Forced Reset Triggers
A forced reset trigger (FRT) is a drop-in AR-15 fire control group that uses the rifle’s own bolt carrier group to push the trigger forward after each shot, resetting it mechanically instead of waiting on the shooter’s finger. One pull still fires one round — only the reset is accelerated, and that distinction is what separates an FRT from a machine gun under federal law. Every AR-15 forced reset trigger here is a complete drop-in assembly, not a modified stock component.
What separates an FRT from a standard drop-in trigger
Standard AR-15 triggers rely on a spring to return the trigger forward, and the shooter controls how fast that happens. A forced reset design borrows energy from the bolt carrier as it travels rearward and returns to battery, mechanically driving the trigger forward against the finger. The result is a shorter, more consistent rhythm between shots without changing how many rounds each pull releases.
Comparing forced reset, binary and standard drop-in triggers
| Standard drop-in | Forced reset (FRT) | Binary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rounds per trigger pull | One | One | One on pull, one on release |
| What returns the trigger | Trigger spring | Bolt carrier group | Trigger spring |
| Finger must fully release to fire again | Yes | Yes | No |
| Federal status | Unrestricted | Legal following the May 2025 DOJ settlement | Not an NFA item |
| State restrictions | Rare | Banned in some states | Banned in some states |
Buyers most often weigh an FRT against a binary trigger. The two feel fast for different reasons: a binary releases a round on both the pull and the release, so one cycle of the finger produces two rounds, while an FRT releases one round per pull and simply returns the trigger to the shooter faster.
Will a forced reset trigger fit your AR-15?
These units are sized for a mil-spec AR-15 lower and secured with anti-walk pins, so they will not drop into every rifle. Fitment questions on owner forums come down to three things: whether the lower is genuinely mil-spec, whether the safety selector is a standard two-position or a three-position unit, and whether the rifle is running a short barrel. Because an FRT depends on bolt carrier speed, buffer weight, spring rate, gas port sizing and ammunition matter more than they would with a conventional trigger — shooters running 10.5″ uppers often adjust buffer weight before the trigger behaves consistently. The Para 15 Trigger specifications list what the unit ships with.
Where forced reset triggers stand legally
Forced reset triggers spent five years in litigation. In May 2025 the Department of Justice settled with Rare Breed Triggers, and the agency published notice that FRT-15 and Wide Open Trigger units would be returned to their owners — see the ATF’s own notice on the return of FRT-15s and WOTs.
Federal legality is not the whole picture. A number of states regulate or ban rapid-fire trigger activators outright, and those laws are unaffected by the settlement. Check your state and local laws before ordering, and keep your documentation with the rifle if you travel across state lines. We can’t advise on the law where you live.
Which AR-15 forced reset trigger we stock
This range centres on the Para 15, which ships with anti-walk pins and sits in the same class of hardware as Rare Breed’s FRT-15 and Wide Open Trigger designs; shoppers usually cross-shop all three on reset behaviour and price. If you are still deciding whether this platform suits your build, the Para 15 Trigger overview covers it in more depth.