A New Link

Over on the side bar under “Daily Browse”, please check out the newest addition labeled “Rigrat’s Place”. It’s a compilation of links and info to help any serious shooter or weekend hobbyist find tips on how to make their firearms achieve peak performance or solutions to problems. The site is currently under construction with new links and photos being added, so keep checking back if you don’t see what you’re after right away.
I’ve been reading about Rigrat’s modifications and tricks of the trade for a couple of years now and he really knows his stuff.
I decided to have a little chat with Rigger and let you in on it:

Rigrat’s Place… where’d the name “Rigrat” come from?

Well just seemed appropriate since I work on a oil rig, ...specifically the drillship Transocean Discoverer 534.

What made you decide to compile all the information you've found into one place on the net?

A while back was looking for the "how-to SuperStock" the Squawsach and Sawdust Way and when I found it I found all the pictures were gone. Luckily, I had the insight to have saved a copy to PDF before hand. So I was trying to think of a way to have the info available for other members without everyone having to email me all the time to get it. That’s when I stumbled upon Google sites and it was easy enough for me to figure out.

Well, a lot of people sure will be happy that you did!
How did you get interested in shooting, anyway?

I grew up in Kansas where my dad and Uncle farmed, so was just around shooting from a young age.

So you’ve probably had some kind of gun since as far back as you can remember…What was the first gun you do remember having?

Well to be truthful a Daisy BB gun, LOL. You could watch the BB fly through the air it was so slow. First real firearm was a H&R Topper JR. .410 gauge shotgun. Loved that little shotgun, and it took its share of game from rabbits, squirrels and quail.

You’ve done a lot of mods. What’s the easiest “do-it-yourself” modification that you could recommend as a first attempt for a newbie to help their gun shoot better?

I'd have to say the easiest would be to polish up the trigger group to get a smoother pull. I believe trigger pull and pull weight has a lot to do with the mechanics of good groups.

What’s the hardest modification you’ve ever done?

Hardest failed mod was reshaping a 10/22 extractor.
Hardest successful one was drilling and tapping the hammer and sear. But you have to remember that none of the mods are really overly hard to do, just nerve wracking to try some of them.

Is there any mod that you haven’t done yet, but maybe want to?

Yes, I want to mod my trigger to accept a Tonsion return spring setup, in order to try and get my pull weight even lighter. My CZ triggers have spoiled me.

CZs tend to spoil everyone they touch, that’s for sure. Hey, I noticed on your site, the rimfire handgun section is still under construction, but you list some of the ones you personally own… Do you shoot them as often as your rifles? Are you primarily a long gun shooter?

Well would have to say over the last year primarily a long gun shooter. I love my handguns though, just got hung up in this small group quest. I still have my 1st handgun a H&R 949.

Do you hunt? If so, what’s your favorite hunting season?

I only hunt nowadays when my daughter wants to go. Last year she killed her first deer with my sons .243. That was her first time to go and her first shot at a deer. Funny thing to me was she had shot it 1 time the day before for practice, and when she hit the bull at 50 yards with the first shot, I told her it was good enough. So then her 2nd shot ever with a CF she got her first deer.

Wow! Hope you got some pictures of that! She sounds like a natural! Kids are really the future of the shooting sport. Speaking of the future of shooting, what do you think the ’08 election is going to do for the gun enthusiast or hobbyist?

Would have to say that depends on who wins. With McCain, I don't think we will have a problem. Obama has already made it clear with his voting record he is an anti-gunner looking to take our 2nd Amendment rights away. So we could very well have a long hard battle against us with him.

Many people on several gun owner boards feel the same way. The biggest disagreement this election season seems to be Bolt action or semi-auto?... which one gets more RiggerLove?

Well lately with the super light trigger pull of the modified CZ Trainer , I'd have to say bolts. But I’ve been doing more with the auto's lately so that may change.

Speaking of preferences,…Scopes or irons? Got a personal favorite?

In order (with my eyes), scopes, dots and then irons which I seldom shoot nowadays unless at the broadside of a barn, LOL.


I completely understand about that! I’m getting new glasses tomorrow, myself. So, other than online matches, do you participate in other competitions?

Sadly there are no competitions around me close enough. This coming year I'd like to try my hand at the online USBR matches though.

I’d wish you good luck with that, but you probably don’t need it. In the meantime, what's your favorite target that's the most fun for you to plink?

I'd have to say cans still hold as my favorite. Though the excess cucumbers we had this last summer made for some fun reactive targets.

Ha! Well, thanks for spending some time answering a bunch of questions and letting us get to know you. Good luck with your site, and thanks again for gathering up all that info and making it so accessible to people who want to try their hand at some modifications that can make their firearms way more enjoyable!

Readers, be sure to stop by and check out Rigrat’s Place and if there’s something that you’re looking for and can’t find it there, Rigrat will undoubtedly know where to find it to help you out. You can contact him at Rigrat(at)Hughes.net.