We blogged about the two companies coming out with AR trigger systems that increase a rifles rate of fire on TFB, Military Arms Channel has an excellent review of the Franklin Armory system as well. But at SHOT we were able to get a real hands on look at the Franklin Armory booth.

Franklin Armory has two different systems and they are available in either a complete rifle or a complete lower. MSRP ranges from $734 (lower) to $2,699 (complete rifle). The first system is called the Release Firing System (RFS), and the second is the Binary Firing System. The difference between these two systems is that the RFS is simply that, a release trigger. Thus, instead of the disconnector releasing the hammer when the trigger is pressed, the hammer is only released, when the trigger is released. That means you pull all the way back on the trigger, then release, then it fires. If the trigger has been pulled, and you don’t want to take the shot for whatever reason, place the weapon on safe and the system will reset back to normal. This being said, there are three options in the selector, Safe, Single, and Release.

Now, imagine that same system but this time, when the trigger is pulled, and the system is set on “Binary”, the disconnector releases the hammer. The rifle is fired and as the bolt goes to the rear, cocking the hammer back into the disconnector. When the trigger is then released, the initial description comes into play. Pull the trigger again, and the process repeats itself, thus increasing the rate of fire. Both of these systems have duel disconnectors in them that allow this process to occur.

As Tim on Military Arms Channel mentioned, the biggest issue with the BFS is that a shooter can “outrun” the system. Because if you are going fast enough, it has the ability to drop the hammer while the bolt is in motion, and thus ride the bolt carrier home, and not striking the firing pin with enough force, for it to strike the primer. The reps at Franklin Armory explained this problem as well.

Right now ATF is on board with the product, but we all know how slippery their opinion and decision process can be sometimes. The company has also had some trouble with the California Department of Justice, in their ruling about selling the product there. To the point that Franklin Armory was handing out bumper stickers saying “California DOJ Lies!”.

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