June 2026 // Updated November 2026 // By Carl Woodard
After years of ATF seizures, federal litigation, and a Supreme Court ruling that changed the game, forced reset triggers have been legal under federal law since the May 2025 DOJ settlement. Here's the full breakdown: what an FRT is, how the legal fight ended, where the state challenge stands, what's on the market, and what to check before you buy.
Federal status as of November 2026: FRTs are not classified as machine guns under federal law following the May 13, 2025 DOJ settlement with Rare Breed Triggers. Roughly 15 states plus D.C. still prohibit or restrict them. A multistate challenge to the settlement was filed in June 2025. Verify your state before purchasing.
A forced reset trigger, or FRT, is a drop-in trigger group for semi-automatic platforms, mainly the AR-15. It uses the rearward travel of the bolt carrier group to mechanically push the trigger forward after each shot. On a standard trigger, your finger moves forward to reset it. With an FRT, the BCG does that work for you.
The result: a trained shooter can run much faster splits than a standard semi-auto trigger allows, while still pulling the trigger once per shot. That distinction, one deliberate trigger pull per round fired, is the core of the legal argument that FRTs are not machine guns.
Binary trigger: fires one round on pull and one on release. Legal federally; several states restrict them.
Bump stock: uses the shooter's body momentum to repeatedly engage a standard trigger. The ATF banned them by rule in 2019, and the Supreme Court reversed that in 2024. It's a stock accessory, not a trigger.
Forced reset trigger: mechanically resets the trigger using BCG energy. One trigger pull per round. No release-fire. The debate came down to whether that mechanical reset counted as "automatic fire." The courts said no.
A machine gun fires more than one round per single function of the trigger. An FRT requires a separate, deliberate trigger pull for every round. That's the distinction the DOJ accepted in the May 2025 settlement.
Full FRT: replaces your entire fire control group with a self-contained cassette. The Triggered Co. Disruptor and the Rare Breed FRT-15 are full cassette designs. They typically require an M16-profile BCG and an H2 buffer minimum.
FRS (Forced Reset Selector / Super Safety): replaces only your safety selector and works with your existing mil-spec trigger. The AS Designs Arc-Fire V2 is an FRS design with a three-position selector (Safe, Semi, Enhanced). Generally cheaper and compatible with more platforms.
Both types are federally legal following the settlement. Pick based on your trigger preference, platform, and whether you want a standard semi-auto mode separate from the FRT function.
The FRT fight touched the ATF, federal district courts, the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court's reasoning in Cargill. Here's the sequence.
The DOJ settlement resolved the federal question. It didn't touch state law. This is where buyers get caught, assuming "federally legal" means legal everywhere. It doesn't.
The multistate challenge to the settlement (New Jersey v. Bondi) is the case that could change things. A ruling against the federal government could affect FRT availability even in states that don't ban them. Treat federal legality as settled for now, but not guaranteed forever.
Five manufacturers have reached production scale. Prices below were current when this post was first published. Check the manufacturer before ordering.
| Manufacturer | Product | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Triggered Co. (fmr. Partisan Triggers) | Disruptor FRT | Full FRT | $299.99 | Proven cassette design; ambi variant $324.99 |
| AS Designs | Arc-Fire V2 | FRS Selector | $249.99 | Shipping since May 2026; works with existing trigger |
| Atrius | FRS Super Safety | FRS Selector | $249 | Ambi; 3-position selector |
| Trinity Trigger | Trinity FRT | Full FRT | Varies | Verify current availability |
| Delta Team Tactical | DTT FRT | Full FRT | Varies | Budget entry point; verify specs |
Rare Breed sued over the Partisan Disruptor design. Its request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction was reportedly denied on February 13, 2026, so the Disruptor remains on sale while the case continues.
M16-profile bolt carrier group. Standard AR-15 BCGs have the shelf machined away that the FRT's locking bar needs to contact. An M16-cut BCG provides that surface. Running an M16-profile BCG in a semi-auto AR-15 is legal; the BCG profile itself isn't regulated.
H2 buffer minimum, H3 recommended under 16 inches. Faster cycling puts more energy into the buffer system. Follow the manufacturer's buffer spec.
FRS selector designs (Arc-Fire V2, Atrius) are usually less hardware-demanding. Check compatibility for your lower and BCG before ordering.
That depends on the sanctioning body and division rules. Most rulebooks haven't caught up yet. Ask your match director before you show up with one. For the range, check posted rules; some ranges set their own rate-of-fire policies.
No. An FRT is a trigger group, not a firearm, not an NFA item, and not serialized. No Form 4 and no federal registration. It ships like any other rifle part to states where it's legal.
Reputable manufacturers check your shipping state before dispatch. Don't buy or possess one in a state where it's prohibited; some states treat possession as a felony.
The main platform is a standard AR-15 with a mil-spec trigger pocket. Full cassettes are built for mil-spec lowers and usually need an M16-profile BCG.
FRS designs like the Arc-Fire V2 work on a wider range of platforms. PCCs and non-standard builds vary, so check the manufacturer's tested list for your exact setup.
SIG MCX platforms have shown light primer strikes with some FRT designs. Check your host against the manufacturer's tested list before buying.
On June 9, 2025, fifteen states and the District of Columbia filed New Jersey v. Bondi in federal court in Maryland. They're challenging the DOJ's settlement under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing the government reversed course without proper analysis or notice-and-comment.
According to Texas Gun Rights, the court has ruled the states lack standing to sue Rare Breed and Texas Gun Rights directly. The claims against the federal government are the part to watch. A ruling there could affect FRT availability nationwide.
Our take: if you're in a state where FRTs are legal, you can buy one with confidence today. Just know this isn't fully settled, and keep an eye on that case.
// Legion Precision Weapon Systems