David Shaeffer Jr. – East Coast Assassin! Trapshooting with Attitude - Trap Talk E123

Summary

Trap Talk From The Back Fence
Episode: David Shaeffer Jr. – East Coast Assassin! Trapshooting with Attitude - Trap Talk E123
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Hosts: Zach Nannini & Richard Marshall Jr.

---

1. Introduction and Dave Schaefer’s Achievements

The episode opens with Zach and Richard introducing their special guest, Dave Schaefer, a renowned trapshooting champion. They highlight Dave's impressive list of accolades, emphasizing his world record long run of 21:66 in singles and his multiple titles at the Maryland State Shoot.

Notable Quote:
Zach Nannini [01:53]: "The biggest accolade that I want to introduce him on is his world record long run of 21:66 in singles."

---

2. Personal Journey and Career Beginnings

Dave shares how he was introduced to trapshooting by his father in 1990 after church. Starting as a young enthusiast, Dave quickly demonstrated his prowess by breaking his first hundred with a Remington 870 and winning the Maryland State Juniors title with a score of 198.

Notable Quote:
Dave Schaefer [07:13]: "That was when I won the Maryland State Juniors title. My first."

---

3. Record-Breaking Long Run

Dave recounts his legendary long run of 21:66, which began at the Pennsylvania State Shoot and spanned multiple states, culminating at the Grand. Throughout this streak, Dave maintained exceptional consistency, rarely missing targets despite challenging weather conditions.

Notable Quote:
Dave Schaefer [11:56]: "That 2166 is something I'm very, very, very proud of."

---

4. Techniques and Strategies

The conversation delves into Dave’s shooting techniques, focusing on his high gun hold point and his method of staying ahead of the target. Dave explains that he always looks where the target emerges, maintaining focus on the front edge to ensure precise shots.

Notable Quote:
Dave Schaefer [42:21]: "I try to stay on the front edge of it the whole time."

---

5. Overcoming Cancer

Dave bravely discusses his battle with testicular cancer three years ago. The diagnosis and subsequent rigorous chemotherapy treatments significantly impacted his life and shooting career. Despite the challenges, Dave returned to trapshooting with determination, breaking a hundred handicap just three weeks after his last chemo session.

Notable Quote:
Dave Schaefer [34:22]: "That was absolutely the hardest time of my life."

---

6. Training and Practice

Emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication, Dave highlights that his success stems from relentless practice and a deep passion for the sport. He discusses the balance between natural talent and the necessity of consistent training to achieve top performance.

Notable Quote:
Dave Schaefer [28:32]: "I worked hard. I worked hard. I shot a lot of practice."

---

7. Advice for Aspiring Shooters

Dave offers valuable advice to listeners aspiring to excel in trapshooting. He underscores the importance of having a well-fitted gun, seeking quality coaching, and maintaining unwavering drive and motivation. Dave also stresses the significance of setting both short-term and long-term goals to stay focused and hungry for success.

Notable Quotes:
Dave Schaefer [49:59]: "Make sure your gun fits. That's the biggest thing."
Dave Schaefer [50:37]: "Get a good coach, you know, to find out what you're doing right, what you're doing wrong and just keep shooting."

---

8. Future Goals and Conclusion

Looking ahead, Dave expresses his ambition to win additional titles in both singles and doubles, indicating that his competitive spirit remains strong. He remains committed to continuously improving and achieving new milestones in his trapshooting career.

Notable Quote:
Dave Schaefer [52:11]: "I got a lot to prove. Absolute self, you know what I mean?"

---

Key Takeaways

• Dedication and Practice: Dave's success is a testament to his relentless practice and unwavering passion for trapshooting.
• Resilience: Overcoming personal health challenges, Dave demonstrates remarkable resilience and commitment to his sport.
• Technical Mastery: His precise techniques and strategic approaches set him apart as a top competitor.
• Mentorship and Advice: Dave underscores the importance of mentorship, proper equipment, and goal-setting for aspiring shooters.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Zach Nannini [01:53]: "The biggest accolade that I want to introduce him on is his world record long run of 21:66 in singles."
• Dave Schaefer [07:13]: "That was when I won the Maryland State Juniors title. My first."
• Dave Schaefer [11:56]: "That 2166 is something I'm very, very, very proud of."
• Dave Schaefer [42:21]: "I try to stay on the front edge of it the whole time."
• Dave Schaefer [34:22]: "That was absolutely the hardest time of my life."
• Dave Schaefer [28:32]: "I worked hard. I worked hard. I shot a lot of practice."
• Dave Schaefer [49:59]: "Make sure your gun fits. That's the biggest thing."
• Dave Schaefer [50:37]: "Get a good coach, you know, to find out what you're doing right, what you're doing wrong and just keep shooting."
• Dave Schaefer [52:11]: "I got a lot to prove. Absolute self, you know what I mean?"

---

Dave Schaefer's inspiring journey underscores the essence of dedication, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in trapshooting. His story serves as a beacon for both seasoned shooters and newcomers striving to make their mark in the sport.

Transcript

[Zach Nini]

Welcome to season three of Trap Talk.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Brought to you by Craig off, the choice of champions.

[Zach Nini]

All right, folks, we got to take a quick second and give a huge shout out to our title sponsor, Craig Off. Me and Ricky both shoot him. We both love them.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yep, best gun in the industry. I shoot them, I sell them. Nothing better, folks. Get yourself a Craig off, your scores will increase.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, I mean Ricky's got hundreds and hundreds of hundreds with his. I mean, I've got a few hundreds but. But I'm always working to get a little bit better and they definitely help me, that's for sure. So on top of that, we also got to thank Winig. I'm wearing the shirt today. Love this shirt. If you're down at the GR grand, pick one up.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, winning. Like I said, Zach, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of my winning stock. You know, get a hold of Bobby, Luke, Bill, get an appointment set up. They will make you a better shooter with that winning stock.

[Zach Nini]

Of course. Yeah, the grand's the great place to do it. Give them a call, get on their book. It's worth your time.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Just remember, winners shoot winnings.

[Zach Nini]

With that being said, let's get back to the show. Welcome back to another episode of Trap Talk. I'm your host Zach Nini where we discuss all things trap shooting related. Interviewing the trap shooting greats and having great conversations. We've got the worldly traveler and my co host Richard Marshall Jr. The one and only. You know Ricky, thanks for taking the time to be here today. But, but we got someone, we got someone special today that, that we, we've had a lot of requests. A lot of people ask about Mr. Dave Schaefer who's a many time record holder and, and he agreed to be on the show and I'm, I'm so excited to have him on today.

[Dave Schaefer]

Hey, how you guys doing? Thanks for having me on.

[Zach Nini]

Well, thank you, Dave. You know, I know Ricky usually does the introductions but I've been sitting here talking with Dave a little bit and I've got a lot of information. So, you know, the biggest accolade that I want to introduce him on is his world record long run of 21:66 in singles. This was the same year that he won the clay target. Dave has informed us that not only has he won the clay target, but he's one runner up in the clay target two times. Ricky might have more runner ups in the clay target than you, Dave, but.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

But four or five.

[Zach Nini]

But you got, but you got more clay targets so that you know that's.

[Dave Schaefer]

Right, you got it.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I don't have one.

[Dave Schaefer]

We.

[Zach Nini]

You've won the all around in the overall at the grand. And then as far as other accolades in your zone, you've won all five titles in your state shoot of Maryland, it looks like you've won six singles titles, five doubles titles, and the doubles titles were all with different guns. So that's got to be some kind. That's got to be some, some kind.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's got to be a record. Absolutely. Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

Won the HAA seven times. Won the HA HOA at least eight times. And one thing that I found impressive was he won the singles not only six times, but four in a row from 7, 8, 9 and 10, all with two hundreds. So four years in a row won the singles every time with a 200. Other than one year, he said he broke it with a 197. But the, the weather conditions were, were completely.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That was just sporty.

[Dave Schaefer]

Absolutely.

[Zach Nini]

And then in 2024, he finally won the handicap at the Maryland State shoot to complete his crown five of having all the state championships. So, you know, Dave, you, you've been known as, as a great shooter for a long time. You definitely have that world record. And you know, another thing that I thought was amazing was the, the average in that year that you had that long run, you had a 99, 76. So I mean, that was what, six or seven birds on 5,000. Was that that the case?

[Dave Schaefer]

Something like that? Yeah, yeah. Seven, I think seven maybe. Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, I think.

[Zach Nini]

Yes. So. So just so people can know that are listening to the show that might not know who Dave Schaefer is, he's a bad man with a shotgun.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And, and you do not want your singles.

[Zach Nini]

You do not want to get in his way. If one, if one pipes on there. He's pretty, he's pretty deadly now with two pipes, he's pretty good. But I'm not as scared of him as. With one pipe. One pipe. He's a bad, A bad, bad man. But, but welcome to the show, Dave.

[Dave Schaefer]

Hey, thanks, guys.

[Zach Nini]

So, Ricky, I know you've known Dave for so long. I mean, how long, how long have you guys been friends and how did you guys get together?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I mean, just shooting, you know, I mean, debut shot since what, 90, 91, 1990.

[Dave Schaefer]

I fired my first shot. Yeah, yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And I started in 88, so we shot together.

[Dave Schaefer]

Might have been in Tucson, probably early 2000s, I think. I think it was me. You, Bruce Reed.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh, God, yeah. That'd be going back. It's going a long time Ago.

[Dave Schaefer]

It was one of my shot.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Hey, we. We did shoot the champ at champs together that one year at the Grand. We did remember that. It was hotter than Zach. It was. So it's what, 8 in the morning? 8:15, and you're soaked, soaking wet. And we're out there and I'm just like, man, I shouldn't have drank all that beer last night.

[Zach Nini]

Hotter than a peppercorn fart.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, I think we did break hundreds, though, in the. And someone's like, how'd that go this morning? I was like, I got him there. Like, you guys were at the bar, too. And I was like, well, gotta make. Hey, when you can make hay, you gotta do right?

[Zach Nini]

I'm. I'm so glad you're on the show, Dave, because you're another person that had hundreds and hundreds of hundreds.

[Dave Schaefer]

And hundreds.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, hundreds and hundreds of hundreds like Ricky's got.

[Dave Schaefer]

But I like breaking hundreds.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I want to show you something. So I just did a clinic in. In Indiana, and one of my students that Zach might know. I'm not going to mention his name, he's from the. The St. Louis area. He shoots at Bunker Hill. But he said, hey, I got you something. And I said, oh, what's that? And he said, I got you something for your Can Am. So he got me this license plate. Okay, now listen. So he goes. I go, oh, that's cool. You know, he goes, well, I didn't want Zach to feel left out, so he got Zach 200. And I started.

[Zach Nini]

I said, that's messed up. I had to call Ricky. And I said, you know, hilarious. I. I don't know if I got hundreds and hundreds of hundreds, but I got over a hundred of them. I mean, at least. I mean, I. I said. I said, I can count them up. They're there. I mean, we got them.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh, we just. But it was so funny, these guys. You know, everybody loves the podcast and the stuff, you know, just bannering back and forth and. And it was so funny. He's like, I got these. I said, where'd you get these? He goes, etsy. I got it made online. So it was. It was funny.

[Zach Nini]

So moving on, getting back to Dave. Dave, I want to know how you got into the sport and. And why you love it so much.

[Dave Schaefer]

Well, my dad, he got me into it in 1990 after church. He said, one day, let's go out and shoot something he did back in the 70s, and. And he gave up when I was born, and, gosh, I was 10, 11, but I was always a big guy. Big kid. So that's how. That's how we started. After church, we went out and shot 50. That was it. 50 birds for maybe a year. And then, you know, we went on a little bit more with ATA and then winter leagues. Yep.

[Zach Nini]

Well, so. So started off young, family sport. Dad kind of integrated you. And, and, and I know you said you won some junior titles early on, you know, three singles, junior titles in Maryland. So you were obviously an impressive shot right off the bat. You know, how long did it take from when you started until you had a grasp of, you know, hey, I can do this. I feel like I'm a good shooter. I feel like I compete. I can. I feel like I can win.

[Dave Schaefer]

Well, let's see. I. I made my first junior All American team in 93, so I guess that'd be three years. And I mean, I think I made last place on it, but, hey, that's three years.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It is what it is. Yeah, that's right. Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

So. So at that point, you were competitive. You were starting to say, okay, I can. I can. I can win. I feel good about this. I can compete.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yep. I was running around with my 870 and I was. I was ready to shoot.

[Zach Nini]

Was that what you shot back then?

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, that's what I started with. Remington870.

[Zach Nini]

Did you break your first hundred with that?

[Dave Schaefer]

Broke my first hundred with it. Ended up with a 198 that day. That's when I won the Maryland State Juniors title. My first.

[Zach Nini]

So you just went out there with the. With the shuck o Matic 870, the Old Remington Master, and just.

[Dave Schaefer]

Oh, yeah.

[Zach Nini]

Just blasted those juniors, huh?

[Dave Schaefer]

Absolutely. Absolutely. And Maryland had some tough juniors back then.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. So every state, it seemed like Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, we had. In Colorado, it was like just an influx of the kids. I mean, you know, we didn't break the scores like some of them do now, but also, the guns we shot back then weren't the same. That.

[Dave Schaefer]

Right.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You know, the kids.

[Dave Schaefer]

Neither. Neither was the ammo, so.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

The ammo, absolutely. Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

You. And we were shooting, and we were shooting on, you know, button. Button pulls.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, exactly. Hand pulls.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Makes a huge difference.

[Zach Nini]

Three hole and on top of that, an 870, you know, and that just that. That just, like, I want to take a moment to recognize, I mean, how tough you are to be in a position where you're just like, you give this guy a broomstick, he's going to learn, he's going to shoot it. Right. And. And most people, I mean, A lot of people, they have the. They, you know, the correct stock, the correct, you know, rib pattern, the correct point of impact and all these things. And I think people generally wrap their head around, like, how important all this stuff is, and not to discount that. It's not important. But at the end of the day, like, you can shoot anything if you know. If you know how to shoot. I mean, you give a good shooter a gun and make it shoot where he's looking, and he can, you know, win some stuff.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Zach, what did you start with?

[Zach Nini]

I started with an 1100.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

See, there you go. I broke my first 25 straight with 1100. Yeah, I tried.

[Zach Nini]

1100 was my first 25. It was my first 50. And then I went into something called a. Well, it was. At the time, it was a Maruku, but it was a Charles Daly Browning import. It was a Broadway gun that I shot. And that's what I broke my first hundred straight in Kingsburg Gun Club with. And then, man, I.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

The.

[Zach Nini]

The 200. The 200 was with a Ludic. So that was. It took me a while to get that. I wasn't. I wasn't like a Dave Schaefer, where singles were scared of my name. It took me. It took me many, many.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Dave. Dave. We've never included Zach as a single specialist. Let's just go there right now.

[Dave Schaefer]

When I was. When I was shooting my best singles, I always used to say, there's no reason to miss a singles target. Yeah, you know, you're right.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You're absolutely right. And talking about that, Dave, you know, because on your long run, you know, I mean, that. That's a huge deal for everybody out there. All the listeners and people watch the show 21 66. Now, I've been fortunate to run over a thousand only a couple times in my career. But you shot all over during that run, correct? I mean, and that's the one thing. It wasn't like you just sat at your own little home club and banged out.

[Dave Schaefer]

Right. You know, that. That 2166 is something I'm very, very, very proud of. And.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh, absolutely.

[Dave Schaefer]

It started at the Pennsylvania State shoot, and we went all the way. Geez. Pennsylvania, see Maryland, Virginia, New York, back to Pennsylvania, and then into the Grand. And then you're forgetting New Jersey. Jersey.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

New Jersey, New Jersey. That's where it started. It looks. Well, you had a two. I'm looking at his scores right here, Zach. He. If my iPhone will come.

[Dave Schaefer]

If I'm not mistaken, I think I missed one on the first hundred at the Pennsylvania State.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, New York State, was it. New York, you had a 198. And then Jersey, you broke a 200. No, I take that back. There was a 99 there. Hold on a second. So, yeah, Pa, you broke 200 and I think. Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

It's been so long since I've looked.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

Wait, looked at the record, it was 2011. No, it was 0909.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Maryland, Virginia, New York Valley Gun Club in the Grand. And then it looks like you missed at the cardinal set.

[Dave Schaefer]

Cardinal. Yeah, yeah, I was shooting with. I was shooting with K that day. And, you know, he doesn't usually show much emotion when we, you know, when you shoot and.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

But let's not, let's not discount something here either, Dave. So you broke at the grand that year. You, you broke the A hundred in the, one of the handicaps during that long run. Yeah, that was the Remington handicap. Fire. Remember?

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, right. Nitro 27.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Nitro 20. I remember that because you were shooting nitros.

[Dave Schaefer]

And the, the year before, I missed the same hundred, the same event. I missed my 100th target for.99.99.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yes, I do remember that.

[Zach Nini]

I'm glad you didn't do it two years in a row.

[Dave Schaefer]

Oh, believe me. Hey, when we were. When it came back to me, everybody, the whole squad was look. Because I was shooting with the same guys, everybody's looking at me. Yeah, they were all like this. And I just smiled at him and called for the target and smashed it.

[Zach Nini]

So I want to circle back. I know you said K wasn't emotional ever on the squad. Did he get emotional that day?

[Dave Schaefer]

He looked over at me and smiled. He looked over at me, smiled. And you know what? And, and I could have probably kept that streak going if I hadn't a shot that day because the Cardinal was very sorry. I remember that the, the weather was bad. The. It was windy, it was raining, thunderstorms, you know, but I wanted.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You.

[Zach Nini]

You weren't concerned with it. You were just shooting.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, I was shooting. K asked me to shoot with him. I'm going to shoot. You know what I mean? You don't get that very often.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

No.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah. I mean, I think that's just amazing that you weren't, you know, you were in that position. And I think there's so many other trap shooters that might have been. Well, I want to see how long I can go and then maybe start to, you know, bluebird it or, you know, honey pick or, you know, they, they, they, they end up at, you know, Spanish Fort with their, with Their calculator. You know, it's just the different things that you could do.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh, you went there.

[Zach Nini]

You know, you, you, you, you just, you just, you just go, you know, and it's like you gotta, you gotta, you gotta decide at some point in time, you know, what are you trying to do right? You, you wanna, you want to do it the right way. And I think you, the essence of what you did was doing it the right way.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Zach Nini]

Period.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, yeah, you did.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I mean, listen.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, and it, it wasn't far in. It was like maybe the first or second post and so it was over pretty quick.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Quick?

[Zach Nini]

Well, hey, you know what? Sometimes it's over fast. Hey, Trop Talk listeners, let's take a quick second to thank a couple more amazing sponsors. SOS Clays Shoot Management, they're doing a fantastic job. I love the app. I love being able to see everything on my phone instantaneously. It's freaking awesome. Rick, what do you think?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, Greg Pink and his group over there, I mean they've got majority of the satellite grands. Majority. The state shoots, I think it's 40 plus state shoots they're doing. But the app, honestly, we were doing a little beta testing with that at the spring grand.

[Dave Schaefer]

It's awesome.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You can see your squad if they paid, you know, you can see your options, your payouts, the whole works at your fingertips. Great deal. They're just.

[Zach Nini]

Ricky, how much money he made before he even got off the line, he was like, hey, I'm buying lunch. I'm like, yeah, good job, we're good to go. We also got gun and trophy insurance. I mean, they're the best in the business. I, I know they're, they're great price. Ricky, you're familiar with them, right?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. Cole and Larry Cushman, been long time supporters of my and, and I've been a supporter of them and you know, especially with my college team, you know, we require insurance. It's so fast and easy to sign up and get your insurance. In literally 10 minutes you can have your guns insured. And they're just great, they're great to deal with. Like I said, you can do your trophies also, you know, your, your wildlife, animals and that such and your guns.

[Zach Nini]

It's just a great, it's always good when you're traveling around to have that peace of mind and know that you don't have to worry about losing your stuff forever. And these are expensive things, especially when you got those Craig offs. You got to keep them insured. Hey, Trap Talk listeners, we Got to take a real quick break. And we got to thank Ron Prescott from mid state precious metals for everything they do for the trap shooting community coast to coast for all your gold and silver buying needs. And on top of that new announcement, they're a sponsor of the 126 grand American.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Finally, he said it right, folks. Grand American. Yeah. Ron is a great guy. He's a sponsor of the back fence shootout at Nevada State shoot and Ohio State shoot. And also we got our gold for our trap talk event at Nevada State shoot and the 77th annual Nevada State Shoot. They bought all theirs from it. 680 ounces of silver to be exact. Folks, you're missing out if you're not there.

[Zach Nini]

That's a lot of silver. And honestly, if you're not buying from Ron, you're probably overpaying. So whether you're buying it for your gun clubs or your shoots or for your personal use, you got to give them a try because they're big supporters of the trap shooting nation, so it's awesome. All right, trap talk listeners, let's take a couple seconds and thank a couple more sponsors. First of all, Remington's been with us since day one. I've been shooting these shells since 2007. I shoot the Nitro 27 from the 27 yard line, ounce and eight, seven and a half and STS, ounce and eighth eights for singles and doubles. They've worked great for me as they do a lot of top shooters all around the country. Give them a try. Don't forget the gun club line when you're practicing and you're wanting to save a little bit of money.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

We'd also like to thank another sponsor, Outlaw engineering. Randy Freston, R2. I've known Randy since 1988. They do engineering, survey and drafting, GIS, civil structural land development, wetland permitting. They do.

[Zach Nini]

And they're friends of trap shooters. I mean, they're trap shooting family. They've been in the ATA forever. His dad's been involved. They're involved. They're beautiful family. They're great people. And we just love that they listen to the show, and we love that they support trap talk.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. His dad was past president, 1989. So I really want to thank those guys for the support.

[Zach Nini]

All right, folks, we got to take a real quick break and acknowledge the official target of the ata, White flyer. They've been sponsoring us since the beginning, and they make a great target. What do you think, Rick?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It's the best target in the ata. Shout out to everybody there, all the reps you know, Bill Daniels, Josh Taylor, Nick Arnold, Robert Crow, everything they do for the sport and all the shoots, really appreciate it.

[Zach Nini]

They're always there, they're always trying to make a better target and they're always supporting the game that we love so much. With that being said, let's get back to the show. You know, we could talk, just going into this, a little bit more detail. Did you ever think you were going to go on a run like this when it started and, and like when did it start becoming like, okay, you know, the thoughts are coming in your brain and you're, you know, thinking about a record like, you know, walk us through that year in your mind.

[Dave Schaefer]

So I don't think anybody really plans on breaking 2166. So it kind of just starts, you know, you know, shooting good, breaking singles. Breaking singles. And I didn't realize it until I was at the grand that I was really on a run, like I really didn't realize it. And I was heading out to a shoot off one night and Leo come over and he says, you're really on a run, aren't you? Something like twelve, thirteen, fourteen, hundred straight. And I'm like, really? You know, I knew I was deep, but you know, I wasn't counting the, counting the tars.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, it was just, it was, I just.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So during that time, so after that happened, okay, after, you know, Big L said that to you, did you then start like, ah, maybe I can break the record or what is the record or what? You know, because I know the record, they've said it was this and they said it's that. No one really, we know that you have the record.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, I didn't even really know, didn't even know what the record really was. But I've hit a thousand a couple times before that and I always love singles. I didn't like, I, I, I didn't never really like doubles very much. Handicap was okay. But I loved singles. I like to watch them smoke. And I always, even as a little kid, I used to, I used to dream about breaking more singles than anybody. I mean I pretty much devoted my life to this sport, you know, and even as a kid I remember with the 870, I'd be in the mirror pretending I was at the Grand. I just smoked 1200 straight in the high overall, you know what I mean? That's just, yeah, it's just one of those things like people say, don't give up on your dream. You know, that was kind of a dream of mine to, to, to break More singles than anybody. Not that I ever really tried, but I just, yeah, liked to done it because I liked them so much.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, yeah, well. And here's the thing, Dave. It's just like, you know, my coaching mentor, Frank Copy, used to tell me when we had travel all over the world together, he'd say, listen, when you go to sleep tonight over in that bed, he goes, you need to go to sleep, close your eyes and dream about breaking targets.

[Dave Schaefer]

You're absolutely right.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And he'd say that. He said, instead of counting the sheep, you need to count them targets, smoking each target. And it. And I tell some people that sometimes, and they're like, well, why? And I said, because it's 90 to 95% right there.

[Zach Nini]

Definitely in between the years.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's why you can break the singles, because singles is the most demanding. It's like, you know, I shoot all the disciplines, you know, and Zach shoot some too, but, you know, some of the guys, like, I don't see how you guys could stand out there and shoot 200 straight. And I'm like, well, it's right here. You just. It's repetition. That's what it is. Like it, you know, Southern grand this year, it was, you know, windy during the singles. Oh, you know, I'm standing there and I broke 200. But I'm watching Tyler, my son, he broke a pair of 99s. And I knew that might be pretty good for the junior title, but. And he ended up tying and winning the shoot off such. But I kept with him. I'm like, son, I said, just do what I'm doing. And I kept telling myself, don't miss, because if you do, he's gonna miss.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Because he's gonna think about me. So I'm just like. And that it's all right here.

[Zach Nini]

If you.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

For all our listeners out there. Keep it upstairs.

[Dave Schaefer]

If you can get past the thinking part of it, you know.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And with you with all this singles, long run, you know. So when you did miss. Okay, did you have that relief of like, okay, yeah. Now let's get back to business.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, pretty much. Pretty much. Let's party, you know, it's over. I remember we went up and we went up and smoked some sausages the.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Rest of the day.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

I don't even think I shot handicapped that day because the storm came through.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I remember that. I was there and I remember because, well, people kept saying Zach. And this is. This is. No, no crap there. People are like, I can't believe Schaefer shot. And I was like, what do you mean? And they're like, well, the weather. Why would he. And I said, guys, he's here to shoot. I said, he didn't break the 21 or 2000 straight, however many it was at first that, you know, because no one really kind of knew. They just said, you're around 2,000 straight. I said, it isn't like he sat in PA or Maryland and just shot. He just got done breaking all the singles at the Grand.

[Dave Schaefer]

Right.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You know, I'm like, you weren't.

[Zach Nini]

You weren't. You know, you were just on one and you were locked in, and it was going so, you know, to go back to the Grand. Circling back to that. You know, you go and you hit all the singles, then you finish with the 200 in the clay target. Right. So now in your mind. And that was the year that you won the ring.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

In your mind, did that put more pressure on it, knowing that you were that many straight or did that. Did that. Were you like, this is my year for singles, and nobody's taking me out. Like, what was your mentality going into the clay target?

[Dave Schaefer]

So I wanted the clay target ring bad, really bad. Ever since. Since, oh, four, I think, is when I was my first runner up. When. When Gooch beat me, you know, that's when it actually, hey, this could be a reality. You know what I mean? I could.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yep.

[Dave Schaefer]

Could actually win one of these one day.

[Zach Nini]

And so you were laser focused on, I want to win this thing.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah. Yeah. After. After that, first runner up that I won, I wanted a ring bad.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah. I mean, I. I understand the pain. Trust me.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

What are you saying, Zach?

[Zach Nini]

You're not. You're not speaking to someone that doesn't understand how that feels. Okay? And I. And I never got no. Well, I guess I did get second once. I. I got second to. To. To in the all around, but. But never. Never in the clay target. Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Hey, listen, you got second the all around. The guy that beat you broke a 4x4.

[Zach Nini]

Well, yeah. You know what? I want to take a second acknowledge that, Okay. I go out and break a 394 out of 400. I'm feeling like. Like, you know, and this take. Take the spotlight off you, Dave. But, you know, I'm walking in. In the. In the clubhouse like I'm six and a half feet tall and, you know, just, you know, strutting like a peacock, you know, 394, you know, hey, you got this. And, you know, old Dagan Voightman, he throws a 400 on me. Like, it's nothing. I mean, I, I end up with a shoot off with Keith Ditto and Derek, and I end up winning the damn thing. But, like, nobody even knows I'm there. There's, like, you know, six birds away from champion.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

And it's the closest I ever get to a ring.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Hey, Dagan didn't even have to shoot the last post, and he had one.

[Zach Nini]

I mean, clean, that is, you know, if you're gonna lose, I guess that's. That's how you gotta lose, Right? But you know, you know, Dave, that's still good shooting. Well, thank you for that. I mean, I'm surrounded by. I'm, I'm surrounded by two legends right now today, so I've got to be a little bit more humble. All right, folks, we got to take a quick second and give a shout out to the Cardinal center in Marengo, Ohio. They hold the Cardinal Classic and they also hold the Ohio State Shoot, which is. Is home of the first Back Fence Shootout. Ricky, what do you think about Ohio?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Listen, I love the Cardinals Center. I actually broke the first 100 from the 27 there at their very first shoot ever. Great place. Jake Spangler and their whole clan there. They do an awesome job at running the shoots. The Ohio State shoots ran by the Ohio State association, the Cardinal Classics right after the grand. So if you're looking for some, some more points right up to the grand, hit that up so you can get a little more points than old Zach here. But listen, it's a great shoot, great facility.

[Zach Nini]

It really is. I, I personally love the RVs. They've got great camping there. They've got a great time. Good shoot, good target presentation. Go check it out. It's worth putting on your list. With that being said, let's get back to the show. But, you know, you, you, You've got, You've got so much accolade, you've got so much ability. Do you attribute that more to, you know, hard work and practice, or do you attribute that to natural talent? Like, what were. What did you do to become the Dave Schaefer that's, you know, the world record holder?

[Dave Schaefer]

I worked hard. I worked hard. I shot a lot of practice. You have to want it. You have to, you know, you have to want to win. And it's pretty much all I ever did. I didn't do anything else. Fun. Didn't play ball. Didn't. Didn't do anything else. But you got a lot of practice. You have to work hard to do it. And about the natural, you have Natural shooters. And you have not natural shooters. And I feel I'm natural shooter to a point. If I don't shoot for six, eight weeks, you know, you can tell. But I'm also not a practice shooter anymore. I don't shoot any practice anymore. Hardly at all. Maybe if a couple guys want to go out and shoot.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, Dave, I can say at Florida, in the handicap, you shot right in front of us and broke 98. And that's what gave Joey and I a little oomph. I was like, damn, he just broke 98. And Joey looked at me and we were both down one. Or I was down two, actually. Or, no, I was down one and then. Or two, whatever. And anyways, I run that now. I was like, I'm gonna tie him. And Joey's like, I'm gonna break 99. And then we got to the last trap. I missed right away, and. But when you came off, there it was. I mean, we watch you shoot. And I even said, I mean, you were just seeing it, shooting it, you know, just. No, you had to. Absolutely. There was no, like, oh, let me look at it. You know, and that's one thing. Not only are you, you know, a legendary single shooter, you know, I mean, you own the long run, but also you've broke multiple hundreds in handicap.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, five. Yeah, I've had five.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, you're almost double what Zach is.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah. Hey, almost, you know, get to six.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's okay.

[Zach Nini]

He'll get there. I mean, it's Dave Schaefer. I mean, I have no. I have no doubt believing that in. In my heart. He's banging him up.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

How many hundreds and doubles do you have, Dave?

[Dave Schaefer]

I. I don't know. I don't know. Probably 15 maybe. Okay, off top of my head, I'm probably wrong by a few, but somewhere around.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's all right.

[Dave Schaefer]

Never shot a lot of doubles. I never enjoyed them. I mean, I did do a point. But they can ruin your day.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You were more concerned with the singles.

[Dave Schaefer]

Right, right.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And I get that. I. I totally understand that for all the listeners out there. I mean, that's one thing he devoted his time to, just master singles And, And I say that lightly because we never master anything because no one's ever had 100% average out of the a legit 4 or 5000 targets.

[Zach Nini]

I know there's been some people out there. 9976 is pretty damn close.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's pretty salty.

[Zach Nini]

That's, that's. That's. That's a stinky number. I don't Know how?

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, I wanted to put that in your calculator. You know, it's.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. Cuz what would it, what would it have been though, Dave, if. Could you. Because the long run was Alan Fiera, which, you know, had a 9983, right, Zach?

[Zach Nini]

I think, I believe so.

[Dave Schaefer]

9983.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So if you wouldn't have missed one, I think you might have got there. But you had 5,000 singles. He only had like 3,000. I think.

[Dave Schaefer]

3,000.

[Zach Nini]

I think it was a lot lower number. It was a couple thousand lighter. And I believe, still, I believe he had it until that event with that 99.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, we could, we could, we could.

[Zach Nini]

Go back and run the plates on this. I bet Ricky could. I bet Ricky could do the math really quick in his head. But, yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

I wasn't really more worried about the, the streak. I was also chasing points. That was a big thing for me too. Points, points. You know, I could get points and singles so easy, you know.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, you just walk on and get them every day. I mean, and everywhere I'd look, I'd see your, your, your, your name on the board with a blinker. I mean, it was that red, you know, that red score every day. Boom, boom, boom, Shaer sha. Keep pounding these hundreds and singles. I said, the guy, don't miss him. It's like he's eating them. I mean, I didn't know what to think about it, but it was just impressive that you didn't ever get in your own head. You weren't, you weren't like, worried about it. You weren't like, oh, these are, you know, I'm gonna miss one here and there. I mean, you pretty much just, I've, I've watched you, I've seen your mannerisms. You pretty much expected to run 100 every time you went out. I mean, you didn't look like you were like, when you miss one, you're like, oh, I didn't think I was gonna miss one today.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

So I think that's a powerful mindset to have.

[Dave Schaefer]

Sure, Absolutely.

[Zach Nini]

All right, folks, we got to take another quick break and thank one of our show sponsors. 73 Pointers Ranch Jonesburg, Missouri Rick and Carla Burke. Best place in the area to go shoot checkers of the pheasants and have a great time. Rick, we got to get you down there.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, I need to come in. Hopefully I can do some hunting with you guys and come to your. The annual clay shoot in August right after the grand.

[Zach Nini]

It's a lot of fun. It's the Optimist Club charity shoot. They throw a charity shoot. They put it on, and it's wonderful. I think last year they had over 100. 100 entries into it. And it's just a good time. With that being said, let's get back to the show.

[Dave Schaefer]

Anytime I go out there, my mind sets to break every target.

[Zach Nini]

I. I like that.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

What do you attest a lot of that to, Dave? I mean, is it the Terry Jordan wall chart behind you?

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, probably. You know that. That thing's a lifesaver. That, that Terry Jordan wall chart. That. That kind of kept me strength when I was going through cancer.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, that. Well, that's the other thing, you know, we'll. We'll talk about. You brought that up. I know you were sick there for. What was it two years ago when you were first diagnosed?

[Dave Schaefer]

It was. I'm going into three years ago now.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Three.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yep.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yep.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Now what? What were you diagnosed with?

[Dave Schaefer]

So I had testicular cancer. Just something came on and. And I knew things weren't right, and I was scared to go to the doctors, and I went to the doctors finally, and it was a little late. They've done it. The cancer got into my lymph nodes, and so we had really extensive chemotherapy. It was pretty ugly stuff. It was four months solid chemo, three weeks of it, and I'd have a week off. Yep. They were all day.

[Zach Nini]

Horrible to hear.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Dave.

[Zach Nini]

I'm sorry I went through that.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, it knocked me for a loop. I don't know how people, old people do it. Because I was 40, you know, I was 42, 43. No, 45. And, man, that's something I'll never hope I never have to ever go through.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So you got a clean bill of.

[Dave Schaefer]

Health now or right now? Yep, I have.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Good.

[Dave Schaefer]

Go get a stand next week and I see my doctor, and that'll be the last. Every six month. And then we're going to move to every, you know, yearly until. Yes, I feel something come up or, you know, something doesn't seem right, but. Yeah, no, I feel great. I feel great. So.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So during that time, I mean, you couldn't shoot much, I take it. You know, I know you shot a little bit there, but just.

[Dave Schaefer]

I broke a hundred handicap three weeks after my last chemo treatment at the Grand. That was the. What was it?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

What's the President's handicap?

[Dave Schaefer]

No, it was the one Wednesday or Wednesdays. Oh, Challenger.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. Yep.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yep. It was a Challenger handicap. And, you know, I don't even know how I did that. That Was, you know, I was able to shoot maybe a hundred targets on the weekends. My girlfriend Christy, she helped me out tremendously, you know, getting me to the line. And I didn't shoot many singles, but I actually shot. If you look at, if you look at the average, I think I had the highest handicap average of my life the year I was on chemo.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Really?

[Dave Schaefer]

I don't know how that ever worked out. I think I had like maybe a 94. 94. I have the thing here.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

94. 38.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah. 94. 38. And with 5600, 100.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, you're actually Dave. Your highest singles average or handicap average. Excuse me. Was a 94.84. That was an.07.

[Dave Schaefer]

There's a 94.97 in 11. So. Yeah, but I was up there and, and you know, that was a, that was.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh yeah. Yep. That's still, that's still pretty good being on chemo because, because I know I, you know I had a, had a, my brother in law that passed this past year, Jody's twin, he was on chemo years ago and, and it, it was a rough deal. Yeah, it really, it tears you up and does bad things to your brain. You know, you can get chemo brain and I mean.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, yeah, I, I deal with that. I, I deal with that. But you know, it just could have been a whole lot worse, you know.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

Well, we're glad you're here.

[Dave Schaefer]

I would come home from, from treatment. My sister would pick me up about 8 o' clock and I'd go take about six hours. I'd come home and force myself. I would stand back there and I would work on this chart at least 10 times. I would, I would lift that gun 10 times. 10.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

If I could do it more and then if I would get up to go to the restroom, I'd do it a couple more times. I mean I, that's what I live for, you know, shooting me through it.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

All right folks, we need to take a quick second and get to a new show sponsor, Big Red Motorsports. Big Red, they're personal friends of mine, Jason and George Lee. And they're also a personal sponsor of mine.

[Zach Nini]

Now I'll say this Ricky looked great driving around, around in that side by side. I got some free rides down at Tucson, the Autumn Grand. I think it's awesome that they deliver all across the country and obviously they love trap shooters. They love trap shooting and they're doing a great job.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Listen, they got Can Am, Kawasaki CF Moto, Triton trailers. Hit them up we'll take care of you guys. With that being said, let's get to the show.

[Zach Nini]

So we're so glad you're here, and we're so glad you got through it. And yes, you know, hey, God must have had his bat, watched you and got you through that, because that was a absolutely. That's got to be the hardest time in your life, huh?

[Dave Schaefer]

That was absolutely the hardest time of my life. Gosh, I hope I never have to go through it again.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, no kidding.

[Dave Schaefer]

But.

[Zach Nini]

So, on a brighter note.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's right.

[Zach Nini]

Let's get back to, you know, your. Your abilities. We. We kind of glanced over, and I want to circle back. We were talking about your training, and we were talking about how you work really hard and believe in working really, really hard. When you say that, were you trying a lot of different things when you were practicing, or were you more like, I want to do perfect practice when I practice. Like, were you like, okay, I'm gonna do high, high, hold gun. I'm gonna do low. I'm going to do all these different methodologies or where you just like, this is how I do it. And I'm going to just continually just, you know, work this out until it's perfect.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, because you hold a high gun.

[Dave Schaefer]

I hold. Yeah, I. I naturally hold a high gun. I can shoot anyway. I can. I can put it down. Like, Sunday in Florida, if you held a high gun, you'd be in trouble.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, that's what I was going to say. Yeah, that's what I was going to say earlier, and it slipped my mind was, you know, watching you normally. You just mount the gun. You typically hold a higher gun. That's just your mount. But I noticed that on Sunday because I was staying right behind you were finishing, and you'd mount that gun right down.

[Dave Schaefer]

Oh, yeah, I was whack. Yeah. I was buried on the house on the lid.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, you were in it. I was watching you on post five, and your gun was inside the lid down on that house on post five. So you could see that thing come leaking out the side. I mean, I was like, is that Dave Shaer or Ricky Marshall Jr? Like, that guy's low.

[Dave Schaefer]

When you have days like that, you. You got to be able to shoot anyway. You know, if you have them high, high targets, I have a problem holding low and then going up to the high. So I kind of go by what the guy next to me. Not that it's guaranteed, but I, you know, I'm watching every target, and that's kind of setting me up for my next shot.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

So let's talk about your hold points, then. So. So when you say high hold point, if it's a normal day, it's at the grand, the weather's clean, Blue bird. We don't have any issues. How many feet above the house are you in singles? How many feet are you above the house in handicap, and how many feet are you above the house in doubles?

[Dave Schaefer]

So I don't like to change between singles and handicap at all. I mean, I could probably show you, like, on a good day.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, I'd be.

[Dave Schaefer]

I'd be right up in here on a nice, hot day. I kind of split my difference between the house target, you know, so that would say.

[Zach Nini]

I would say that's about four feet, right? I mean, would you say that's about four foot above the house?

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, it could be maybe three. Three.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I was gonna say about three feet.

[Dave Schaefer]

Three, yeah.

[Zach Nini]

And so in that scenario, three feet, are you looking. Are you waiting for the target to beat your gun, or are you moving out with the flash or kind of. What are you. What is your technique to share with the listeners so they can learn how to shoot like Dave Schaefer?

[Dave Schaefer]

Sure. So. So when I'm. When I'm. When I'm holding a high gun, I'm looking through my gun. I'm always looking around here where the target's coming out of the house. Whether I'm holding a high gun or whether I'm down on the house, I'm looking where it's coming out. So you know where to go.

[Zach Nini]

Okay.

[Dave Schaefer]

If you're holding. If you're holding a high gun and you're looking out, you don't know where you. You don't know where you're going, where to go, you know, so you're just.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Looking around the barrel.

[Dave Schaefer]

Correct.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So to speak.

[Dave Schaefer]

You can screw it through it, through it just like. And then on the corners, I'm shifting my eyes in a little bit, but I'm always down here looking for it to come out.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So.

[Zach Nini]

So is. Is that a. A trap method where you're, you know, basically staying ahead of the target the whole time as you're looking and. And trapping it before it gets to the barrel, or are you letting it pass and then chasing it down, kind of like me and Ricky, where you're swinging through it?

[Dave Schaefer]

No, I try to stay on the front edge of it the whole time.

[Zach Nini]

Okay.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah. So.

[Zach Nini]

So wherever you're at, you see movement, and you're always staying on the front with that gun.

[Dave Schaefer]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

You, you want it there and it, hopefully it doesn't even beat your barrel ever is what you're saying. You just, you just are on the front edge now. Now, with that type of, with that type of method, how high of a point of impact are you shooting?

[Dave Schaefer]

I'm shooting about a hundred and ten.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Okay, not bad.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, about one. And then my doubles gun, that's, you know, that's just a standard stock Browning, probably shooting 80 maybe. Well, I got it jacked up a little bit, but I don't like it.

[Zach Nini]

And you won five titles with five different guns, so we don't know what they all shot.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, you could be an 872.

[Dave Schaefer]

I mean, you know, the one wasn't even my gun. I bought, I didn't even have a doubles gun. I bought it.

[Zach Nini]

I said, let me borrow this piece and go win a title title.

[Dave Schaefer]

It was a, it was a Beretta. Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh no, kid, that's funny.

[Zach Nini]

A one time use like a throwaway gun, huh?

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, pretty much. Well, I mean, hey, I never had a lot of money when I was younger, so when I got in a pinch, first thing got sold was a double gun. That's why I never put a lot of money.

[Zach Nini]

If we needed some entry fees. We sell the over unders, we're winning singles and handicaps. We're not winning overalls all around.

[Dave Schaefer]

There you go.

[Zach Nini]

Win a few handicaps, buy the over under back, bam, we're back in the all around. I mean that's, that's, that's dedicated.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's a good analogy.

[Zach Nini]

I like, I, I, I, I'd go broke if I sold that over under too fast. I wouldn't get it in the handicap and the singles. I'd be like, oh, where's my over?

[Dave Schaefer]

I need that thing, you know, I'm learning to like doubles again. I, I bought a new Browning and it fits me real good. And I've been shooting them pretty good the past two years with it. So I think I'm gonna, yeah, I might make a run for the team next year. I don't think I'm gonna love it this year, but maybe next year. If I'd make it this year, it'd be, be luck because even better, I gotta fight to shoot singles again, you know what I mean? Like my heart, my heart used to be with singles. Yeah, my heart's kind of with handicap now, you know, and.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, you can't go against your heart. You gotta, you gotta follow what's, what's, what's true to you. And you know, maybe start banging handicaps and you go on a long run, you know, 505. I hear that Daryl Hanny guy's got that, so. You know.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I witnessed that whole record too.

[Dave Schaefer]

Wow.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I was watching Spanish Forks. He missed on the first post at Spanish fork. He run 495 and he run 10 straight in Vandalia. And I was standing there. We, we watched him shoot and he missed on, I think it was the third post or whatever it was. Yeah, Yep. Yeah. And he, I mean, he crushed targets there.

[Dave Schaefer]

Those guys back then, they were, they were just a different breed, man. They, they were.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, you gotta remember, that was hand pulls, too.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah. Hand pulls. Yeah. Was he shooting 1100?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yes. The high rib. Yeah, high rib.

[Zach Nini]

1100. High point of impact, you know, and, and being from the west coast, I got the pleasure of spending some serious time with Darrow. I got to shoot the Grand Pacific with them for a few years. And I even shot my, my, my first grand in Sparta on Bank 5. I shot the whole thing with Daryl Handy. And it was, it was, it was a great experience. I mean, just, you know, those cowboy boots he used to always, you know, and, and it didn't matter how hot it was. It was funny because it was like 105 degrees out. And I see Darrell walking and he's got cowboy boots, the darkest blue leather, the darkest blue jeans I've ever seen, a button down shirt that was like a thick cotton with an undershirt. And then he had a vest on top. And then he had the big old Darrow Handy cap with the blinders. And like, I'm telling you, he, I said, darryl, there's no way. I said I was, I was sweating dying. And, you know, just a little, you.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Know, Dave, Zach and I, if we went to the Antarctic, he'd sweat.

[Zach Nini]

Oh, God. Yeah, I said that. I set that hotel AC at 60 and I'm, I'm like, just, you know, give it to me. I want it cold. But, but it's, it's Darrow. He, he's a legend. I mean, I'd love to have him on the show sometime. I don't know where he's at nowadays and how he's doing, but, you know, if anybody's out there got a hold of Darrow and you want to get them to hop on Trap Talk, I think that would be a good, a good thing to do.

[Dave Schaefer]

Hear that?

[Zach Nini]

All right, Trap Talk listeners, we got to take a quick break and we got to welcome a new sponsor to the show, RGS Bore Stripper. It's a great product. Ricky. Tell them how they can find it.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Go to their website, rgsguncleaner.com you can get the 18 ounce bottle, free shipping, 28 ounce bottle. And you get the 2 ounce ounce travel bottle and it's free shipping also. Or just get the little two ounce bottle for travel.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, they sent me some of this product and I used it on my craig off choke tubes the other day and it got the plastic out like in a minute and it was super cool and super good. So if you like cleaning your gun, you like eliminating plastic and you like shiny bores, give them a try for sure. Thank you so much for supporting the show.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, we'd really like to thank John Weber, the owner, for the support. He's doing an awesome job.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, we really want to thank John. We appreciate the support of the show. Anybody that supports trap talk, you guys need to support them and get this stuff because it's awesome.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And with that, let's get back to the show.

[Zach Nini]

So. So, Dave, you know, we, we talked about your point of impact, we talked about your hold points, we talked about your work ethic. I think overall I'm hearing that you wanted to win. You wanted to be a winner. You believed in your mind that you could do it. You never had doubts that you were going to ever miss a target. You just had this very strong, you know, winning attitude. And that was probably the catalyst for a lot of your major success.

[Dave Schaefer]

Sure, sure. It's, it's, it's a passion, you know, for me.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. What was your dream? Like you said? Absolutely.

[Dave Schaefer]

That sums it up right there. It was, you know, it's a, it's a dream. And, and I can't wait because I'm not done yet. No, you're not.

[Zach Nini]

You're not, huh? You're not done yet.

[Dave Schaefer]

No, no.

[Zach Nini]

So, so for the listeners today that, that are trying to get better, maybe newer shooters or maybe shooters that are trying to make the all American team for the first time, you know, what's some advice or some practical help that you would give to someone, you know? You know, trying to get better and trying to motivate themselves.

[Dave Schaefer]

Make sure your gun fits. That's the biggest thing. The gun doesn't fit. You're. You're blowing smoke. I mean, literally. Yeah, the gun's got to fit you. You're gonna get beat up.

[Zach Nini]

You know.

[Dave Schaefer]

There'S a lot of. Get a good coach, you know, to find out what you're doing right, what you're doing wrong and just Keep shooting and, and, and listen to what people tell you. Learn to sort the. From the, from the truth, you know?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Dave Schaefer]

And you should, you know, you should be pretty good. A lot of practice, but that's pretty much what it takes. And the drive, you got to have the drive for it. If you don't have the drive.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Look at you, Zach. Look at you. I mean, you've had sent literally since COVID You've had the drive to make the All America team and such. So you understand that.

[Zach Nini]

I mean, you have to want it, you know, and have to.

[Dave Schaefer]

Have to want a lot of work.

[Zach Nini]

And there was a time when I was young where I did it and I wanted it, but then after I wanted it and got it, I didn't want it anymore. I was just like, you know, and it got to a point where I actually missed it. I'm not like, you know what? I can do this. And I. And I know what Dave's saying about losing that fire in singles, because if you don't have that, I want to do it or I want to kill it, and it's not a priority to you. It's so easy to let one slip or let two slip and just be like, you know what? It's okay. What do I have to prove it? And for you, Dave, you ain't got nothing to prove to anybody. I mean, you're. You're a world record holder. You've. You've got world champion, you know, World champion. I mean, you've. You've got nothing to prove. And I think sometimes, and correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but sometimes when you don't have anything to prove, it's that much harder to, to, to kind of bring it back out. Sometimes if you're not hungry and you're not. You're not under that, you gotta stay hungry.

[Dave Schaefer]

Like, I might not have anything to prove to you guys or anybody else, but me, I got a lot to prove. Absolute self, you know what I mean? Fact, right.

[Zach Nini]

Every day.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, I got two more rings that I'm gonna win eventually if I ever decide to go to grand.

[Zach Nini]

Handicapping doubles, baby.

[Dave Schaefer]

Handicapping doubles. That, hey, that's why I'm hammering down on the doubles, you know, I'd like to win the doubles ring.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, that's. That's a great goal to have. And, you know, it's amazing that at this stage you're living like, I got goals, you know, and we just, like.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You have to have goals, you want.

[Zach Nini]

To win them, right?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I. I tell every student that's Right. Every student of mine, I tell them, set goals. You got your short term, your long term, your bucket list goals, you know, and if you don't have those, what are you actually doing right? You know, you're blowing smoke.

[Dave Schaefer]

Winning the, winning the Maryland State Handicap and the Eastern Zone Doubles this past year completed. They were, they were bucket lists that, that I've been trying to do for a long time and finally got them done so on the side.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's awesome.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

Congratulations on that day.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Thank you.

[Zach Nini]

You know, it's, it's, it's, it's, you've, you've had a phenomenal shooting career. We know you're still, you know, a dominant force when you show up. I mean, we see on the leaderboard, you're right, you're always, you're always winning and, you know, always putting your best foot forward to, to be a competitor. And you know, I, I, I hope that that fire gets back in you and maybe we could see you beat that long run record. Maybe you, maybe you go a little longer than the 2166.

[Dave Schaefer]

Well, man, I don't know. That was, that was a long time ago. I tell you, things really change through the years. You know, I guess your eyes and your reflexes and, and because singles just aren't as easy to break as they used to be.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah. All right, Trap Dock listeners, we got to take a real quick break. And I've got something that I'm so excited to announce. Trap Shooting USA has now become the official magazine of the Trap Talk podcast.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

No, it's not only Traption usa, now it's Wing and Clay Life, Lady Outdoor Lifestyles and Clay Shooting usa.

[Zach Nini]

I'm just really excited because they make such a high quality magazine. I mean, if you guys haven't had these magazines and you actually get to touch them in your hands, they've got really thick paper, they're really glossy and they keep it really cool. I mean, I just love it.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

The traveling gunsmith. And then in this newest episode, we have.

[Zach Nini]

Oh, man, look at, look at those, look at those handsome guys. I love this. I love it. I love it. So also on top of that, Outdoor Pursuits Media, Matt, he's decided that he's going to give away a shotgun at the Grand American this year at our live podcast studio. If you weren't there last year, you missed out. You need to be there this year. It's going to be great. The only thing you have to do is either renew or subscribe to any one of these magazines and you're going to be in for the drawing, for the gun. And we're going to have all that information in the future. Just look out for it and we'll keep you updated for sure.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

With that, get back to the show.

[Zach Nini]

Is there anything we're missing out of Dave today? I mean, is there any other questions that we didn't ask while he's here?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I mean, honestly, I think we've covered so much, you know, on his shooting, his technique, you know, the goals he has. I mean, and like said, people, you got to have the goals. I mean, you gotta still have them. You know, we're both world champions and we still have goals.

[Dave Schaefer]

Sure.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And that's one of the most important things, is to set them goals. So I think we're good. I mean, unless you're thinking of anything.

[Zach Nini]

Zach, is there, is there anything else you want to share with the listeners? Dave, before we get out here, anybody you'd like to thank?

[Dave Schaefer]

Oh, of course, I'd like. Thank you guys first off for having me on. I really, really appreciate it. I'd like to thank all my friends, my dad, my mom, everybody that made it possible. You know, so many people's helped me along the way and, you know, it makes a big difference. Yep, it really does.

[Zach Nini]

Well, Dave, it was a real pleasure having you on today. It was a pleasure hearing your story and, and you're a wealth of information and a fierce competitor. So I'm sure after you get that doubles ring and that handicap, bring it to grand, we'll have you back on the show. You'll be talking about how you went on a doubles long run and, you know, Matt Bartholo, who. And you know, that kind of thing. But yeah, hey, we can all dream, right? Let's, we gotta, we gotta, we gotta put it forward.

[Dave Schaefer]

I'd also like to thank my girlfriend Christy. You know, she. She's been there, been there since I was sick and yeah, it's really helped me out so much and means the world.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's awesome.

[Zach Nini]

That's wonderful. Well, Dave, we'll definitely see you at a shoot soon, I'm sure on the leaderboard, maybe in the option money. So that'll be, That'll be. That'll be there.

[Dave Schaefer]

I'm heading to Middletown next week, and then I believe I'm gonna hit the. The Empire Grand.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Okay.

[Dave Schaefer]

And some Ellisburg shoots are coming up, so. Oh, and I'm also. I'm also a dealer for dead pair gear. Now I'm gonna be.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I did see that. I did see Gooch posted that, that you're a new dealer for Dead Pair.

[Dave Schaefer]

Setting up at a bunch of different shoots this year. So if you need any gun cases, shirts, hats, what have you, I'm excited about that.

[Zach Nini]

I actually, I called Gooch the other day and I told him, I said, you know, my mirror case is wore out and, and you know, just completely. And I said, I, I compliment him. I said, you know, this is an awesome looking case you got. I need to get one of these things. I got one and he sent it to me. And I'm, I'm. I haven't opened it up yet because it just came in the mail, but I'm excited for it because, you know, my old case was just beat up and you know, what he did with that, I think it's a really cool design and. Oh yeah, I think if somebody's looking for a traveling case, I think that's a, that's a great place to start.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And you didn't open it yet, though, Zach?

[Zach Nini]

I haven't yet, no.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You should, because I think there's a bill in there because I picked up two cases from him and I told him to bill you.

[Zach Nini]

Oh, well, I wouldn't expect anything less from you.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Actually, you know, actually, Dave, since you brought that up, I'd like to thank Gooch too.

[Dave Schaefer]

He.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

He donated two cases. One to the all around, one to the overall winner at the Southern Grand. And I was fortunate. I won both of them. And he, he swapped me out and got me a combo case for my son. I'm gonna give it to Tyler for college. And then gave me a. A just an over under one for my sporting gun too. So that was cool. And, and I got him. He said, hey, I'll ship him to you. And then he's like, hey, I got all these sold down here. I said, my, I'm not worried about a Gooch. I'll get it from you. While I was teaching in Indiana last week and I met him over at King and Gun club, his home club there.

[Dave Schaefer]

Sure.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And he came over and we talked for a little bit and he showed me some of the stuff he is coming out with. Shoes.

[Dave Schaefer]

Oh, yeah, yeah, they're gonna be a hey dude style.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Hey dudes.

[Zach Nini]

They kind of look like that. No copyright infringement. But when he put the Facebook post up of these shoes, I said, hey, you don't need to name them the, you know, the trap shoes or whatever. I said, those are the Gucci sliders. I said, those are the Gucci sliders. And I Facebook liked it. I got like 19 likes on that Post. So, I mean anybody that thinks they need to be named Gucci sliders, just send it in, you know, it's up for updates.

[Dave Schaefer]

Mike's turned out to be one of my, one of my best buddies. And you know, we talked earlier that I was runner up a clay target twice. The first time I was runner up it was to Mike Gooch and it was. That was when 04, I guess it was. That's how first time I ever met him and we've been good friends ever since.

[Zach Nini]

Do you know how long that that shoot off was? How many birds you went?

[Dave Schaefer]

I. I don't. I think it was probably like three, 400 maybe.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. Back then, Zach, most of them all went 3, 400.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, yeah, that's the zone. 3, 400. Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Except for the shortest one ever, that Dave Burlett one. I was in he 75 straight. He was the only one.

[Dave Schaefer]

Oh, really?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, Yeah. I went 200 and I missed. And then Mike Blaisdell was the last one to miss and Burlett Brook 75 and 1. And then I went another 200 and some. That was in 2000 because I won the doubles that year because I wasn't going to shoot anymore at the next day I was only going to shoot 100 then shoot off the doubles and worry about the doubles championship. And we went out to shoot and the guy was shooting off against Mist on the first post and I was like, oh, I got a chance. So yeah, it was, you know. But yeah, no, that's awesome though. So we're happy for you. Check him out. You know, folks, at the shoots now, will you be at Ohio State shoot? I'll be there.

[Dave Schaefer]

Yeah, I'll be there. I don't, I don't think I'll be vending there. Gooch will be there, but you know, just see him.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

But hey, just set up out front.

[Dave Schaefer]

Of his. Yeah, yeah. Ohio is definite. That's a. That's one of my favorite shoots of the year.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It is, yeah. Well, we'll be there. We'll have the back fence shootout this year, folks.

[Dave Schaefer]

Can't wait.

[Zach Nini]

We'll be recording content and having a good time and you know, we're rolling out of here. Thank you all for listening. Happy Friday. You know, this is an extra six minutes after we were trying to close the episode. So that's, that's, that's called bonus time. That's like one of those listener questions, the twofer. So that was all, that was all extra free time for your ears. So hope you enjoyed listening today. We'll catch you next Friday. Don't forget to, like, share, subscribe, comment, tell your friends, bring somebody out shooting and, and have a good time. So thanks, we appreciate, we appreciate the love.

[Dave Schaefer]

Thank you. Break them all, guys.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Absolutely. We'll see you.

[Zach Nini]

And the Trap Talk podcast is brought to you in part by RM Shooting Clinics. Have Ricky take your game to the next level. You want to shoot hundreds of hundreds of hundreds, give Ricky a call today. Zach Nagi Financial we believe in putting people first.