FAST Matches Opens Auto-Rifle Division for NFA and FRT Guns
Firearms Action Shooting Trials has created a new Auto-Rifle division for competitors running registered NFA full-autos or FRT-equipped rifles. The move opens competition to a gun owner demographic most mainstream 2-gun and 3-gun series actively exclude. Shooters must field either a registered machine gun or an FRT-paired rifle with a heavy barrel or belt-fed configuration. This is the first major action-shooting organization to formalize a competitive pathway for these platforms.
Key Details
- New Auto-Rifle division added to FAST match roster effective immediately
- Entry requirements: registered NFA full-auto or FRT-equipped rifle with heavy barrel/belt-fed setup
- Other 2-gun and 3-gun series have historically refused to sanction FRT or machine gun competition due to liability and regulatory concerns
- Matches combine speed shooting with accuracy—standard FAST scoring applies across divisions
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
If you own a legal pre-86 machine gun or invested in an FRT upper, you've had nowhere legitimate to shoot matches. Most Action Pistol and 3-Gun clubs won't touch NFA or FRT platforms—liability insurance and ATF relations keep them off the line. FAST's decision removes that barrier. You can now validate trigger control, reload speed, and target transitions under competitive pressure with the same gun you train with or carry an FRT on a defensive rifle. This legitimizes both platforms in the eyes of the broader shooting community and provides hard data on reliability and performance. For pre-86 registered machine gun owners especially, this is rare competitive opportunity outside private ranges.
DownRange Analysis
FAST's move signals confidence that FRT competition and machine gun matches clear regulatory scrutiny. Other series will watch closely—if FAST maintains clean insurance and ATF compliance, competitors follow. The auto-rifle division also builds community around FRT adoption just as legal and political pressure on the trigger continues. Owning an FRT stops being purely defensive and becomes a legitimate competition platform. For pre-86 machine gun owners, this adds tangible value to registered transferables. Expect enrollment data to show whether FRT shooters treat this as a one-off novelty or as serious competitive commitment. If participation climbs, other match series face business pressure to add similar divisions.
