About FAST Matches
FAST Matches (Firearms Action Shooting Trials) continues the tradition of long-stage outlaw multi-gun competition in a modern two-gun format (rifle and pistol).
Action shooting is a broad category of competitive shooting sports where time and accuracy determine the score. Shooters move through stages engaging targets at varying distances and positions, solving shooting problems as efficiently as possible. Major disciplines include IPSC, USPSA, IDPA, and PCSL, each built around the same core challenge: movement, marksmanship, and problem-solving under time pressure.
FAST Matches operate in the outlaw match tradition, meaning the events are not governed by a specific sanctioning body. That freedom allows stages to be designed around the strengths of each range facility and creates more complex shooting problems than standardized rulebooks often allow.
FAST Matches are built around a simple idea: challenging stages, practical shooting problems, and events worth training for. Major matches give shooters clear goals and meaningful benchmarks for improving their skills.
FAST events are organized in partnership with local clubs, training organizations, and industry supporters. This collaboration helps keep entry fees manageable while also providing prizes and support for match participants.
Founder
Russell Phagan founded FAST Matches in 2026 after more than two decades of involvement in competitive action shooting as both a competitor and match organizer.
Russell entered the sport in 2002 while working in the firearms industry, where he was encouraged to begin competing to sharpen his shooting skills and better understand the equipment his company produced. He has been competing ever since.
Over the years Russell has participated in many major outlaw multi-gun matches, including Ironman 3-Gun, Rocky Mountain 3-Gun, and Hard as Hell 3-Gun/2-Gun. Those experiences helped shape his perspective on what makes a major match both challenging and rewarding.
In 2004 Russell was one of the co-founders of the Trooper Division, a format now widely adopted in outlaw multi-gun matches. In 2006 he co-founded the Independence Day Action Rifle Match, which he helped run through 2011.
He has served in numerous roles supporting action shooting events over the years, most recently as Match Director for the US Brutality Matches from 2019 through 2025.