Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Brandon Herrera, better known as the AK Guy, hit the range to answer a question every gun nerd’s asked at some point: can a semi-auto really feel like a machine gun?
With the Hoffman Tactical Super Safety forced-reset trigger (FRT) installed on an MP5-style setup, the answer came back fast, loud, and clear—yes, and it’s hilarious.
The build was straightforward. A Century AP5-SD clone, an Otter Creek Labs suppressor, and that infamous Super Safety lower with three positions marked safe, semi, and super safe.
Brandon starts slow in semi-auto, soaking in the classic MP5SD smoothness. Then he flips the lever to super safe, empties a mag, and grins like a kid handed the launch button. It feels, in his words, “so based.”
So what’s happening here? The Super Safety is a forced-reset trigger. It pushes the trigger forward after every shot, forcing a reset so fast it can mimic the cadence of a real full-auto.
Each round still requires a distinct trigger pull, which is why it remains legal under federal law. Machine guns are defined as firearms that fire more than one round per trigger pull.
Because this design resets between shots, it sits in the gray zone that gives range lawyers headaches but keeps it legal for civilians.
SEE ALSO: Range Day Turns to Raid: The Risk of Forced Reset Triggers!
Brandon’s reaction says it all. “If you didn’t tell me that wasn’t a machine gun, I wouldn’t know,” he says between mag dumps.
The cyclic rate feels clean and consistent, not like the hiccupy rhythm of bump stocks or slide-fire devices. The FRT delivers smooth, predictable operation that’s pure entertainment.
He’s upfront about the setup. The suppressor and short barrel make it an NFA-registered gun, so you’re not dodging the paperwork completely.
Still, the lower and trigger assembly are available off the shelf for around $650. For shooters without a full-auto SOT, that’s a pretty sweet deal.
He also cautions against DIY builds unless you know what you’re doing. MP5 barrel swaps aren’t AR-style plug-and-play jobs, so let a real gunsmith handle it.
“As of 9/17/2025, no warrants have been served to Hoffman Tactical LLC principals or employees. No searches or seizures have been performed on Hoffman Tactical LLC assets.”
As always, AK Guy brings his signature blend of humor and honesty. Between quips about White Claw penetration tests, sponsor jokes, and an impromptu “Did you just shoot one of my chickens?” moment, the video feels more like hanging out with friends than watching a technical review.
In the end, his verdict is simple. Is it essential gear? Probably not. Is it stupid fun? Absolutely.
For anyone chasing that full-auto grin without the full-auto price tag, the Super Safety delivers the next best thing.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
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– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
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for my Christmas present I want to be looking forward to congressman Brandon Herrera replacing the current turd.
This is BS. No one is going to buy a 3d printer to make an FRT. Those persons who were lucky enough to obtain and keep one of the original FRTs, in spite of the Vegetable’s ATF directives, are probably ok. That is, so long as the trigger unit doesn’t wear out over time, and the next communist in chief doesn’t declare war on the 2A again.
I wasnt even shooting it and it put a smile on my face !
Sounds like a kludge to get around the unconstitutional laws about machine guns. What part of “shall not be infringed” don’t they understand?
2nd Amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
What part of “The People” and “shall not be infringed” don’t the politicians understand?
Points:
1. If you have to ask permission to buy any kind of arm (weapon), your right to keep and bear arms has been infringed.
2. If they can tell you what type of weapon you can buy or how much ammunition it will hold, your right to keep and bear arms has been infringed.
3. If they can tell you where or how you can carry your weapon, your right to keep and bear arms has been infringed.
4. If they can tell you what kind of ammunition you can buy for your weapon, your right to keep and bear arms has been infringed.
5. If they can tell you how many weapons you can have or purchase, your right to keep and bear arms has been infringed.
6. “Arms” does not just mean “firearms”! All weapons that are light enough for a normal person to carry (bear) no matter what kind, are covered under the banner of “arms” and prohibiting or making conditional on government approval of any of them is an infringement on your right to keep and bear arms.
Anyone who has any additional thoughts please let me know.
Where do you buy this lower for $650, they have nothing for MP5’s on the web site and what they are selling is 3D printer programs, you said nothing about having to buy a 3D printer and make it yourself.
These things are cool, but I feel like all folks making comments like “If you didn’t tell me that wasn’t a machine gun, I wouldn’t know,” and “civilian-legal machine gun” can only feed the loonies that think this *creates* a machine or is the same thing as Glock “switches”. Also worth nothing that nothing can make a semi-auto ~gun~ fire more quickly (that’s a mechanical action by design), just make a ~shooter~ fire more quickly.
So you don’t think a forced reset trigger makes a weapon operate faster? Resetting the trigger in order for it to be squeezed again is a mechanical action thus making the weapon operate faster. No matter how fast you pull a regular trigger on a semi automatic it will never operate like that clone in the video.