma returned from his second tour in Iraq last year as a scout-sniper with the Marine Corps Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines. A plumber and gun collector in civilian life, he melts down salvaged pipe to make his own ammo.

“My thesis statement for collecting guns is to prepare for the zombie apocalypse,” Palma told producers with a straight face when the show started. “If I’m prepared for that, I’m prepared for anything.”

That philosophy has paid off on the show. Among those knocked off are three former Marines and an active-duty solider.

Now, only four shooters remain for the finale, which airs at 10 p.m. Eastern time Aug. 15. Among them, Palma will face Iain Harrison, a former British recon platoon commander.

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Editor’s note: Palma finished fourth in the “Top Shot” season finale.