diff --git a/MiSTer.ini b/MiSTer.ini
index ff4c453..2a854e5 100644
--- a/MiSTer.ini
+++ b/MiSTer.ini
@@ -342,7 +342,10 @@ vrr_vesa_framerate=0
 ; disable autofire if for some reason it's not required and accidentally triggered
 disable_autofire=0
 
-; custom autofire rates (in hertz). up to five allowed.
+; allow autofire on directional inputs. typically not recommended. default is 0 (disabled).
+;autofire_on_directions=1
+
+; custom autofire rates (in hertz). will round to nearest rate that divides evenly into 60hz.
 ; can also use literal bit patterns for on/off cycles, i.e. 0b00111. each bit is one frame.
 ;autofire_rates=10,0b00111,20,30
 
diff --git a/autofire.cpp b/autofire.cpp
index 3f2f5c9..dcb94b5 100644
--- a/autofire.cpp
+++ b/autofire.cpp
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@
     actual_refresh / 60 * autofire_rate_hz == real_autofire_rate_hz
 */
 
-#define MAX_AF_CODES 16
-#define MAX_AF_RATES 6
+#define MAX_AF_CODES 32
+#define MAX_AF_RATES 32
 #define AF_NAME_LEN 32
 
 // global autofire cycle data.
@@ -51,13 +51,11 @@ static struct AutofireData autofiredata_default[MAX_AF_RATES]; // hardcoded fall
 static int num_af_rates_default = 0;
 static int num_af_rates = 0;
 
-
 int get_autofire_rate_count()
 {
 	return num_af_rates;
 }
 
-
 static void set_autofire_name(struct AutofireData *data, const char *base_name) {
 	float hz = data->cycle_length > 0 ? (60.0f / data->cycle_length) : 0.0f;
 	if (base_name && base_name[0]) {
@@ -114,7 +112,6 @@ void set_autofire_code(int player, uint32_t code, uint32_t mask, int index, bool
 	}
 }
 
-
 // step autofire rate; wrap to disabled at max.
 void inc_autofire_code(int player, uint32_t code, uint32_t mask) {
 	if (get_autofire_locked(player, code)) return;
@@ -125,16 +122,6 @@ void inc_autofire_code(int player, uint32_t code, uint32_t mask) {
 	set_autofire_code(player, code, mask, index);
 }
 
-// advance all autofire patterns (run once per frame)
-//void autofire_tick() {
-//    for (int i = 1; i < num_af_rates; i++)
-//    {
-        //autofiredata[i].bit = (autofiredata[i].cycle_mask >> autofiredata[i].frame_count) & 1u;
-        //if (++(autofiredata[i].frame_count) >= autofiredata[i].cycle_length)
-        //    autofiredata[i].frame_count = 0;
-//    }
-//}
-
 // returns whether the buttons for this code should be held or released this frame.
 // (updated every time we call autofire_tick)
 bool get_autofire_bit(int player, uint32_t code, uint32_t frame_count) {
@@ -179,8 +166,11 @@ bool is_autofire_enabled(int player, uint32_t code) {
 // some arcade shooters have pretty odd optimal autofire patterns to manage rank
 // let's hide them here for my shmup buddies
 static const struct AutofireData autofire_patterns[] = {
-	{ "GUNFRONTIER", 0b111100000ULL, 9 },
-	{ "GAREGGA", 0b1110000ULL, 7 },
+	{ "GUNFRONTIER", 0b000001111ULL, 9 }, // gun frontier raises rank really fast in response to autofire. this is the fastest
+										  // you can fire without it triggering a rate increase
+	{ "GAREGGA", 0b0000111ULL, 7 }, 	  // i trusted google that battle garegga likes this rate but i'm terrified of the game
+										  // so please let me know if i'm wrong
+
 };
 
 // helper for formatting binary literal patterns.
@@ -212,6 +202,10 @@ static void init_autofire_entry(struct AutofireData *data, uint64_t mask, int le
 	if (data->cycle_length < 1) data->cycle_length = 1;
 }
 
+// this will always result in an autofire rate that divides evenly into 60hz
+// could probably revisit and use a couple different algorithms to allow approximations
+// of non-divisible rates but the working theory was to keep this code easy to read
+// and if anybody needs something more complicated, fall back on a custom bitmask
 static inline struct AutofireData mask_from_hertz(double hz_target)
 {
     struct AutofireData p = {{0}, 0, 0};
diff --git a/cfg.cpp b/cfg.cpp
index f5ff477..4214031 100644
--- a/cfg.cpp
+++ b/cfg.cpp
@@ -133,8 +133,9 @@ static const ini_var_t ini_vars[] =
 	{ "DEBUG", (void *)(&(cfg.debug)), UINT8, 0, 1 },
 	{ "LOOKAHEAD", (void *)(&(cfg.lookahead)), UINT8, 0, 3 },
 	{ "MAIN", (void*)(&(cfg.main)), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.main) - 1 },
-	{"VFILTER_INTERLACE_DEFAULT", (void*)(&(cfg.vfilter_interlace_default)), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.vfilter_interlace_default) - 1 },
+	{ "VFILTER_INTERLACE_DEFAULT", (void*)(&(cfg.vfilter_interlace_default)), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.vfilter_interlace_default) - 1 },
 	{ "AUTOFIRE_RATES", (void *)(&(cfg.autofire_rates)), STRING, 0, sizeof(cfg.autofire_rates) - 1 },
+	{ "AUTOFIRE_ON_DIRECTIONS", (void *)(&(cfg.autofire_on_directions)), UINT8, 0, 1 },
 
 };
 
diff --git a/cfg.h b/cfg.h
index 762ae2d..8e4b6df 100644
--- a/cfg.h
+++ b/cfg.h
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ typedef struct {
 	uint8_t lookahead;
 	char main[1024];
 	char vfilter_interlace_default[1023];
-	char autofire_rates[256];
+	char autofire_rates[3072];
+	uint8_t autofire_on_directions;
 
 } cfg_t;
 
diff --git a/input.cpp b/input.cpp
index 1389006..4815596 100644
--- a/input.cpp
+++ b/input.cpp
@@ -1915,20 +1915,25 @@ static bool handle_autofire_toggle(int num, uint32_t mask, uint32_t code, char p
 		}
 		return false;
 	}
+	const char *dir_bnames[] = { "Right", "Left", "Down", "Up" };
 
 	// we can only get here if the OSD or BTN_TGL keys were pressed
 	// in that event we see if lastmask/lastcode tells us we're holding a button
 	// and if we are, we toggle autofire for that button
 	if (!user_io_osd_is_visible() && press && !cfg.disable_autofire)
 	{
-		if ((lastcode[num] && lastmask[num] && (lastmask[num] & 0xF) == 0)) // don't allow enabling autofire on directions
+		if (lastcode[num] && lastmask[num] && (cfg.autofire_on_directions || (lastmask[num] & 0xF) == 0))
 		{
 			char *strat = str;
 			inc_autofire_code(num, lastcode[num], lastmask[num]);
 			
 			// display autofire status for each button in the mask
 			FOR_EACH_SET_BIT(lastmask[num], btn) {
-				strat += sprintf(strat, "%s\n", joy_bnames[btn-4]);
+				if (btn < 4) {
+					strat += sprintf(strat, "%s ", dir_bnames[btn]);
+				} else {
+					strat += sprintf(strat, "%s\n", joy_bnames[btn-4]);
+				}
 			}
 
 			const char *rate = get_autofire_rate_hz_button(num, lastcode[num]);
@@ -5948,7 +5953,6 @@ int input_poll(int getchar)
 	static uint32_t last_frame_count = 0;
 	if (FRAME_TICK(last_frame_count)) {
 		key_update_frames_held();
-		//autofire_tick(); 	// advance all autofire patterns by 1
 	}
 
 	int ret = input_test(getchar);