GunCon, presented by Jon Patton, host of The Gun Collective YouTube channel, is my favorite yearly event. The event brings creators, manufacturers, and enthusiasts together under one roof. It serves as a true enthusiast mecca and has become a hotbed for mid-year releases. One of the biggest showstoppers this year was the One Horse Express.
While One Horse is new, it was founded by longtime industry executive Jeremy Hammons. He was previously with Anderson MFG, which Ruger purchased in 2025. The name One Horse pays homage to Anderson MFG (whose logo was a horse) while improving on their standards to deliver one of the best affordable AR-style rifles on the market.
The Express kicks things up a notch by offering the first factory-tuned and factory-installed forced reset trigger (FRT) in a rifle. And man, does it rip.
SPECS
Installing a Forced Reset Selector isn’t always plug-and-play, and if done incorrectly, it won’t run. Every One Horse Express rifle has the Atrius FRS fitted, timed, and tested at the factory—so you’re shooting, not troubleshooting.
The standard specs are as follows:
- Model(s): One Horse Express
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO/223 Remington
- Capacity: 30-round magazines (or more).
- Magazine QTY: 1
- Operation: Direct Impingement (mid-length gas system)
- Sights: N/A
- Barrel Length: 16”, SOCOM Profile
- Barrel Twist Rate: 1:8
- Weight: 6.5 lbs.
- Price: $999.99
FEATURES
The One Horse Express is a 5.56 NATO rifle built around reliability, speed, and factory-tuned functionality. At the heart of the rifle is a professionally installed Atrius FRS selector featuring Safe, Semi, and Super-Semi, with each system fitted, timed, and tested before leaving the factory. The rifle pairs a 16-inch 4150 CrMoV SOCOM-profile barrel with a mid-length gas system and M16-profile black nitride bolt carrier group, creating a platform designed for consistent operation and accuracy.
Built on 7075-T6 aluminum receivers with a Type III hard-anodized finish, the rifle features a 15-inch M-LOK free-float rail for accessory mounting and improved handling. A Breek Arms WARHAMMER Mod2 ambidextrous charging handle provides enhanced manipulation. The THRIL CCS six-position stock and THRIL RS pistol grip deliver a comfortable, balanced shooting experience.
Additional features include an H2 buffer system, an A2 flash hider, a single-stage curved trigger, and a 30-round THRIL magazine. Weighing just 6.5 pounds unloaded, the One Horse Express combines lightweight handling with a carefully selected set of components designed to maximize performance straight from the box.
ZOOMING OUT
After spending a little time with the guys at One Horse, I really admire what they are doing. They are patriots who want to deliver America’s rifle to the common man. With the rise in popularity of FRTs, it makes a ton of sense for a company to partner with someone like Atrius to offer an in-house rifle-and-FRT combo. I have friends who’ve messed with FRTs and have dealt with nothing but issues. Having a rifle factory tuned for them is the way to go.
The Express rifle on hand at GunCon saw thousands of rounds through it and worked flawlessly. The only issue is that you are constantly loading magazines.
For more new release news, head over to the Cadre Dispatch.
