Reevaluating the Need for Full-Auto Ratings in the Industry

In the firearms world you see lots of ratings.  In the collector world, the NRA rating on surplus firearms was the standard.  When it comes to modern sporting rifles and accessories, you see a lot of parts and firearms rated for “full auto”.  What does this mean exactly?  Is there a standard?  As it turns out, there is not.  Since the implementation of the National Firearms Act of 1934, true full auto machine guns have been virtually unattainable to the general population.  With the advent of Forced Reset Triggers (FRTs), the gun world now has access to fire rates similar to machine guns that anyone can own.

This means there needs to be a standard when it comes to the rating system.  Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical, we understand that “standard systems” are rare in the gun world.  Whether it is the placement of the serial number, manufacturer, caliber, or something else, almost nothing is standard in the firearms industry.  While for things like that standardization would be nice, it is not necessary.  When it comes to firearm rating systems, we should create one.  Just like cars have J.D. Power ratings or Consumer Reports that are considered standard ratings for those products, we desperately need some form of this in the gun world.

Take the most recent Hi-Point HP-15 AR-15 variant rifle in production.  It is a budget AR-15 variant designed to be affordable to everyone.  If you were to put one of our Post-Sample registered machine gun M-16 lowers on this upper, would it hold up? In the old days, that would not really matter as the availability for people to get access to actual full auto firearms was limited by law and price.  Now, with FRTs, everything has changed.  Since you can mimic full auto fire, the rating system the gun industry utilizes for safety and quality should be well defined.

This change would ensure the safety of the shooter, accuracy of the manufacturer’s listings, and help guide the consumer to the right tool for them.  Often, especially when looking at suppressors, if you look at the fine print on “full auto rated” you will see the rating test was done with limited ammo, or with long breaks between shoots.  This skews the rating a bit and for the longest time manufacturers could get away with it.

Most of the major manufacturers are fine.  Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical, we had a Griffin Armament Recce 5K 5.56 can on a M16, and it is still running.  This is a great testament to the manufacturing of this suppressor as our rental guns take a beating.  This can, has over 6,000 rounds through it to date.  This is all to say that there does need to be some standards the public can trust and go by. 

We are at a crossroads in the firearm industry for a multitude of reasons.  Whether it is laws, regulations, or standards, the rate at which the firearm industry is progressing many things have not caught up.  As things like Forced Reset Triggers get more advanced and prominent, it will force the industry as a whole to adopt industry-wide standards.  It is an exciting time in the firearms industry, it will be exciting  to see where it goes from here.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube Channel @2ifbyseatactical and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance.

Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ready.