Binary Triggers Legal Or Nah?

[Fizzik]

So I’ve been getting into shooting more lately, and I keep hearing about these binary triggers. They sound pretty cool, but I'm honestly confused about the legal stuff. I’m originally from a place where anything goes, so this whole California thing is new for me. I did some googling, but it feels like there's a ton of mixed info out there. Has anyone actually looked into this? Are they legal to own and use in California? I don't want to accidentally break any laws. Would love to hear what others think or if you have any experiences with it!

 

[Saudade]

IANAL!!!

Here's the section of the CA Penal code that may apply:

https://california.public.law/codes/penal_code_section_16930

Read it and decide for yourself. Bear in mind that Franklin Armory states "Not for civilian sales in: CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NJ, NY, RI, and WA"

 

[GoldenAim_3]

Not legal here. Franklin Armory will not even ship to California. I had a buddy who tried to order one and it got canceled. Plenty of fun stuff still legal, just not that.

 

[waveslayer]

Not legal here. Franklin Armory will not even ship to California. I had a buddy who tried to order one and it got canceled. Plenty of fun stuff still legal, just not that.

What fun stuff, not trying to be a jerk just what?... all other free states have our fun stuff and then some! FRT's are way more fun, Binary is ok.

You can't even set up a rifle without it being illegal here. Thumbholes etc. Stupid laws

 

[ptgarcia]

What fun stuff, not trying to be a jerk just what?... all other free states have our fun stuff and then some! FRT's are way more fun, Binary is ok.

You can't even set up a rifle without it being illegal here. Thumbholes etc. Stupid laws

Agreed. I don't want anything wild, I just want a modern gun the way it comes from the factory and in CA most of the time you can't even get that.

 

[waveslayer]

Agreed. I don't want anything wild, I just want a modern gun the way it comes from the factory and in CA most of the time you can't even get that.

Nope, they are scary! Ha ha

 

[huntinghuasna]

Legal or not, it's not a type of trigger you want. Pick a quality single or double-stage trigger and learn how to use it. Don't waste your time or money on a binary trigger!

 

[huntinghuasna]

What fun stuff, not trying to be a jerk just what?... all other free states have our fun stuff and then some! FRT's are way more fun, Binary is ok.

You can't even set up a rifle without it being illegal here. Thumbholes etc. Stupid laws

Let's not be focused on fun stuff; be practical. Even here in CA, we can set up legitimate shooting systems for hunting and defense, do the research, and stay legal!

 

[waveslayer]

Let's not be focused on fun stuff; be practical. Even here in CA, we can set up legitimate shooting systems for hunting and defense, do the research, and stay legal!

Of course you can have legitimate shooting systems, but not the set up I care to have. I prefer a nice 11.5" barrel, running a Hux, or some nice minimal blowback can, collapsible stock, with a normal pistol grip, 30 round mag, with an optional thermal sight for night. Etc...

Can't have it. Why not?

 

[huntinghuasna]

Of course you can have legitimate shooting systems, but not the set up I care to have. I prefer a nice 11.5" barrel, running a Hux, or some nice minimal blowback can, collapsible stock, with a normal pistol grip, 30 round mag, with an optional thermal sight for night. Etc...

Can't have it. Why not?

I agree with you that we should have whatever we want. We need to show up and vote these guys out. Until then, stay frosty!

 

[waveslayer]

There are not enough of us to vote them out. Won't happen

 

[huntinghuasna]

I believe there are enough of us; we need to spread the good word and show up and vote. If you believe there's no hope, and why should I vote... yes, it "won't happen!"

 

[waveslayer]

With the super majority and free hand outs here in CA, up hill battle

 

[Havasu]

Super majority, combined with Newscum's Proposition 50 redistricting vote, and we will never recover.

 

[huntinghuasna]

"Discipline equals freedom, and that good leaders don't make excuses. Instead, they figure out a way to get things done."

-Jocko Willink

 

[22 Steve]

Over my 77 years, I have modified some of my cars and all my trucks. This is the way for me. Be real, if it's good, it can be Great. That said, I should move to a free state, but I'm not a quitter. I'm staying. So I fight in my small way. This year I've bought one less gun or a case of good wine. I've given $350 to https://www.reformcalifornia.org/. I did some door-to-door work armed with a petition. Fighting is hard; going door to door for me is very hard.
The force behind R F C is Carol DeNaio has been getting beaten up exposing the corruption and waste, but the gears are turning for Truth.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

I'm staying and fighting also, Steve, and in fact, I'll be finding out next week what's going on with my settlement offer.

I'm actually going to look at a piece of hunting property, located about 45 minutes from my house. My friend currently hunts on it, and it has springs and creeks that are active all year, I'm told. I don't know if I can afford it though, it has a small a-frame cabin on it, and is setup off grid. If I was to buy something like that, I would keep it undeveloped.

I think Carl DeMaio's intentions are good, and I support him, just not sure how much impact we can have here in California, we first need to have a change of Governors. I am not sure how likely that is, because rumors are circulating that the Dems will take back the white house in 2028. I will never vote for them, AFAICT.

We need more Carl DeMaio's in the state legislation, but I fear he's too little too late.

Our best hope is that either Bianco or Hilton will get into office.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

"Discipline equals freedom, and that good leaders don't make excuses. Instead, they figure out a way to get things done."

-Jocko Willink

I have to confess...well, no I don't, I'm not catholic, but I was going through my bills, and was reminded that the real estate agent that sold our house for us, a friend of the family, gave me a $500 check. I wasn't going to cash it, although her and her son got a nice fee for the sale of our home, they sold it quickly and I really appreciated it...if I didn't take it my wife would be really upset with me.

The Japanese always need to give gifts, for any occasion, they send a gift. Let's say you attend a wedding, you give them a gift, but then they send you a gift in return...so they send everyone the same gift, usually some type of plates or Japanese memorabilia.

but then I started to think..."Self, that's a pair of boots from Origin USA...so that's what I did. I deposited into my account and ordered a pair of Origin boots. I ordered the moc toe version, I hope they're wide enough. I ordered wide. If not, they're going back.

The other thing I would like to get on Black Friday is a belt. Their belts look awesome. They have stitching all the way around the edge, unlike Hank's Belts who advertises on IG/YT a lot. His belts cost more and don't look as nice as the Origin belts. First I am waiting to try the boots on...and should have them while the BF sale is going on...they currently want $77 for a belt. Hank's belts are about $100. I ordered these moc toe boots with steel toes. Probably sacrilege but wear this type of boot when I go hunting. The reason is I wear this type of steel toe boot in my shop more than I go hunting.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

Not legal here. Franklin Armory will not even ship to California. I had a buddy who tried to order one and it got canceled. Plenty of fun stuff still legal, just not that.

I think this is telling in itself. They are not legal in California, so don't even consider them.

I have to ask though, I have never used the binary trigger before, but it seems I would have a lot less control on the release fire. According to the law, they are legal, IMO, but according to the people that run the courts, they're not.

I kind of figure that any device is illegal in CA until proven innocent.

 

[waveslayer]

I think this is telling in itself. They are not legal in California, so don't even consider them.

I have to ask though, I have never used the binary trigger before, but it seems I would have a lot less control on the release fire. According to the law, they are legal, IMO, but according to the people that run the courts, they're not.

I kind of figure that any device is illegal in CA until proven innocent.

They are ok to run, it is all trigger control really. They have a place, but I would do an FRT over the Binary. For the price, I would for sure do that. But not legal here, you better reload lots of ammo.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

They are ok to run, it is all trigger control really. They have a place, but I would do an FRT over the Binary. For the price, I would for sure do that. But not legal here, you better reload lots of ammo.

I saw they have a binary trigger for the Ruger BX.

I see this firearm on the Franklin Armory site:

https://franklinarmory.com/shop/restricted-states/california/franklin-armory-ca7-california-only/

View attachment 467
A picture is worth a thousand words, heh?

This has a birdcage on the muzzle, which is something illegal in CA, as it is a flash hider. The birdcage was a part of the original AR-15. I'm not sure what they've done with the upper/lower, sometimes they requires you lift the upper open to remove the mag, as not to make it be an AR, but this also has a pistol grip, and a pistol grip is typically an evil feature. The buffer has a foam tube on it, and that was used in the past so not to extend anything past the buffer. It's the poor man's cheek weld. The lower needs to be a pistol lower, and normally if an unlicensed individual manufactures an AR for personal use, the person knows for certain it's a pistol, as they made it that way. In theory a firearm is not allowed to go from a pistol to a rifle and then back, so it is said we need to keep it as a pistol to be safe. This is yet another grey area.

Some courts have said it's illegal to shoulder the buffer above, as if it's a pistol it can't be shouldered like a rifle. I really am not sure these days. What I tell people is that ARs are a grey area in California legislation. If you got a nice judge they may let you off, but there are no guarantees. AFAIK, nobody has been charged with possession of an Assault Weapon, or charged over standard capacity magazines, but if that is not the case, I'm sure someone will soon let me know.

This is a similar featureless pistol, but it is CA legal, AFAIK. Not on the bottom pistol it has the Sparrow grip, I can attest it's one of the most uncomfortable grips available. Top one is completely legal, AFAIK, it has a brake on the muzzle, featureless stock, no pistol grip, no grenade launcher, and no extendable stock. It is not a bad shooting rifle, better than the pistol, IMO. However, the pistol with a pistol brace is not a bad option, OTOH. I believe the pistol brace should keep one out of jail, given the ruling in Texas joining 2AF and FPC members.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

I believe there are enough of us; we need to spread the good word and show up and vote. If you believe there's no hope, and why should I vote... yes, it "won't happen!"

I completely agree with you. In fact, that is the ONLY way we can overturn this mess. It will require votes. Will all of these unconstitutional taxes finally get Californians off their fat @$$E$ and vote???

 

[waveslayer]

In CA we are screwed

 

[22 Steve]

We The People have been screwed. I see changes in California, in America, and believe people are waking up to the one party's agenda.
I'm not a quiter. My left hook is long gone, but my strong farts are more potent.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

We The People have been screwed. I see changes in California, in America, and believe people are waking up to the one party's agenda.
I'm not a quiter. My left hook is long gone, but my strong farts are more potent.

I agree, it seems different this time...and yes, I've been here most of my life...since '58. My parents were born and died in CA, and I suspect I will do the same...but it's not cast in stone for me just yet. I have been on the verge of leaving this state several times, but need to see what happens with the Trumpster...he's on a roll, and just assigned Vance to the California fraud.

In CA we are screwed

I think we need to see what happens with the above.

And even if I do end up leaving...it would be a win if California falls by the wayside as I exit.

 

[KonoctisWigwam]

We The People have been screwed. I see changes in California, in America, and believe people are waking up to the one party's agenda.
I'm not a quiter. My left hook is long gone, but my strong farts are more potent.

I was thinking about this, and really the crux of this problem seems to take us back to '34 when the NFA was implemented. Most all of the gun control seems to be based around the NFA, and the majority of gun control uses it as a reason that it's ok to enforce.

However, if it had never been for the NFA, there wouldn't be firearm restrictions to this day, possibly. I say possibly, as we will never know. What the left calls a large capacity magazine is said that civilians don't need more than 10 rounds. AR-15s...Suppressors...short barreled rifles...all of this pits civilians up against military. But we should be able to have military items, how else could we stand up to them?

The $64k question...will the NFA fall by the wayside? I can't say I would be unhappy if it did.

 

[Saudade]

CA laws are hard enough to navigate. Add that they are subject to change (and often do), makes it difficult to remain in compliance.

Binary triggers are banned due to being classified as a "multi-burst trigger activator". FRTs would fall under the same category per P.C. 16930 and P.C. 32900.

The Franklin CA-7 is a "bolt action repeater" (no gas system). Since it's not semi-auto, it falls outside current CA AW laws. If one were to put a different upper changing it to semi-auto (it's unclear if that's legal, don't ask me IANAL), you would have to make it "Fixed magazine", not featureless.

As for "what if NFA never existed"? Hard to say. CA has implemented many restrictions far beyond the NFA. If the NFA were to vanish, I doubt that would have any impact here in CA.

 

[waveslayer]

CA laws are hard enough to navigate. Add that they are subject to change (and often do), makes it difficult to remain in compliance.

Binary triggers are banned due to being classified as a "multi-burst trigger activator". FRTs would fall under the same category per P.C. 16930 and P.C. 32900.

The Franklin CA-7 is a "bolt action repeater" (no gas system). Since it's not semi-auto, it falls outside current CA AW laws. If one were to put a different upper changing it to semi-auto (it's unclear if that's legal, don't ask me IANAL), you would have to make it "Fixed magazine", not featureless.

As for "what if NFA never existed"? Hard to say. CA has implemented many restrictions far beyond the NFA. If the NFA were to vanish, I doubt that would have any impact here in CA.

Yep! Look at the EPA standards. It that I have given up, but this state is screwed

 

[Rusty tweezers]

As long as the fraudster newscum is around and you have pelosi still sucking air and Harris still parading around doing whatever drugs she is on I’d say cali is totally screwed. It has a communist vibe on the gun laws. I’d never move to Kali for that reason alone. I’d never live anywhere where they tell me what I can and can’t buy or own. Rant over

 

[Rusty tweezers]

The nra has been padding their pockets for along time. I’m really not into keeping the big dogs within the nra living high in the saddle while i don’t compared to their gifted wealth. Don’t trust the nra anymore after doing some digging over the years.