Binary Trigger vs Forced Reset Trigger

Have you heard of those "fun" triggers? The ones that seem to always be shrouded in a legal grey area and from a distance, it looks and sounds kind of like full auto fire? Yeah, we're talking about binary triggers and forced reset triggers today. But what are they and how do they work? Where's the trick here? In reality both are actually very different parts and both are a heck of a lot of fun! Let’s take a look at binary triggers vs. forced reset triggers (aka FRT). 

What is a Binary Trigger?

A binary trigger is a drop-in trigger that essentially allow you to fire two round with only one pull. No, this doesn't mean it's creating a burst fire mechanism. What's actually happening is that on the initial trigger pull, obviously we fire one round but it fires another round on the release when the trigger resets. Wild, right?

Binary triggers will engage the action not only on the trigger pull but also when we release the trigger. Make sense? Pull - Bang - Release - Bang - then the trigger settles and resets for next action.

What happens in a binary trigger is that the reset spring action works twice. One pull of the trigger equals two shots. Binary triggers will usually come as a 3-position trigger, meaning there's three positions your safety lever can point towards: safe, semi and binary.

Is a binary trigger legal?

Yeah, they actually are. Better grab one before the ATF changes their mind like they seem to often be doing with lots of firearm parts these days. By legal definition, binary triggers do not mechanically turn AR15's into machine guns as such cannot be regulated by the  Gun Control Act or National Firearms Act. 

Binary Trigger Pros

The pros of the binary trigger are very simple - exceptional rate of fire and ease of sending more rounds downrange in less time. If you want to shoot fast then this is a great way to do it!  AR-15 binary triggers are usually drop-in and very easy to install! Fear not AK fans! AK Binary triggers are also available from companies such as  Fostech. If you mainly run AR's like us, well, I've personally been eyeing the BFSIII AR-S1 from Franklin Armory for quite some time now. 

Binary Trigger Cons

Safety could be a concern if one is not familiar with the mechanism. Inexperienced shooters might think the round has fired, release the trigger and the weapon will fire again, causing undue negligent discharges. It could be easy to lose track of how many rounds the gun has fired if a shooter is going faster than their skill level can control. Be very vigilant with safety when using these triggers. Binary triggers also have more moving parts as well which could potentially make them not as reliable as traditional triggers, but that is also brand dependent. 

What is a Forced Reset Trigger?

A forced reset trigger does exactly what it sounds. It forces the trigger to reset. So when you pull the trigger, there is an extra spring (compared to traditional AR triggers) that pushes your trigger forward, back to the 'start' position which allows you to fire your subsequent shots much quicker. So, hypothetically, if you maintain constant pressure on the trigger it will continually force the trigger forward (resetting it) and you could keep firing which is why the ATF did not like this product.

Are FRT triggers legal?

Forced Reset Triggers are something both the shooting community and ATF have been up in arms about in the past year. After a marketing video was posted by  Rare Breed Triggers, who patented the first FRT, the ATF started paying close attention to the company and this type of product - making the arbitrary statement that the FRT is illegal to sell or own as they deemed it to have met the qualification of a machine gun under federal law. More on this below.

Forced Reset Trigger Pros

Incredible fire rate sound like fun? It certainly is! With a forced reset trigger you have less moving parts than a binary trigger which makes it far more reliable.

Forced Reset Trigger Cons

Forced reset triggers will need tuning and a heavy buffer on your AR-15, as well as a full auto bolt carrier group. You don't need to be a gunsmith to install any of these parts but we recommend it for best results. Can't buy it anymore.

ATF Ruling on Forced Reset Triggers

Enter the beloved and revered ATF to spoil everyone’s fun as per the norm. On March 25th, 2022 the ATF raided Rare Breed Trigger’s vendor and inhibited them from shipping triggers. Currently, the ATF is trying to classify these  triggers themselves as a machine gun. The ATF issued an open letter to Federal Firearms Licensees on March 22 of this year. If you don’t have the time or inclination the read the letter about Forced Reset Triggers, the important part is below:

“ATF’s examination found that some FRT devices allow a firearm to automatically expel more than one shot with a single, continuous pull of the trigger. For this reason, ATF has concluded that FRTs that function in this way are a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and hence, ATF has classified these devices as a ‘machine gun’ as defined by the NFA and GCA.”

“Accordingly, ATF’s position is that any FRT that allows a firearm to automatically expel more than one shot with a single, continuous pull of the trigger is a ‘machine gun,’ and is accordingly subject to the GCA prohibitions regarding the possession, transfer, and transport of machine guns. They are also subject to registration, transfer, taxation, and possession restrictions under the NFA.”

Obviously this letter is intentionally left vague and currently is being fought with multiple lawsuits - including one brought by Rare Breed Triggers. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) responded to the ATF’s letter saying:

“The ATF letter does not advise industry which brands and does not inform FFLs what they are to do if they are in possession of these items. NSSF will be pressing ATF to provide the guidance necessary in order for FFLs to be in compliance and not at risk of a ‘zero tolerance’ revocation.”

Firearms Policy Coalition was not nearly as subtle with their response: “This latest effort by the ATF to punish and stoke fear among peaceable people who purchase protected-arms components specifically designed to comply with federal law is further proof of the agency’s abusive overreach of statutory and constitutional bounds and a manic desire to expand its dominion.”

So is a Forced Reset Trigger legal? As of now, they are not. With the  ATF showing up at people's doorsteps confiscating their purchased products, it's just not a good idea. Rare Breed Triggers are currently still embroiled in their lawsuit against the ATF and if you go to Wide Open Triggers' site, you can't buy from them either. So far, it doesn't look very hopeful for FRT's.

Which One Should I Choose for My Gun?

Due to the legal issues surrounding forced reset triggers, you're better off buying a binary trigger which has been deemed legal to own and use in your AR-15. 

Thanks for spending a bit of your day with your buddies here at  5D Tactical. We really appreciate it and hope this article helped clear up some common misconceptions with binary triggers vs. forced reset triggers. Check out our build kits while you are here and consider building a new AR-15 for that drop-in binary trigger you're about to get!