The Ultimate Gear Guide to Trapshooting: What Top Shooters Use! - Trap Talk E113

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ultimate Gear Guide to Trapshooting: What Top Shooters Use! - Trap Talk E113

Released on February 28, 2025, "Trap Talk From The Back Fence" hosted by Zach Nannini and Richard Marshall Jr. delves into the essential gear and equipment used by top trapshooters. In Episode 113, titled "The Ultimate Gear Guide to Trapshooting: What Top Shooters Use!", Zach and Richard provide comprehensive insights into selecting, maintaining, and optimizing the gear necessary for successful trapshooting. This summary captures the key discussions, expert advice, and personal anecdotes shared during the episode.

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1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with Zach and Richard expressing their enthusiasm for discussing trapshooting gear, emphasizing the importance of being well-prepared. They set the stage by outlining their intention to reflect on their personal equipment choices and offer guidance to both novice and experienced shooters.

2. Essential Gear for Trapshooting

a. Eye Protection

Richard emphasizes the paramount importance of eye protection, stating, “Eye protection. Yeah, got to have the eye protection. Okay, that's mandatory” (04:24). He highlights the necessity of safeguarding one's vision against flying debris and ricochets during shooting.

b. Ear Protection

Ear protection is the second critical component. Richard shares his preference for electronic ear protection, specifically the OTO Pro, noting its effectiveness during teaching sessions (04:24). Zach discusses the balance between electronic and foam earplugs, mentioning his use of custom-molded options for better durability and fit (05:07).

c. Gun and Ammo

Both hosts agree that having the correct gun and ample ammunition is essential. Richard reiterates, “Gun ammo, eye protection, earplugs. There you go” (03:30), underscoring these as the foundational elements of a shooter’s gear bag.

3. Earplugs: Types and Preferences

The discussion delves deeper into ear protection, comparing electronic earplugs with traditional foam ones.

• Electronic Earplugs (OTO Pro): Richard prefers OTO Pro for teaching because they can mute background noise, allowing him to focus on instruction without distractions (04:58). However, Zach points out that OTO Pros may not be ideal for shooting as they still transmit some noise even when muted (05:04).

• Foam Earplugs: Both hosts acknowledge benefits of foam earplugs for their simplicity and effectiveness. Zach shares his mixed experiences with custom-molded earplugs, stating that quality varies based on the practitioner’s technique (05:20). He praises the durability and secure fit of his custom-molded earplugs from Jim Sproul at Promold.

4. Additional Gear and Equipment

a. Shells and Spare Ammo

Richard stresses the importance of carrying extra shells, especially during competitions. He recounts a personal experience where a broken target left him without a usable shell, highlighting the necessity of preparedness: “Have spare shells with you. That's one of the most important things” (10:00). Zach echoes this sentiment, sharing anecdotes about the challenges of inconsistent ammunition during critical moments (12:11).

b. Hand Tools

Both hosts keep essential tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, and Allen wrenches in their bags to make on-the-spot adjustments. Richard mentions carrying his stock wrench and screwdriver set to ensure his equipment functions seamlessly throughout the shooting day (08:06).

c. Lens Care

Maintaining clean lenses is crucial for clear visibility. Both Zach and Richard carry multiple lens cloths and Zeiss lens cleaners to prevent scratches and ensure optimal performance. Zach advises against using improvised materials like T-shirts for cleaning lenses to avoid micro-scratches (08:22).

d. Hydration and Nutrition

Staying hydrated is emphasized, with both hosts carrying high-quality water and electrolyte supplements instead of sugary drinks. Zach also keeps snacks like NutriGrain bars in his bag to prevent sugar-related issues and maintain energy levels during shoots (24:19).

e. Miscellaneous Essentials

Other items discussed include:

• Vaseline: For maintaining comfort during windy conditions.
• Gun Glide: To prevent glare and improve shooting comfort.
• Shoes: High-quality, consistent shooting shoes to maintain stability and comfort.
• Shooter Towel: For wiping off sweat and keeping lenses clean.
• Journals and Pens: Zach uses his phone for journaling, while Richard prefers memorizing notes. Both agree on the importance of documenting shooting performance and adjustments.

5. Importance of Consistent Equipment

a. Choosing the Right Shoes

Richard and Zach both advocate for investing in good-quality, comfortable shooting shoes. They stress the importance of consistency, advising shooters to stick with a reliable pair rather than frequently changing styles, which can affect performance.

Richard recommends running or cross-training shoes for their support and comfort, mentioning Brooks as a preferred brand (21:48). Zach shares his preference for Brooks and Skechers, emphasizing the need for shoes that provide stability without slipping.

b. Customizing the Stock

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the importance of a well-fitted gun stock. Richard explains that even high-end guns become ineffective if the stock doesn’t fit the shooter properly: “If the gun doesn't fit you perfectly... you cannot fault the manufacturers” (43:58). Both hosts recommend getting a custom stock made to ensure optimal balance and comfort during shooting.

Zach adds that customization should focus on functionality over aesthetics, asserting that a beautifully engraved stock is secondary to one that performs efficiently: “The least important part... is how much engraving you got and how pretty the wood is” (48:31).

6. Advice for New Shooters

a. Budgeting for Equipment

Zach advises new shooters to set a clear budget before purchasing equipment. “Figure out what your zone is for, where you're starting with what you're going to buy and then look in that zone and figure out what works best for you” (36:00). Richard echoes this, highlighting the importance of investing in quality gear within one’s financial means.

b. Trying Out Guns Before Purchasing

Both hosts encourage shooters to visit large shoots and demo different guns before making a purchase decision. Richard advises, “go to a big shoot, try to demo a gun, try to shoot maybe a used gun, maybe your buddy's got a gun” (35:27). This hands-on approach helps shooters find a gun that fits their style and comfort level.

c. Consistency in Gear and Ammo

Maintaining consistency in the equipment used during practice and competition is crucial for performance. Zach notes that using the same type of shells in both settings helps in developing muscle memory and reliable performance: “You want to be shooting what you're shooting” (41:39).

7. Personal Anecdotes and Insights

The hosts share personal experiences to underscore their points:

• Shell Replacement Mishaps: Richard recounts an instance where a broken target left him without a usable shell, stressing the importance of carrying backups (11:09).

• Mental Game Challenges: Zach shares a memory from years ago when inconsistent shells affected his performance, highlighting the psychological impact of being unprepared (15:09).

• Gun Fitting Adjustments: Richard discusses a scenario where a student’s improperly fitted stock required on-the-spot adjustments with a palm sander (47:33).

8. Conclusion

Zach and Richard wrap up the episode by reiterating the significance of being well-equipped and prepared. They encourage shooters to invest in quality gear, maintain consistency, and prioritize comfort and functionality over aesthetics. The hosts leave listeners with actionable advice to enhance their trapshooting experience and performance.

Notable Quotes:

• Richard Marshall Jr.:

  • “Be prepared when you go to shoot. So have the correct stuff that you need.” (00:26)
  • “No, it was a great episode.” (00:44)
  • “Gun ammo, eye protection, earplugs. There you go.” (03:30)
  • “If the gun doesn't fit you perfectly and, and hey you... you cannot fault the manufacturers.” (43:58)

• Zach Nannini:

  • “Let’s just get there and I'm going to make sure you're prepared.” (05:07)
  • “The more consistent you’re going to be. But if... If that's not something that's on the table, don't let it deter you.” (41:39)
  • “Do what you got to do at the end of the day.” (42:20)
  • “So, yeah, thank you all for tuning in.” (51:45)

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Final Thoughts:

This episode serves as an invaluable resource for trapshooters seeking to refine their gear setup. Zach and Richard’s expert insights, coupled with their personal experiences, provide listeners with a robust framework for selecting and maintaining the equipment essential for success in trapshooting. Whether you’re a beginner setting out or a seasoned shooter aiming to optimize your gear, Episode 113 of Trap Talk offers actionable advice and thoughtful recommendations to elevate your shooting game.

Transcript

[Zach Nini]

Welcome back to another episode of Trap Talk brought to you by Craig off Choice of Champions. I agree. Hey, we talked a little bit about guns in this episode. This is our, our, our equipment and special stuff in the shooting bag. What do you need? What do you don't need? Kind of what are me and Ricky using episode Rick, what, what are your highlights on this episode?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Good episode we talk about, you know, just the basic stuff you should have in your bag, folks. Be prepared, you know, that's number one. Be prepared when you go to shoot. So have the correct stuff that you need. Earplugs, eye protection, you know, those are the two most important things. Your gun also and ammo.

[Zach Nini]

So gotta have that.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yep. But no, it was a great episode.

[Zach Nini]

But I had a lot of fun with it. You know, we just kind of reflected on what we're using, what's important and you know, it's, it's rocking and rolling. So with that being said, lets get.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Back to the show.

[Zach Nini]

Welcome to season three of Trap Talk.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Brought to you by Craig off the Choice of Champions.

[Zach Nini]

Welcome back to another episode of Trap Talk from the back fence. I'm your host Zach Nini and I'm here with my one and only co host Richard Marshall Jr. Ricky, how's the day going for you?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Oh, you know, it's another Thursday, January 9th.

[Zach Nini]

January 9th. We're, we're kicking along, we got, we got shot show coming up here in a minute. We're getting ready to head out and shoot a bunch of content and see a bunch of friends and, and have a bunch of fun and, and we're getting a little bit closer to the shooting season. Right. Getting through this cold.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, it's been a little chilly here in Nebraska. I just got back from California and it was a little cold when I got home. But I know you guys got some snow and ice down there, didn't you in St. Louis?

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, I mean St. Charles, Weldon Springs area got about 13 inches. So you know, it was pretty heavy, which we're not used to that over here but, but yeah, I mean it's, it's crazy. They've got most of the freeways and everything clean. But it's still, it's still wild to see people driving when they don't know how to deal with that, you know what mean?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, it's the Midwest. What do you expect?

[Zach Nini]

Like, it's like watching somebody shoot a shotgun for the first time that doesn't know how to operate it. You're like, oh, this is really fun, you know, but that but that's okay. Well, that is true today. You know, we've. We've. We've spoke with our producer, John Slinker, the man, the Myth, the legend, Mr. Shotko himself, and he advised us that there's a lot of requests for. For a gear episode. Talking more about, you know, gear, what you buy, what you need, what you don't need to, different things. And so, you know, just wanted to compile a little list of, you know, the things that I'm obviously using, the things that Ricky's using, and talk about, you know, where you get started, what are some necessities you have to have and maybe what are some things that you graduate to later on as you get more experience and you're moving into your career. So, you know, Ricky, I would say let's, let, let's hear, you know, kind of what's your grab bag of. What does Ricky Marshall need, you know, from starting to finishing in the day, the things that you're using, you know, in your shell bag, you know, in your truck, you know, what kind of guns, what kind of equipment.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Just.

[Zach Nini]

Just run us through what you think is really important.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Gun ammo, eye protection, earplugs. There you go. No, so in all reality, you know, newer shooters, you know, any shooter really, I mean, newer shooters tend to have a lot more stuff in their bag because they're, you know, where me, I mean, I've got array of stuff with, you know, choke tube, wrench. I usually don't have any extra choke tubes, but really, most important thing, eye protection. Yeah, got to have the eye protection. Okay, that's. That's mandatory ear protection. You know, I use array of ear protection, but most of the time I'm shooting with OTO Pro electronic ear protection, especially for teaching a lot.

[Zach Nini]

How do you feel about that, that OTO Pro and like, what is your personal thoughts on custom molded earplugs versus foamies? Like when you're using different stuff? I mean, what do you think on that?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I still use both. Honestly, I'll use the foamies at times. It. When it's real high wind, you know, you can have them on mute. You know, the electronics, if you got any sound on it, it does make some noise. I think that's just standard. I would really like it when I'm teaching. Okay. Shooting wise, I don't want to hear any background noise at all.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, yeah. I would say those OTO Pros are probably not for when you're shooting, because it is. Turn them off.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, you could just turn them off.

[Zach Nini]

Okay, that's great.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You know, but for me, you know, I'll use the. The foamies, the. The regular molded earplugs. I don't know. They. It. It seems like they. They let in a little bit to.

[Zach Nini]

Me, versus I've had a few sets that really do let the noise in, and I don't like that. The last set that I got from Jim Sproul at Promold, he does them where he fits your ear with the stuff they do, and then they send it off to the lab, and they make a, you know, kind of a harder, different, higher quality. I don't know exactly what the quality material is, but it seems like it's a lot more durable. And urethane. Yeah, like a. Like a polyurethane. It's in slicker. And for whatever reason, when I get those ones done, I feel like they don't slip out of my ears. But when it's just the injected mold ones where they shoot them into your ear and then 20 minutes later, they pull them out and they're giving them to you and you're wearing them, it's like. I don't know. I've had. I've had mixed luck with those, and I think it really has to do more with who's doing it, because I've had some make really good earplugs for me, and then I've had some where I'm like, you know, these earplugs suck. Either they didn't use enough of the material or they didn't shoot it in the right way. That, you know, it just kind of doesn't really feel right. But. But I. I'm kind of like you with that. If it's not done right. I almost feel like the foamies, a new set of foamies, like, deep in the. In the canal. I mean, they. They rock pretty hard.

[John Slinker]

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 Bull. Shoot him. We both love them.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yep. Best gun in the industry. I shoot him, I sell them. Nothing better, folks. Get yourself a Craig Off. Your scores will increase.

[John Slinker]

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 winning. I'm wearing the shirt today.

[Zach Nini]

Love this shirt.

[John Slinker]

If you're down at the 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.

[John Slinker]

Yeah, the grand is 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.

[John Slinker]

With that being said, let's get back to the show.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, it, you know, it's just. It's preference like anything, but, you know, those two main thing. Of course, you know, I just use. Right now, I just use a Cabela's. I think it's like $10 camouflage bag is my shell bag. I, you know, and I use, you know, Grip plus stuff for my hands because I don't have any checkering on my gun. And then, you know, of course I put Vaseline on my face. So I, of course have Vaseline in there. And I've got the Grip plus. And of course, you know, washcloth, whatever, wipe it off. And then I don't know if I have any. Let me see.

[Zach Nini]

Oh, wait, the Zeiss lens.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

The. The Zeiss.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah. That's a go to.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

We've got. You and I both have multiples of those in our bags at all times. Because it's. It's not. I learned this a long time ago from Decot. Do not wipe your lenses with your T shirt.

[Zach Nini]

Yep.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You will get micro scratches in there. And I've got lenses from 25 years ago that have micro scratches, you know, in them.

[Zach Nini]

So, you know, you still don't have as many lenses as Jimmy Heller, though.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You know, I don't think if we put 50 people on the show have as many pairs of lenses as J Bone.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, he's got the. He's got the lenses locked down, but stock in.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

In. In. In plastic.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, the CR39. He's running them out of it.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

He out of. Planted a ton of stuff, you know, but.

[Zach Nini]

But I think that that's important because a lot of times, you know, you don't have the correct equipment, the stuff in your bag or whatever, and then you are grabbing your shirt, you're using a towel, you're doing whatever, and you. And I think especially, like if you get to the grand and now you're sweating because, you know, it's so hot, your shirt's got moisture on it. You're rubbing it on your lenses, and now you're putting that moisture on your lenses and you're like, whole reeks.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And then it leaves marks. And that's why you Know, always have a towel, you know, or a couple towels, you know, in your bag, but. And even a cooling towel, you know, usually at the Grand. I mean, we've always got our side by sides there, you know. That's a shameless plug for Big Red Motorsports, you know.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, you got to have it because God forbid we walk from A to B, you know, we don't want to do. We don't want to do that, folks. We're gonna drive.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I'll pull up to D and walk down. I got no problem doing that. All right, folks, we need to take a quick second and get to a new show sponsor, Big Red Motorsports. Big Red, their personal friends of mine, Jason and George Lee, and they're also a personal sponsor of mine.

[John Slinker]

Now, I'll say this, Ricky looked great driving 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. But I always have in my, in my buggy, too. I've always got lens wipes in there. I've got, you know, an extra towel in there and such, you know, extra ammo, you know, that's always a good thing to have. Have spare shells with you. That, that's one of the most important things. And that's why. So for me, you know, I use bear pelt vests. All shooting their vests occasionally, especially for sporting clay ski. And of course, now that I've lost the weight, I'm. I'm getting some new vests made as we speak. But I use the side pouches.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, okay.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And in those side pouches, I actually, in the bottom of every one of my side patches, I have two or three extra shells, you know, a couple lights and a couple handicaps.

[Zach Nini]

Yep.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And it's. It's key to have extra shells with you because if you don't, you have a bad, you know, bad shell. Say you got a broken target, whatever it might be you. If you don't have extra shells, then you're asking your name. Hey, you know, well, and there's, there's.

[John Slinker]

A psychology to it, too.

[Zach Nini]

Like, okay, you ran, you're shooting your shell, and then you're out of your shell. And then you ask somebody else for a shell and they hand you this rusty thing from 1964. And you put it in the gun and you're like, you know, because I've had that where it's been a reload where. Where it's like completely different. Where you're at the 16 yard line and they send you this, you know, this silver banger 1250. And you're like, all right, you know, hold on and strap onto my teeth. And you're, you know, you're just blasting away. I'm like, come on, man, just. Just pack a few. Like, crack a box once a year. Crack a box, put them in your freaking bag and be done with it. Shoot offs.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

If you're in shoot offs and especially in doubles, you get extra shells. That's where I get mine from. I'll take a box if.

[Zach Nini]

If I have to crack my. Because I'm never in double shoot offs. But, you know, it.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It's whatever. But seriously, though, and Zach's right about this because I was at. I'm trying to think if it was the grand or the. The grand. I think it was the grand American. I'm pretty sure it was. And I. Bad show or not bad shell. Had a broken target. Yeah, okay. And I re. I'm like, oh, man, I don't have a handicap. And I don't remember who was on the squad. Years gonna hear, you know, okay, so I tell you it's a handicap. Yeah, I put it in. It was a 1 oz 8 and blew up. And I'm like. And the target broke. I mean, just like, ping. And I was like, yeah. After that, I was like. And I went back and just took a flat that I had. I just opened a box, took some shells out. I said, I ain't doing this.

[John Slinker]

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 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.

[John Slinker]

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. It. Really appreciate it here at trap.

[John Slinker]

With that being said, let's get back to the show. Yeah, I don't do it.

[Zach Nini]

I mean, I've. Everybody's done it. I mean, I think the first time it happened to me, it was psychological. It's not that the load wouldn't break the target, but I was running 100 straight and I think I had, you know, I had. I mean, this was a long time ago, but I remember it because it stung me. Like it hurt. And I was running 100 straight and I had. We had a broken targets, like a lot of them. And I went through, you know, and shot him. And I didn't have any shells and, you know, the guy handed me one and it was all he had. But it was like a, you know, like a super light one. One ounce, nine or whatever. And it was just this, you know, this hodgepodge of what I wasn't shooting. And so I'm like, oh, well, crap. Well, I need to shoot quicker or I need to get, you know, something to. Because I didn't know what I know now, you know, at the time, this was 15 years ago. And I ended up missing the target because I shot differently. Because I was thinking about the shell.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And you were thinking about that instead of thinking about what you were supposed to be thinking.

[Zach Nini]

And then once I missed that one, I went back to my other shells and I realized how much heavier they were and I missed another one. And I'm like. I'm like, so. So you, you know, you get in these positions where you're telling me is.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

We need to work on your mental game.

[Zach Nini]

It's gotten a lot better. This was when I was like 15, but, oh, I got your.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Last Tuesday.

[Zach Nini]

This was. This was, you know, at least, I don't know. This was probably back in 2005 or 2006. I mean, a long, long time ago. But it's amazing how when you have those little learning experiences, like, you do not usually do that again. Like, you remember, like, okay, I touched the stove, I burnt my hand. I'm not doing that anymore. Like, what's the right way to do it? And unfortunately, if you're not listening to stuff like this or making those mistakes. I mean, maybe you're not doing it right. You're like, well, I just have whatever spares in my bag and it doesn't really matter matter. I think it does.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And that's why, like I said, if you're shooting in a vest, you know, a lot of shooters shooting invests my opinion. And bear pelt vest, they're breathable, they're lightweight. You can put your logos on them. They're sublimated, you know, so sublimation. So it, it's so cool what you can do and, and everything and, and get a vest and then keep your stuff in your vest. Make sure when you go to the line that you're prepared. And that's why I always say, try to get there a squad or two ahead of time. Correct the reason why too. Not only just to watch targets and such, but maybe you forgot something. Yeah, you got time when you show up and you're late and they're waiting on you and you forgot earplugs. I've been there and I'm like, oh, crap, I ain't got no earplugs. I'm like, yeah.

[Zach Nini]

And I think there's some, you know, and I'll let you continue with your list, but there's some things that you need to have doubles on. Like for me, like, I don't have one set of earplugs. I have sets of earplugs because I don't ever want to like, lose a set because one of the things that I've been guilty of doing and I've getting better and better at it, but I'll put my earplugs in the empty box when I'm done, kind of because I care, and I'll take the box.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Up and throw it away.

[Zach Nini]

And so the good news is I always close the box. So when I go back to the trash, they're always, you know, rattling around in the box.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

If you see Zach in the dumpsters, he's really not collecting boxes.

[Zach Nini]

I'm not trying to grab 5 cent holes. I'm going back and looking for my pro mold earplugs, you know, but, but, but that's the thing. It's like every once in a while you just, you know, you're, you're in the zone and you're not thinking and, you know, but that's why I always like take my boxes and I have a routine. I close the flaps, close the top, and put it in the trash when I'm Done. And that saved me from losing some earplugs, because I'll be like, okay, you know, shake them. And that's the one. All right, folks, we got to take.

[John Slinker]

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 chuckers and 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.

[John Slinker]

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 just a good time. With that being said, let's get back to the show.

[Zach Nini]

I know you, I know watching you, Rick, you, you always have, like you said, the, the, the grip. You always have Vaseline, you always have those shooter towels. You always have, you know, the lens wipes. What else do you think are important pieces of gear that you like to keep around?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, you know, either, you know, a vest, shell clips, the, the shell shell, side bags, box holders, you know, make sure you got the. Enough for doubles. I see this a ton at shoots when we're shooting doubles. Oh, man, I forgot my box holder. Anybody got a spare? Anybody got a spare? You know, and, and I used to have spares with me when I used them, but now I use the, the bear pelt, you know, side pouches, which I think is great because it's, they're lightweight, you know, and another deal, you can put your logos on them, Team logo, whoever's logo you want to, but really that's about it. For, for gear. I don't, you know.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, you're, you're, you're a less is more kind of guy.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And always have some high quality H2O.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, yeah. As, as the water boy would say, the high quality H2O, we always have bottles of water.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

We always used to have a cooler with us, you know, so. Because especially, you know, we're shooting all summer, it gets warm the places we're shooting, as, you know, you know.

[Zach Nini]

Correct, correct. So, you know, I think my list mirrors Ricky's very, very carefully, I think, you know, kind of all the way around. And Ricky's talked to me about this before. You know, I would say pieces of equipment that aren't in the bag, but I think are really important. I want really good shoes. Like, I want to have a really good set of shooting shoes.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

What's in the bag?

[Zach Nini]

We're talking about it all. We're just, we're going to bring up, we'll be bringing up Craig offs here in a minute, so just, just bear with me. But, but I think, I think, like, for me, starting from toes up, like, my number one thing I think is going to be my shoes and making sure that I have a consistent pair of comfortable shoes that I've trained in. And, you know, Ricky's always been good about telling me this. He's like, you got to have the right shoes. And I think you've had people that shoot in shoes and then three days later they're changing shoes and maybe it's a new pair and they're like, oh, I'm wearing for style or whatever. I don't agree with that. I think you find the shoes that you shoot well in. And if, you know, I shoot well in this shoe, this shoe. This shoe stay consistent. Like, I've seen people go from really good days to really bad days because they went from one shoe to the other. Now, to get off my soapbox. Soapbox for a second, I've also seen people shoot in, you know, one set of shoes and shoot great and shoot in flip flops or whatever the next day and shoot great, too. And they're just completely oblivious to the rule. So, like, I don't know what to tell you, but for me, like, I can tell the difference between when my heels are flat or when my heels are up. You know, kind of like Darrell Handy used to say, shooting cowboy boots get elevated. I like things that put me in a little bit more of an athletic stance. I'm not much of a flat like a Converse guy. Like, I don't like wearing that. Yeah, yeah, right. Like, I mean, you're the same boat, right, Rick? You like that, that press?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I want a good quality running shoe, cross trainer shoe, not a, you know, an Air Jordan. You know, I love Air Jordan.

[Zach Nini]

They're slick, but they're just not designed for that.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

No. And you want a good, like, you know, I've been wearing the, the Brooks. I'm not a fan of the Hokas.

[Zach Nini]

You don't like those?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Well, it depends on which one. There's a few of them that actually. So Hoka's problem, one of the main problems was the most of their shoes, you sunk in the heel. When you sink in the heel that brings your weight.

[Zach Nini]

Put you on the back of your feet.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. Just like the Owens, you know, they were doing.

[Zach Nini]

I'm really, I've been really enjoying shooting in my Brooks's lately. So I got a couple pairs of Brooks's and, and I really like those sketchers, didn't you? I mean, I didn't mind the Skechers. They were, they were cheap, but they had Brooks. They had a good ratio on them. Where I'm like, okay, I feel good and confident in these, but I think at the end of the day it's what you feel confident in. But, you know, moving on to my bag. Always have the lens cloths, always have the towels, always. I have glasses, but I also have an extra pair just in case lenses break or frames break. But I'm kind of an over an overachiever when it comes to having extra. Yeah, I got too much shit in my bag. But you're like with Peelis, It's a.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Bigger 107 sets of lenses.

[Zach Nini]

It's a bigger bag for sure than Ricky's. But I also have the hand grip, also have the lens. The Zeiss lens cleaners. One thing that I, you know, we'll talk about hydration. You gotta have something water I like. You know, right now we're trying some supplements that are, you know, that have electrolytes in them. And I'm really, you know, working on thinking, okay, the electrolytes even more than the water. That way we're not getting so much sugar in with the Gatorade. So that's something that I'm thinking about moving forward. And, and something that has saved me in the past, that has helped myself and others is I always keep a little bit of some kind of snack in the bag like a, like a nutrigrain bar or some kind of sweetness. I've had people on the line just with this, with the age of our sport that have had sugar issues and they're going in, you know, they're going into some kind of shock. And just to be able to go into your bag and grab a nutrigrain bar or a, you know, some type of protein bar, you know, instantly and, and get them that also, you know.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I always have gum usually in my bag.

[Zach Nini]

Gum, Gum is always in the bag. I always have shout out to extra. You got, yeah, we, hey, we get some plug money on that extra. We got good breath. It keeps focus, focusing. Because you, you know, that Stu Welton, he goes through a whole case a day. All that gum chewing he does when he shoots. But, but, but yeah, I mean, I think the spares you already touched on, you Know, I only use one box, so I never have a double box deal. But, you know, that's what I'm used to. And doubles is using that one.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You should maybe go to two because your shells tend to get knocked over. I don't know why.

[Zach Nini]

Only when you kick them, but I don't.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It's not me.

[Zach Nini]

You hire people.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You hire anybody. I recommend things. Some.

[Zach Nini]

All. All I know are these.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And Justin will say, oh, oh, sorry.

[John Slinker]

Zach got another sponsor we got to thank.

[Zach Nini]

Shotguns west. The Pelas, baby.

[John Slinker]

Check out these wings. You, Ricky don't got these. He ain't that stylish, folks.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Listen, Zach tries to wear these driving down the road doing podcasts. It's okay.

[Zach Nini]

We still love it when you look good. You.

[John Slinker]

You don't have to apologize.

[Zach Nini]

Remember that not only can you hit more targets, but you could look good doing it.

[John Slinker]

Give Ryan a call.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's right.

[John Slinker]

With that being said, let's get back to the show.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

We're all.

[Zach Nini]

I'm always keeping spares, always keeping that extra equipment in there. And. And I like to also keep some kind of gun glide, you know, either the Vaseline or Neosporin or, you know, in chapstick, in case it's windy. You know, those are just little things where if you're uncomfortable, you're like, okay, this makes it a little bit better. Makes a little bit easier. I've always kept. This is just kind of for helping people more than myself, but a role of that kind of opaque Scotch tape. If people ever have eye dominancy issues, you know, or those dots, you know, just little things. I have all of my wrenches, so my. My stock wrench, my screwdriver set, and my Allen wrenches. And also I carry around my. My washers just so, like, if I need to make an adjustment, I'm not having to, you know, do it now. I'm not making adjustments very often, but. But I want to have that stuff. I want to have that stuff on me. For me, it just gives me peace of mind and knowing, okay, it's there, I got it, whatever.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It's never the aerial. It's always the end.

[Zach Nini]

Exactly. Unless you start losing weight, which, you know how that goes. But. But there's times. There's times where I've seen people and they're like, hey, you have a washer, and I got it for them. So I guess my bag is more not only for me, but it's also for people around me.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

They gave you that big bag that we were all supposed to get. And we never got them, only Zach.

[Zach Nini]

It's okay. You know, they, they realize they got to take care of me. You know, it just, I need a little more help than most. But that is true. But I think, you know, that covers pretty much gear and equipment. I think I do.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Like, now listen, one thing I do, I, I do shoot in a hat. Now this is one thing I will say to a lot of people, you know, when I'm teaching or you know, general, just stand around. This is how my hat is when I'm shooting that sound.

[Zach Nini]

And that is important because both of us, right in, both of us are up with the hat. And I think if you look at most of the shooters, they get more up with the hat because I think people go down here and then they do this and that brim is in the way versus, you know, you kind of hear and you're like, okay, I can see. I mean I, I really am a, a picky person when it comes to hats. And I'm also a little bit picky with the shirts. Like, I don't like, there's some shirts, if they have a seam right where I'm mounting the gun or whatever, I'm not going to use them. So I think that there's a, you know, a certain, you know, uniform of.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Code of shirt shooting a lot of polos. I don't, occasionally I will, I'll shoot one, but I don't, I like shooting just in, in a polyester shirt, like a T shirt style. It's comfortable, they're lightweight, thin. You know, conditions are cold. I throw a long sleeve shirt on and put that over the top.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, I, I just, I agree with you on that. I, I find that if we get too many layers or too thick, too bulky, it really messes it up for me. So even if I'm a little bit on colder side, I would rather work on thin layers over the top than, you know, a big old jacket. I see these guys out there with these big puffy jackets to try to stay warm and I just, I feel like they're, you know, when I do it, I feel like I'm hurting myself more than I'm helping myself now. Now if you're, you know, let's just say you're a brain like I remember, you know, Harlan told me he know he measured his thick coat and then he, you know, he'll take a spacer out of the back of his but you know, gun if he goes to the coat because he knows it's exactly quarter inch and he'll Go back and forth. Like if you've got it down to that much of a science and you're there, then, then that's awesome. But for me, I'm never changing it. So, you know, I just stay away from the big coats. I, you know, I, I just keep it thin, you know, wear the windproof stuff. Get a higher quality, thinner material if you can. And normally, like for, for rain gear.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

For me I just use a Columbia raincoat.

[Zach Nini]

It's thin. It's like a frog tog.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, they're, they're thin, but it's a little slicker. They're lightweight, they're breathable. I'm not, I don't know, it seems like every time I get the big pads on coats, it, they tend to bind up a little bit the way I mount the gun because I'm shooting across my body. So for me it just doesn't, you know, work.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah, I'm the same boat as you. I mean, very similar style where I don't want all that extra stuff. Now for the people that it works, that's great. But I think at the end of the day, do what works for you and, and train with it and get comfortable with it. But like I've seen people go with that big new coat, they buy it off the rack because it's a cool day. And they're like, they just go out for the first time and shoot in it and they're like, oh, I shot like crap. And it's because this damn coat. And then they're throwing it in the garbage and I'm like, don't blame the coat. Like you didn't, you didn't train with it, right?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Like, like you said with Harlan, and this is true, and I tell people this all the time. If you're shooting the winter time and you're shooting in coats and such, then you need to take, if you're shooting a 1 inch pad in the summer, you need to go to a half inch pad in the, in the winter, plain and simple, you need to shorten it a half inch to shorten it a quarter inch to go to a three quarter inch pattern.

[Zach Nini]

Whatever the thickness that you're adding, take it away.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Just get close. It would be sufficient, honestly. But yeah, you got to. And that's one of the things is, but it's like I say, you know, always have a journal and in that journal write down what you know we're shooting.

[Zach Nini]

I would say that's one thing that we both missed in our thing as, as now for me, my journal I use my cell phone, so I use the notes and I type it into my notes on my phone. And I have all my shooting stuff. I know Ricky's a vault. He just memorizes all his notes forever.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

But I think write everything down when I was your age or younger. But as I. I just. Okay. I remember these things like, you know, I was just. Came back from Sacramento from the old Coon Creek, teaching.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And they. I use my gps. First day getting there. I'd never been there. After that. I never had to use a gps, you know. I know. I mean, it's.

[Zach Nini]

You know, and everyone's brain works different. I like to either write it down with my, you know, with a pen and paper or put in my phone. And. And I think that would be something that'd be valuable for people to keep in their bag is some type of a shooter's journal, you know, something along those lines. Just to keep record of what's going on. And. And I always, always, always keep at least one pen, pen or pencil because, you know, just in the bag in case you need to adjust something, you know, something's wrong, the scorekeeper breaks theirs or whatever just to have it. I think that that's valuable to be able to say, okay, yeah, I got a pin. Because it's just the little things that every once in a while you don't need them for a long time, but the day you need them, you're like, man, I'm glad I have that. I'm glad I put that in my bag. And it's there for me and it gets me through the day.

[John Slinker]

But, 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, simultaneously. 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 of 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. It's awesome. 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.

[John Slinker]

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.

[Zach Nini]

We're good to go.

[John Slinker]

We also got Gun and trophy insurance. I mean, they're the best in the business. I know they're.

[Zach Nini]

They're great price.

[John Slinker]

Ricky, you're familiar with them, right?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. Cole and Larry Cushman been longtime supporters of myself 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. It's just a great.

[John Slinker]

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.

[Zach Nini]

To keep them in shirt.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Sure.

[John Slinker]

So with that being said, let's get.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Back to the show.

[Zach Nini]

You know, moving on. I think we've got to touch on guns to be able to talk equipment. Like, I. Obviously, I'm partial to Craig off. I know you are, Ricky. And I know, like, if. If people can, you know, get into that zone of gun, you're all in. You're all in. But, you know, what do you think is important? I mean, being as a person that's shot your whole life and seen shooters get into the sport and, you know, looking at different budgets, looking at, you know, different systems, what do you think is important when they're. They're picking that piece of equipment, you know, and fitting it into their lifestyle, where they are and where they're starting in the game.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So what I would suggest is if you're in the market to buy a gun or looking at changing or whatever, go to a big shoot, try to demo a gun, try to shoot maybe a used gun, maybe your buddy's got a gun, something like that. It's really tough with. And I've gotten this before from some people about, you know, doing, hey, can I try your gun? My gun, I mean, it's got a custom stock on it, and I don't change the. The rib on it. My ribs, they don't get moved. So that's why I don't, you know, let people, you know, shoot my gun. But I would say, you know, come to the Ohio State, shoot the Grand American, you know, Tucson, we've got any.

[Zach Nini]

Of the big shoots where there's dealers, where there's used guns, ample that they can go and try them out and see what they like and go from there. I think, I think number one, and this is the financial guy in me, set a budget. Right. Figure out what your zone is for, where you're starting with what you're going to buy and then look in that zone and figure out what works best for you in that zone. You know, obviously if you're at the top of the table, you know, you, you, you know, if you got a few choices. I really like the Craig off and I know Ricky does just the way it feels, the balance and everything like that.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

But, but in the Craig off line, so you have three or four different models for trap. Roughly, you've got the traditional, which is the, the un single adjustable fixed over and under step ribbon. And then you have the ACS combo, which is the pro sporter over and under. And then the unsingles about a quarter of an inch lower than a trap special. Then you have the trap special and then you have the pro rib trap special. Now also in the pro rib and the regular trap special unsingle versions, they do make a top single version of that. The overnighters are the same. So what I say is, you know, I'm, I'm partial to an unsingle. I've shot one since 1989. But I think you get more heads up, more visibility. So, you know, and there's, it's, but it's all preference.

[Zach Nini]

Yes. You know, there's some great shooters out there that are shooting flat rib guns, top singles. You know, there's guys that are shooting over unders for every event. I mean, it's just, there's no rhyme or reason. I think it's got to fit you. It's got to shoot where you're looking and you got to feel comfortable swinging it. And it comes down to, you know, what's your height, what's your weight, how do you swing the gun, what feels comfortable with you and you go from there. So. But I do think, I do think that if you're going to do this, go for something that's reliable. Like if you've, you know, you've gone on to trapshooters.com and you've gone to the forums and if you've seen like there's a brand of gun that's constantly breaking or constantly having issues.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah.

[Zach Nini]

I would tell you, try to find something that's reasonably reliable in your price range.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Is your budget number. Yeah, it's your budget. What is it? You know, and I can help you find anything in your budget.

[Zach Nini]

Correct. And, and you, you start there. But you know, I think some people, you know, it's like, they're like, well, I want all of these features sometimes and maybe their budget's not low so they go to something that has all these features that might not work right, or these things that kind of could break in the long term because they're wanting to stay in their budget. I like more simple things, right. If you're gonna, if you're gonna be in that lower end market where, you know, starting entry point, you know, I rather have things that are like simple and easy and don't break than all of these, you know, gimmicks and in and extra stuff that could potentially break. And that's just my opinion.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I don't say, you know, when you, when you're buying a gun, you gotta look at what are you going to do with it, how many rounds are you going to shoot? If you're going to travel around and shoot and shoot 15, you know, 10, 15, 20,000 rounds. Get a, a quality gun that's going to last year lifetime. So you know that, you know that's.

[Zach Nini]

The cheapest part of it when you're doing 15 to 20,000 a year, right. But I also think there's plenty of room at the trap range for somebody that's coming and shooting 50 shots on a league once a week and shooting 870, shooting a model 12.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Hey, I started with an 1100 field grade, broke my first 25 straight.

[Zach Nini]

You know, that's my first gun too, an 1100.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It moved on to 11A7. But with the amount of tar, it's really tough to shoot an automatic at trap. As many targets as we shoot, it really is, you know, but you know, get a good quality gun. You know, if you're looking for a Craig off looking for any gun, you know, holler, I can, I can help you out and then ammo, I always say, and I've been running this to running into this lately with people in classes. They're shooting whatever they can shoot and practice and then they shoot a totally different load in competition.

[Zach Nini]

Why would they do that?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

They, well, it's because they get what they can get, you know. Yeah, I understand that, but I want quality practice, consistency. So you want to be shooting what you're shooting. Like for me, I shoot the Fiocchi light eights for singles, first shot of doubles and then the White Rhino 1250 handicap seven and a half for handicap and second shot of doubles now.

[Zach Nini]

And you never deviate.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

You don't deviate. The only Time I will deviate is going to. So this shell I have in my hand right here, that is a Fiocchi. That is an 1165 8. But this is called the target Max. This is identical to the shooting dynamic, except for this is exclusively made for shielding goods.

[Zach Nini]

All right, folks, we got to take.

[John Slinker]

A real quick break and acknowledge the official target of the ata, White Flyer. They've been sponsoring us since the beginning.

[Zach Nini]

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.

[John Slinker]

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.

[Zach Nini]

I understand when people are trying to cut corners to save budget. I mean, I know there's some people that train with seven, eight ounce and train with one ounce and then shoot al in competition. I know there's some adjustments. And, you know, you got. At the end of the day, you got to do whatever you got to do to stay in the game. But if you're asking my opinion or Ricky's opinion, I think the more you can keep everything the same, whether you're practicing or shooting a tournament and you're not making those big deviant changes.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's right.

[Zach Nini]

I think the more consistent you're going to be. But if. If that's not something that's on the table, don't let it deter you. Do what you got to do. Do what you got to do at the end of the day. But, you know, if you're really serious about saying, well, what are the things I should be staying consistent with? Well, I think the shells, you know, I mean, I. Shells and gun.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's the main thing. And, and your lenses, I. I'm not a fan of.

[Zach Nini]

I don't change a lot, a lot from the.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

The colors, you know, I see that a lot, especially with these peas, you know, changing back and forth. You. Well, it's. It's in the lights I see. You know, that's just. You're overthinking the process.

[Zach Nini]

Keep it simple, you know, and don't, don't. Don't change it all the time. I. I think that the. The more consistent you are with your equipment, the more regular you are with what you're using, the more comfortable you become with it, and the better you're going to perform long term. You know, I, I mean we've, we've talked pretty much about everything. You know, the only thing we really didn't talk about today equipment wise was stocks I guess, you know. Yeah, I got to give a shouting, you know, I got the hat on. I think, I think you know, if we get to like the finer, like the nuances, the finer things of equipment, I would say the custom fitting and stock to where the gun shoots, where you're looking is, is very, very, very important and probably, probably undervalued as far as how important it is to be able to mount the gun and look down the gun and see the target and shoot where they're looking. I, I don't think people put enough importance to gunfit and I think that's just as important to any equipment stuff we're talking about.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It's the most important thing. Here's the thing, you know, we go out there, we spend you know, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, $80,000 for a gun that, you know, it's the engravings different, that's why the cost is higher. But if the gun doesn't fit you perfectly and, and hey you, you cannot fault the manufacturers. I hear this a lot. Well, the manufacturers should make that stock. Well, they couldn't, they wouldn't be able to produce the enough guns.

[Zach Nini]

They could never make stocks for everyone at everyone's size. When you look at the different size of people.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah. You know, that's why like with Kragoff you have the true right hand, true left hand stocks and the trap specials and the you know, pro sporter flat rib parkour X, the, the whole works, you know. So get in a stock made if you're wanting to do this. I absolutely recommend to get a stock made because it's going to fit you because 99 of the time it ain't so much the face, a lot of it too is the grip, how you're gripping the gun. You're pulling up, you're pulling. I mean I've seen it all.

[Zach Nini]

Yeah.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And want to make sure that it's fit to you. Now kids, that's a touchy subject because kids grow. So getting a custom stock made for a young kid sometimes can be difficult with you know, Little Johnny is 5 foot 6 right now and then, you know, he gets a stock made six months later he's six foot one.

[Zach Nini]

All right folks, we got to take.

[John Slinker]

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.

[Zach Nini]

Is home of the first back fence shootout.

[John Slinker]

Ricky, what do you think about Ohio?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Listen, I, I love the Cardinals Center. I actually broke the first hunter 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.

[John Slinker]

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.

[Zach Nini]

You know, if you're making as a forever purchase, it becomes harder to bite off on, you know, a commitment like that until you're at least done with some growth spurt area. I, I always had, when I was going up before I got my winning and I was growing a lot, I had the adjustable plate on the back of mine that Graco that spinned out and you know, I had a four way adjustable comb and I had a Graco that spin in every direction. And what I would notice with what I was doing is every, you know, six months, I was spinning that Graco out another quarter inch, you know, and, and making some adjustment because at the time I just needed more and more and more. And then once I got to a point where I went a whole year without having to touch it, that's when I went, you know, okay, I don't think I'm growing anymore. I think I'm pretty much, you know, had enough coffee. Stunted my growth up. Yeah, yeah, out, not up, you know, we got to do it right. But that was when you were at Lindenwood. Yeah, somewhere around that zone. But, you know, it's. It's memory, you know, doesn't serve me correctly always.

[John Slinker]

But, but like I said, it's, you.

[Zach Nini]

Know, if you can do it, great. I think that's a great thing, you know, and, you know, if, if you're constantly able to move it or you start with a Bondo stock and you don't necessarily go to wood with it, and then you, you know, every year we're adding a little bit of Bondo and we're adjusting it through that process, which I know some people have done that, whether you know, they're growing through that zone.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I know, like winning. They like to get them done within about six months time frame usually, you know, but you can't blame them because otherwise you're getting pushed out. I mean, you know, they're 12 to 18 weeks out on the long, it.

[Zach Nini]

Can be a long time because they're so busy, they're so booked.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

It is, you know, get a stock made, you know, get to, you know, come take a class. You know, it doesn't have to be absolutely for me, but take a class where someone can fit your gun to you. You know, I did a class here in December in Florida and I had to use the palm sander on one of my students stocks because it just wasn't right. And it was a, it was a pattern stock that they had made from another stock maker. And I was like, well, I can fix that real quick.

[Zach Nini]

So yeah, I mean, right, right is right. And, and wood is wood and metal is metal. At the end of the day I'm more concerned with does it work than anything, right. And then from there we can build up. I mean, I think the least important, I mean some people might not like to hear this, but the least important part of it is how much engraving you got and how pretty the wood is. For me, I want it to work. And then everything above that is just, it's just icing. It's, yeah, it's, it's a tool.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

I mean, you know, I, I, I shoot. You know, I've got nice stocks when I don't have my Bondo stock on, which I'm hopefully going to change that here. Maybe next week I'm going to try to actually get down to Winigra and, and get a stock ran because I just got a, a new trap special. So hopefully I'll have that at the, at the spring grand and I might actually shoot it for the first time. We'll see.

[Zach Nini]

Well, there you go.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Just, just depends on how, you know, how I'm feeling. Are you gonna be there, Zach, in the spring grand?

[Zach Nini]

It's a 50 50. You know, if people want me at the spring grand, send emails, send me some thumbs up, maybe I'll show up, maybe not. We'll see. But yeah, see, you don't, you don't need me there.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

But.

[Zach Nini]

I think, you know, for people starting, listen to this episode, enjoy it. Focus on, you know, getting the right equipment, feeling comfortable with what you've got.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Basics.

[Zach Nini]

Be confident in the basics. You don't need to lug around, you know, a damn suitcase but you need a little notepad.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

And, you know, it can be just a regular notepad.

[Zach Nini]

You know, there's things that you need in your bag specifically for your health or for your eyes for yours. Oh, here's one that I didn't remember that I always keep in my bag. Eye drops. Yes, I keep eye drops in my bag all the time, you know, just thinking about the health of it. But sometimes my eyes get a little bit dry. Something happens there. Just things that you feel more comfortable about that you can have access to in your bag. I mean, that's going to be a lifesaver for you on the line and. And make sure you bring what you need out to the line with you. I mean, I'm always bringing at least. At least two spares, if not a couple more.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Don't forget your shells. If you don't forget your shells. Dinner.

[Zach Nini]

Dinner. Yeah, that's dinner. Who forgot Bullard Bullardo's dinner?

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

That's just bulldoze dinner, folks, Just so you know, Rich Bullet, he'll be buying us a nice dinner. We'll have to wait, though. Probably the grand.

[Zach Nini]

It'll be McDonald's. We'll be fine. But, well, well, Rick, I. I think we. This was a lot of good information. I'm glad we shot this episode. We just kind of got into it and, you know, I'm looking forward to seeing you here in a minute and, you know, 10 days it's shot show.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

So, folks, anybody gonna be at shot show, we'll hopefully get this episode out before shot, maybe. It's up to John.

[Zach Nini]

So, folks, I think it'll be. It'll be after shot show. So if you're sending us anything you want for shot show, we're not gonna get it. But that's so.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, so. But listen, if you have any questions at all, call email. I got people calling and emailing every day about doing clinics, so I'm trying to get that in order right now, actually. So I appreciate all that. We're gonna. 20, 25 is going to be a good year. You know, we gotta. Hopefully the. Everything goes good for our country.

[Zach Nini]

Oh, yeah, we're rolling. It's all good. So, you know, thank you all for tuning in. Happy Friday. Keep the listener questions coming. Make sure to, like, subscribe, comment, everything you can do. Wear your merch proud if you love us. And don't be afraid to come up and say hi to me and Ricky at the shoots. And we'd love to say hi to you. So thank you all for being a part of Loyal Trap Talk nation and listening and tuning in and. And we'll see y' all soon.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Thanks everyone. Good luck.

[John Slinker]

Also, we've got Mid State Precious Metals, Ron Prescott. He's a great guy. For all your gold and silver needs. Ricky, tell them about our friend.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, Ron, he graciously donated a 10 ounce silver bar to our Live in Person podcast in Tucson. And you know, he has everything. I bought a bunch of silver from him. You know, we got our silver and gold for the the fun day at, at the Nevada State shoot on Monday this year. You know, John got all the silver and gold for the Nevada State shoot. So look him up for your silver and gold needs. He'll give you the best price out there.

[Zach Nini]

He really is.

[John Slinker]

And, and he's a friend of the trap shooters. I mean, he's looking to get gold and silver to these gun clubs for their shoots at the lowest price across the country. He's doing him a service and helping grow the sport. So, you know, thank you so much for that, Ron.

[Richard Marshall Jr.]

Yeah, thank you, Ron. We appreciate it.

[John Slinker]

With that being said, let's get to the show. And the Trap Talk podcast is brought to you in part by RM Shooting Clinics. Have Ricky take your game to the next level. If you want to shoot hundreds of hundreds of hundreds, give Ricky a call today. Zach Nini Financial we believe in putting people first.