Trap Talk From The Back Fence

Hosts: Zach Nannini & Richard Marshall Jr.

Guest/Producer: Jon

Episode: Listener Q&A Extravaganza! 🎯 (Episode 149)

Original Air Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This special episode is a Listener Q&A Extravaganza where hosts Zach, Ricky, and producer Jon answer real-time audience questions submitted via Facebook and email. Covering topics from off-season training, eye dominance, gun choices, to options and purses in trapshooting, the squad delivers candid, useful advice and some good-natured banter. This episode is packed with practical tips for trapshooters of all backgrounds, with the hosts' decades of experience shining through.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Staying Competitive in the Off-Season ([00:50]–[11:45])

• Trey Wilburn asks how to keep the “competitive juices flowing” during the off-season.
• Zach: Prefers to rest and let himself miss the game rather than burn out:

“From December to February, if there’s nothing going on, I’m not particularly keeping myself sharp. If anything, I’m letting myself rest… redevelop that hunger for the game.” (04:06)

• Ricky: Still teaches or attends events but doesn’t force competition; nature drives his competitiveness when he has a shotgun in hand:

“If I got a shotgun in my hand, I’m competitive. That’s just my nature.” (05:57)

• Advice: For year-round practice, join winter leagues or local club shoots, even if just for bragging rights.

2. Eye Dominance Issues & Shooting Two-Eyes ([11:49]–[15:01])

• Jay Matthews asks for help shooting with no clear eye dominance.
• Ricky: Recommends the “sight tube” (a small, slotted straw-like accessory) to help ensure only the shooting eye is aligned with the bead.
• Zach: Emphasizes proper gun fit and head mount to avoid dominance confusion:

“Make sure the gun fit is right… If you’re mounting wrong, your off eye can take over.” (12:58)

3. What Happens to Old Guns When You Upgrade? ([15:18]–[19:22])

• Oliver Patton wonders if top shooters keep or sell older guns after upgrades.
• Ricky: Sells almost everything, keeps only what he shoots and a couple others.
• Zach: Has sentimental “keepers” but usually needed to sell old gear to fund the new:

“If I wanted a different gun, I needed to sell the old gun… I wasn’t Bruce Millions!” (16:19)

• Both agree: If it’s not being shot and has no sentimental value, “move it along.”

4. Dealing with Distracting Trap Workers & Scorekeepers ([21:14]–[31:42])

• Alana Paulson asks: How to manage disruptive trap help or sideline distractions—without being rude.
• Ricky: Direct, polite communication works best:

“There’s the nice polite way: ‘Hey folks, we’re shooting, can you get off the phone?’ Or there’s the Rich Bullard method: ‘Hey, stupid!’ But seriously, it’s usually just lack of training or awareness.” (22:36)

• Zach: Expects distractions and stresses mental resilience:

“When I go out there, I literally expect… things to go wrong. If you expect it, it won’t bother you. But if you’re easily rattled, you’re done.” (24:00)

• Tip: Never antagonize scorekeepers—always address issues politely or through management.

5. Helping Shooters Deal with Frustration ([32:14]–[36:16])

• Jay Gox asks: How to help shooters who get upset after a missed bird.
• Ricky: “It’s experience and maturity. Patience is key. Acting out just makes you look like an idiot. Control your nerves—break more targets.” (32:14)
• Zach: Let them process on their own, be supportive, don’t rush their learning, and try to model mature responses.
• Both: Stay positive as a coach/parent—tough love doesn’t work on the line.

6. Gun Reviews & Choices

a. Browning 725 Combo via Guns International ([37:04]–[38:52])

• Hosts don’t buy online but say there are no “bad guns”; gun fit and personal preference are more important than brand, especially for newer shooters.

b. Top Single vs. Unsingle Barrels ([39:48]–[42:25])

• Jim Wimmer asks: Why so many shoot unsingles?
• Ricky: Better visibility of target—barrel is pushed down/out of the sight path.
• Zach: Same, but cautions about canting the gun and how style/fitting matters for stability.

7. Shot Size: 7½ vs. 8 for Handicap ([42:46]–[45:41])

• Connor Brooks asks: “7½ or 8s for handicap?”
• Ricky: “Depends on yardage. 19 to 23-yard line, 8 shot is fine. From 24 back, I go 7½.”
• Zach: Prefers simplicity:

“Just give me the damn 7½. It’s one less thing to think about.” (44:18)

• Rule of thumb: Adjust for yardage and avoid making gear decisions too complicated.

8. Trapshooting Options & Purses: Lewis, Great Eastern, etc. ([53:49]–[63:15])

• Kurt Grilling wants clarity on Lewis, Great Eastern, “skins” games.
• Ricky: Explains added money, Lewis class (divided payouts), Great Eastern/Western (top 6 scores paid).
• Zach: When clubs seed option pots with added money, always play them for value.
• Tip: Payment splits in options depend on total entries; know the math.

9. Addressing Eye Tape & One-Eyed Shooting ([64:54]–[68:12])

• Andy Podnar struggles with cloudiness from taping left eye.
• Ricky: Try blackout dots or “shooter’s helper” grids instead of tape; electrical tape works better than scotch.
• Zach: Make sure not to focus on the tape; your gaze should always be on the target, not the occlusion device.

10. Advice for Youth Shooters ([69:00]–[71:18])

• Josh Vons Prekin asks: Most important thing for new youth shooters?
• Ricky: “Gun safety number one. Then gun fit.”
• Zach: “Fun comes first—kids need to enjoy it.”
• Jon: If gun doesn’t fit, it won’t be fun. Start with safety, then immediate success (targets straightaway, closer distance), fun, then technique.

11. Chokes: OEM vs. Aftermarket? ([71:47]–[75:25])

• Leni Mayfield asks: Factory Krieghoff chokes or aftermarket?
• Both prefer factory Krieghoff titanium chokes, but speak highly of Briley and effective custom work (like the late Tom Wilkinson’s barrels).

12. Barrel Length for Smaller Shooters ([76:01]–[80:55])

• Mitch from CA asks: Should a smaller shooter use a 32-inch barrel?
• Ricky: Barrel length is about preference and swing:

“If you want to try a 32, go try a 32. If it’s too barrel-heavy, add weight to the stock to balance.”

• Zach: “Barrel weight, brand, and balance matter more than length alone.”
• Testing tip: Add (removable) golf tape weights to the forend to experiment with the swing.

13. Music While Shooting ([48:48]–[53:38])

• Aaron asks: If you had to listen to one song on repeat while shooting, what would it be?
• Neither host listens to music while competing anymore.
• Zach: If music helps, select for mood and song structure—something with no downtime between loops.

“Music controls your mood… singles, maybe Nirvana; for handicap, something with more pop, like Judas Priest.” (52:25)

• Notable Mention: Matt Bartholow listens to “the hardest, fastest stuff” he can find.

Notable Quotes

• Zach ([04:06]):
  “I use the off season as a good time to start to miss the game a little bit more again… That’s the most honest answer I can give.”
• Ricky ([05:57]):
  “If I got a shotgun in my hand, I’m competitive. That’s just my nature.”
• Zach ([24:00]):
  “It’s all Murphy’s Law. If it can go bad, it will. … If you expect all of that and you’re just cool with it, it won’t bother you.”
• Ricky ([32:14]):
  “It’s experience and maturity. Patience is key. Control your nerves—break more targets.”
• Zach ([44:18]):
  “Just give me the damn 7½. It’s one less thing to think about.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Off-season Competition Motivation: [00:50]–[11:45]
• Eye Dominance Advice: [11:49]–[15:01]
• Guns: Keep or Sell? [15:18]–[19:22]
• Distracting Trap Help: [21:14]–[31:42]
• Dealing with Frustration: [32:14]–[36:16]
• Browning 725/Gun Choices: [37:04]–[38:52]
• Unsingles vs. Top Singles: [39:48]–[42:25]
• 7½ vs 8s for Handicap: [42:46]–[45:41]
• Trapshooting Options Explained: [53:49]–[63:15]
• Shooting with Tape/Eye Issues: [64:54]–[68:12]
• Youth Shooter Fundamentals: [69:00]–[71:18]
• Choke Tubes: [71:47]–[75:25]
• Barrel Length Guide: [76:01]–[80:55]
• Music & Mood: [48:48]–[53:38]

Episode Tone & Style

Chatty and good-natured, with a blend of expert-level knowledge, stories from the line, and approachable explanations for newer shooters. The hosts maintain their straightforward, “from the back fence” style—direct, practical, with plenty of humor and on-the-line wisdom.

Conclusion

This Listener Q&A episode stands out as a trove of practical advice and stories from seasoned trapshooters. From technical discussions about gear to broader insights about mindset and sportsmanship, Zach and Ricky keep the conversation lively, honest, and relatable—making it a must-listen for anyone looking to step up their trap game.