Facts are stubborn things. Something is either true, or it is not true; a binary existence. We hear the “word” “non-binary” bandied about quite a bit these days, and people constantly discuss gray areas, nuance and other means of avoiding the binary nature of the truth. When it comes to binary triggers for your rifle, though, the meaning of binary is fundamentally unchanged, as are the truths surrounding these devices.
First, binary triggers are, as of 0930 on 17 December 2024, legal in most states (and at the Federal level). This is because they do not turn a semi-automatic-only rifle into a machine gun, because each pull of the trigger still only fires one round. With a binary trigger set in binary mode (via an AR’s selector switch, for example), pulling the trigger fires a round and releasing the trigger to reset fires another round. That is all it does. So, while it can indeed increase the user’s ability to deliver shots on target faster, it does not turn the gun into a full-automatic machine. In fact, holding the trigger back after the pull changes nothing at all, since the binary shot requires the trigger to be released.
Second, binary triggers are indeed safe. Franklin Armory’s binary trigger (seen in the accompanying video) is activated, as mentioned, by a third position on an AR’s selector switch, and—most importantly—can be deactivatedvia the same switch. Pull the trigger in binary mode and don’t want the second shot to fire when you release? Keep the trigger pulled rearward while flipping the selector to “semi,” and Rob’s your father’s brother, you’ve deactivated the binary mode and can safely release the trigger without firing another round. You can also elect not to use the binary operation by keeping the selector on “semi” or, if not seeking to shoot at all, on “safe.”
Third, binary triggers are not mere toys designed to turn money into noise. They have a practical purpose, which, while limited, is worth understanding. In training, many drills require the shooter to fire a controlled pair (less accurately described as a “double-tap”), whereby two aimed shots are fired in rapid succession at the center-mass of a target. In a self-defense scenario, a single shot does not always incapacitate a criminal attacker, so delivering two quick—but still aimed—shots can increase your likelihood of success and survival. A binary trigger makes this process faster, as releasing the trigger fires a second round.
Is it much faster? That is a less binary answer. To paraphrase noted philanderer and former President William Jefferson Clinton, that depends on the meaning of “much.” In real-human terms, the binary trigger is not much faster—mere tenths or even hundredths of a second are nigh on impossible for the naked eye to see. But we are talking about high-stress, life-threatening situations, where time is always of the essence. That fraction of a second could make the difference between a preferred outcome and a less desirable one. Much like a sprinter trying to shave a thousandth of a second off his 100-meter dash time to eke out a photo-finish win at a meet, any advantage is welcome in a gunfight.
Finally, while binary triggers are not mere toys designed to turn money into noise, they are, however, a lot of fun on the range. While guns, training and all that which surrounds them have a vitally serious function, let us not forget that shooting is also a lot of fun, and anything that can safely add to said fun is always welcome. Binary triggers add fun with aplomb, and since you should train with one should you choose to add it to your rifle, you will have many opportunities to enjoy this oft-misunderstood aftermarket addition.
Like facts, fun is also binary: you are either having fun or you’re not having fun. With a binary trigger, there’s only one possible outcome in that realm, and it is indeed fun.
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