What Is an FRT Trigger? FRT Meaning, How It Works & Is It Legal
Trigger Education · 2026
What Is an FRT Trigger?
FRT stands for Forced Reset Trigger — a drop-in trigger system that uses your rifle's bolt carrier group to mechanically reset the trigger after every shot, enabling faster semi-automatic fire without modifying how your rifle fires.
FForcedThe trigger is pushed forward mechanically
RResetThe trigger resets after every shot
TTriggerDrop-in cassette replaces your FCG
Mechanics
How Does an FRT Trigger Work?
The difference comes down to one step in the firing cycle. Here's how a standard trigger compares to an FRT:
Standard Mil-Spec Trigger:
1
Pull trigger → hammer falls → round fires
2
BCG travels rearward, cocks the hammer
3
You release the trigger forward until you feel the reset click
4
Pull again to fire the next round
FRT Trigger:
1
Pull trigger → hammer falls → round fires
2
BCG travels rearward under gas pressure
3
The BCG physically contacts the FRT mechanism and pushes the trigger forward — reset happens mechanically
4
Trigger is already reset before bolt returns to battery — if you maintain pressure, it fires again immediately
↑ This is the only difference. One mechanical step, completely different speed ceiling.
The result: follow-up fire limited only by how fast your rifle cycles — not how fast your trigger finger can release and re-press. The Partisan Disruptor recorded cyclic rates around 1,150 rounds per minute in FRT mode.
Legal Status
Is an FRT Trigger Legal?
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Federally Legal — May 2025The DOJ settled all FRT litigation in May 2025, formally ending federal machine gun enforcement. No NFA paperwork, no tax stamp, no registration required.
The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Garland v. Cargill (June 2024) established that devices requiring a separate trigger function per shot are not machine guns under the NFA. FRT triggers fire exactly one round per trigger function — legally identical to any semi-automatic firearm.
State law varies. Several states maintain independent restrictions — currently California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and DC. Always verify your state laws before purchasing.
FRT stands for Forced Reset Trigger. The name describes the mechanism precisely — the trigger reset is forced mechanically by the bolt carrier group rather than relying on the shooter to release it manually.
An FRT gun refers to any firearm equipped with a forced reset trigger. Most commonly an AR-15 fitted with an FRT cassette like the Partisan Disruptor, though FRT systems also exist for the Taurus TX22 and AK-pattern rifles.
No. A full-auto firearm fires continuously with a single trigger function. An FRT fires one round per trigger function. If you hold the trigger fixed and prevent reset, the rifle malfunctions. The Supreme Court and federal courts confirmed FRTs are semi-automatic under the law.
A forced reset trigger uses the bolt carrier group's rearward movement to mechanically push the trigger forward and reset it after each shot. This removes the manual trigger release from the firing cycle, allowing dramatically faster follow-up shots limited only by the rifle's BCG cycle speed.
FRT triggers range from $249 to $499 depending on brand and model. The Partisan Disruptor is $299 from ARTakedownTool.com — best value from an authorized dealer, with a free AR Takedown Tool included.
Two things: an M16-profile BCG (required for the reset mechanism to contact the trigger correctly) and an H2 buffer minimum (required for correct dwell timing). A standard AR-15 BCG and carbine buffer will not support reliable FRT operation. Our Partisan Bundle includes both matched to the trigger.
An FRT replaces your entire trigger group with a self-contained cassette. A Super Safety replaces only the safety selector and works with your existing trigger. Both achieve forced reset via BCG interaction. FRTs are more consistent since the reset mechanism is self-contained. Super Safeties cost less and let you keep your existing trigger.
