Are forced reset triggers illegal?
Short answer: it depends on the specific device, the jurisdiction, and the current posture of the relevant litigation, but under current federal law the status is unsettled and highly fact-specific. After Garland v. Cargill, 602 U.S. ___ (2024), ATF’s bump-stock rule was invalidated as exceeding statutory authority, and the government thereafter entered a settlement in the Rare Breed litigation that provides for return of certain FRTs and limits future enforcement with respect to covered devices.[1][5]
Bottom line
FRTs are not categorically “legal” or “illegal” in every setting.
At the federal level, the key question is whether a particular FRT falls within the statutory definition of “machinegun” under 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b) and related provisions of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 921-931, which turn on whether the firearm can shoot “automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.”[2][4]
What the current materials show
1. ATF had treated some FRTs as machineguns
The CRS material explains that ATF issued a 2022 letter classifying some FRTs as machineguns because they allow a firearm to expel more than one shot with a single, continuous pull of the trigger.[2] The Northern District of Texas likewise described ATF warnings stating that certain FRTs had been classified as machineguns and that possession could be a felony.[3]
2. A federal court in Texas preliminarily rejected ATF’s classification
In the NAGR litigation, the Northern District of Texas granted preliminary relief against ATF’s position, explaining that the FRT mechanism reset the trigger after each shot and that the plaintiffs had raised substantial questions about whether the devices fit the statutory definition.[3]
3. The government later settled related FRT litigation
The Department of Justice announced a settlement resolving multiple FRT-related cases, and ATF later said it would return certain seized FRT-15s and WOTs that qualify as “eligible FRTs.”[1][5] The ATF notice also confirms that certain “machinegun conversion devices,” such as switches, drop-in auto sears, and lightning links, are not covered by that return program.[5]
Practical takeaway
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Are all FRTs illegal under federal law? | No categorical answer; the law is not that simple. |
| Are some device types still clearly illegal? | Yes. Traditional machinegun conversion devices remain unlawful under federal law.[5] |
| Can an FRT create legal risk? | Absolutely. Ownership, transfer, transport, and use can trigger serious federal and state issues depending on the device and jurisdiction.[2][3][5] |
Caution on state law
Even if a particular FRT is not being treated as a federal machinegun in a given context, state law may still prohibit possession, transfer, or manufacture. The ATF’s own return guidance says FRTs will not be returned to jurisdictions where they are illegal to possess.[5]
Conclusion
For federal purposes, the current record suggests that some FRTs are being treated differently from traditional machinegun conversion devices, but their legality remains contested and device-specific rather than universally settled.[1][2][3][5] If you want, I can give you a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction assessment for Indiana and the Seventh Circuit or a federal-law risk chart for possession, transfer, and manufacture.