What are binary triggers and should you use them in your competition rifle or home defense weapon?
Ever wanted to use up your ammunition more quickly? There are other ways to burn through rounds besides getting a registered machine gun and taking out a second mortgage on your house.
Your ability to send lead downrange more quickly is enhanced by a binary trigger. They also don’t require the cumbersome paperwork that goes along with purchasing a Tommy Gun, which is an added bonus.
But do they merit it? And are they legal?
Let’s examine these contentious aftermarket accessories more closely.
Table of Contents
What is a Binary Trigger?
A unique kind of semi-automatic trigger called a binary trigger, also known as an echo trigger or double tap trigger, enables you to significantly increase your rate of fire. A binary trigger has two modes of firing in contrast to a typical semi-auto trigger. Like any boring old semi-automatic weapon, the first setting allows you to fire off a single round each time you pull the trigger. .
However, you can switch into binary mode by simply flicking a switch. When you press the trigger in binary mode, a single round fires. When the trigger is let go, another round then discharges.
Some firearms have binary triggers installed right out of the box. These triggers are, however, more frequently used as a direct replacement for your factory trigger.
How Does a Binary Trigger Work?
When you’re shooting a semi-auto trigger, a handy little mechanism called the “sear” holds the hammer back until the right amount of pressure has been applied to the trigger. As soon as that occurs, the sear opens, striking the hammer against the firing pin.
A shot is then fired when the firing pin makes contact with the cartridge primer. The bolt cycles back after the weapon fires in order to reset the hammer. As a result, automatic fire is stopped at this point by a disconnector connected to the sear, which holds the hammer in place until the trigger is released. The next time the trigger is pulled, the weapon is prepared to fire once more.
In binary mode, a trigger uses two distinct sears. After pulling the trigger and firing a shot, the hammer recooks and the disconnector seizes it to stop automatic fire (just like it does in semi-auto mode). A second sear seizes the hammer and holds it back until the trigger is released. This second sear releases the hammer, allowing the next round to be fired when the trigger is pulled back.
The shooter can switch the trigger back to semi-auto if the trigger is in binary mode and he or she decides they do not want the second shot to be fired when the trigger is released.
Are Binary Triggers Legal?
In terms of federal law, they are legitimate.
At least for now.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) has approved binary triggers as of the time this article was written, albeit probably reluctantly.
Any firearm that can fire one round with a single pull of the trigger is considered a semi-auto by the BATF. A binary trigger only discharges one round per trigger movement—one when it is pulled to the rear and one when it is reset. A binary trigger is considered semi-automatic because these are two distinct trigger manipulations.
Binary triggers also do not fall under the umbrella of the 2018 federal “Bump Stock Ban.” The restriction covers add-ons that let semi-automatic weapons fire a steady stream of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger.
Weapons with a binary trigger are not considered “machine guns.” They do not function like bump stocks, and they don’t qualify as “fully automatic.” The implication is that binary triggers are not NFA items.
In fact, using a binary trigger is one of the few legal ways to quicken your firing rate without violating the National Firearms Act.
State Regulations
Despite BATF’s approval, some states have stricter laws regarding binary triggers. Some laws are pretty ambiguous, even though they might be read to include binary triggers in their prohibitions. There might be some ambiguities in some state laws that could be interpreted in either direction. Furthermore, how the law is applied is crucial.
For example, while binary triggers are not technically illegal in Texas, some local law enforcement agencies consider them “machine gun parts” (which is probably proof of their general ignorance of firearms and how they work). Texas does not allow the possession of machine gun parts, auto sears, or other automatic weapon parts, with the exception of those that were produced before 1986 and are registered with the BATF.
So, if you’re running a binary trigger on your AR and a neighbor misinterprets your rapid mag dump as a “machine gun” fire and then calls the law, you could be in trouble.
It would take far more time and mental effort than I have available to fully comprehend all the nuances of state firearms laws. In particular, it seems that these laws change more frequently than the typical adolescent boy switches underwear.
Moreover, I’m not a lawyer.
Be sure to check all current federal, state, and local gun laws in your area before looking for a binary trigger.
However, to save you some time here is a partial list of states that say “no” to binary triggers.
- California
- Connecticut
- only for rifles) Delaware Binary triggers for pistols are legal)
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
States with vague legislation that could be interpreted to include binary triggers:
- Florida
- Idaho
What Are the Practical Uses of Binary Triggers?
Although a few businesses produce their own binary triggers, Franklin Armory’s BFSIII is unquestionably the most well-known. In their ARs, HKs, ACRs, AKs, and even 10/22s, many shooters like to use some variation of the BFSIII.
According to Franklin Armory, their binary trigger is “ideal for both tactical and competition use.”
They appear to be supported by a large number of shooting experts.
The Binary Trigger for Competition Shooting
The shooter using a binary trigger ought to have an advantage over one not using one since speed is the second most crucial element in competition success. In a timed competition, the shooter who completes the most shots in the least amount of time should be declared the winner.
But that’s not entirely accurate.
While speed is unquestionably important, accuracy is the key to winning a competition. If your shots miss their intended target, it really doesn’t matter how quickly you can execute them.
In addition, you won’t even be permitted to use a binary trigger in the majority of shooting competitions, such as USPSA and IDPA.
Binary Triggers for Tactical and Self-Defense Shooting
So what about “tactical use?”
A binary trigger can definitely be used for a double tap or hammer pair. (This occurs when the shooter fires two rounds at the same target quickly.) With this method, the shooter can squeeze off the second shot without first acquiring a stable sight picture. In essence, a binary trigger could be used in the same manner to fire two shots from the same sight picture. With or without a binary trigger, it really only functions at closer ranges where recoil won’t seriously misdirect the second round.
The issue is that the majority of people aren’t even aware of how to use a standard trigger correctly (I’m definitely still working on it). Every time you pull the trigger, add another shot, and your form will likely quickly deteriorate.
Particularly in a situation requiring self-defense, I personally prefer to have complete control over every round I discharge.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think using a binary trigger makes it impossible to maintain positive control over your shots. Just a little practice will do, especially if you struggle to consistently control a standard trigger. You’ll require a solid foundation in shooting techniques.
I will at least concede that a binary trigger could have a powerful psychological effect on “bad guys.” I believe a powerful deterrent would be provided by what would appear to be a full-auto spray of ammunition approaching you at a dizzying 3200 feet per second.
Do You Need a Binary Trigger?
We gun owners occasionally forget that shooting is simply enjoyable because we are so preoccupied with defending the usefulness of our weapons for sport or self-defense.
As the old saying goes, “Jack becomes a dull boy when he spends all of his time working.”
Sending an absurd amount of lead downrange is one of the most gratifying, enjoyable, or downright soul-healing forms of fun there is.
Need is a pretty strong word.
But, you know what? My neighbor also doesn’t really need that sports car parked in his garage. He can travel to work in a dull, outdated Toyota Camry just fine. A 650 horsepower V-8 engine has absolutely no practical application. especially since my neighbor, who is a great guy, might break the law with all those horses under the hood.
Binary triggers resemble sports cars in some ways. A go-fast gun provides the same rush of adrenaline and pure enjoyment as a go-fast car. Even when the full potential is restricted by range restrictions and traffic laws, there is some primal part of our bodies that experiences a high from pure speed and power.
These triggers are just one of the many AR-15 components you can swap in and out to customize your tool to meet your needs. At the end of the day, why not install one if you like it or find it useful?
Binary Triggers Vs Bump Stocks
Although both achieve rapid-fire and have a relatively simple installation procedure, bump fire stocks and binary triggers are very different from one another.
A bump stock uses the gun’s recoil to push the upper and lower receiver backward towards the stock, which causes the weapon to cycle and keeps firing while your finger stays in place on a “cover” near the trigger guard. A semi-automatic weapon can sound like a fully automatic weapon because of the way the gun moves, which causes the trigger to hit your finger quickly.
Stock bumps are now forbidden. The reason the ATF classifies them as machine guns is because the shooter does not have to manually pull the trigger to fire each round; the gun does all of the work.
Binary Triggers Vs Fully Automatic Firearms
In contrast to binary triggers, a fully automatic gun requires the shooter to hold the trigger in order to start and stop the round fire. The shooter doesn’t continuously pull the trigger. Although a bump stock is considered a machine gun, the gun performs all the work, making them functionally similar but not identical.
Fully automatic weapons fire more quickly than binary triggers because binary triggers still rely on a human’s reflexes to start the trigger release. Full automatic weapons, however, have no restrictions other than jams and overheating.
The ATF heavily regulates fully automatic firearms, however, fully automatic weapons are technically legal if made before 1986, when In Congress, the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act was passed. Technically speaking, they are not illegal, but obtaining them costs a lot of money and time. It’s is now illegal to manufacture new automatic weapons for civilian use, so you’ll be dealing in antiques that cost a lot more than your average semi-auto varmint rifle.
Final Thoughts
A binary trigger can make a modern sporting rifle operate similarly to a Singer sewing machine. But when someone else is paying for the ammunition, it creates a serious ammo eating experience that is actually a lot more enjoyable.
Fun, however, can still be had even when it costs money. And in these modern times, we could all use a little recreational therapy.
Just watch out—those rapid-fire mag dumps will heat up a firearm more quickly than, uh, a speeding bullet.
