Federally legal again after the 2025 settlement — but banned in 15 states. Here's where they stand.
Forced Reset Triggers (FRT) in 2026: Legal Status & What to Buy
Are Forced Reset Triggers Legal in 2026?
Short version: at the federal level, yes. After years of ATF enforcement, forced reset triggers (FRTs) are federally legal again as of 2026. But your state is what decides whether you can actually own one — and 15 states plus D.C. ban them outright.
This guide covers where FRTs stand after the 2025 settlement, the difference between an FRT and a binary trigger, and which rapid-fire triggers you can actually buy today.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal Law | Legal |
| States Banned | 15 + D.C. |
| Contested | FL, VA |
| States Legal | 33 |
This is general information, not legal advice, and trigger law moves fast. Federal classification and state statutes change, and a device that is federally legal can still be a felony in your state. Confirm the current law where you live before buying, and consult an attorney if you are unsure. We are not lawyers.
What Actually Happened: The 2025 Settlement
Forced reset triggers were pulled into a multi-year legal fight. The ATF had classified the FRT-15 and similar devices as machine guns and seized them from owners and manufacturers.
That reversed in 2024–2025. The Fifth Circuit held in Rare Breed Triggers, LLC v. ATF that an FRT is not a machine gun, because it still fires only one round per function of the trigger. In May 2025, the Department of Justice settled with Rare Breed Triggers — the government agreed FRTs are not machine guns under the National Firearms Act and began returning seized units.
Why "one function of the trigger" is the whole ballgame: Under federal law a machine gun fires more than one round per single function of the trigger. An FRT mechanically resets the trigger fast, but the shooter still releases and re-engages it for every round — one function, one shot. That distinction is the entire legal basis for FRTs being federally legal today.
FRT vs. Binary Trigger — Not the Same Thing
These get lumped together as "rapid-fire triggers," but they work differently and are regulated separately:
- Forced Reset Trigger (FRT): Uses the bolt carrier's motion to forcibly reset the trigger after each shot, so it resets against your finger. One round per trigger function — the basis for its federal-legal status.
- Binary trigger: Fires one round when you pull and one when you release. Franklin Armory's BFSIII is the best-known example. Also generally legal federally, with its own separate state rules.
Both deliver a faster split time than a standard trigger, and both are banned in many of the same states.
Where They're Legal — And Where They're Not
Federal legality is only half the picture. State law is independent, and this is where people get in trouble.
FRT Legality — Share of U.S. Jurisdictions
50 states + D.C. = 51 total
| Item | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Legal (federal + state) | 65% |
| Banned (states + D.C.) | 31% |
| Contested (FL, VA) | 4% |
- Banned (15 states + D.C.): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington — plus Washington, D.C. These reach FRTs and binary triggers through "multiburst trigger activator," "trigger activator," or rate-of-fire statutes.
- Contested (2 states): Florida and Virginia have no statute that names FRTs, but broadly written device laws are read by some state firearms attorneys as covering them. Proceed carefully.
- Legal (33 states): Everywhere else permits them, as long as the underlying firearm is legal for you to own.
What You Can Actually Buy Today
GunPartPicker tracks the rapid-fire triggers that are actually in stock. Note: we list binary triggers — the most widely available fast-trigger option — since FRT supply is still ramping back up after the settlement.
Franklin Armory BFSIII — The Standard
The BFSIII binary system is the most proven and widely stocked option, with variants for most builds:
Another Binary Option
Binary mode has three positions: safe, semi-auto, and binary. If your state bans binary/FRT triggers, a standard high-quality trigger gets you a crisp, fast pull without the legal risk — and it's what most serious shooters run anyway.
If Your State Restricts Them: Buy a Great Standard Trigger
In a restricted state, a premium single- or two-stage trigger is the smart, legal upgrade. These are the community favorites:
The Bottom Line
Forced reset triggers are federally legal again as of 2026 — the 2025 settlement settled that. But 15 states and D.C. still ban FRTs and binary triggers alike, and Florida and Virginia are gray areas. Check your own state first. If you're clear, a binary trigger like the Franklin Armory BFSIII is the most available fast-trigger option; if you're not, a quality standard trigger is the upgrade that's legal everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
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