Do I really need a Forward Assist?

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Scout21

Scout21

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I'm wanting to piece myself together an M16a1-ish clone. I really like the look of a slick sided upper, that is, without a forward assist.

I'm torn between getting an upper with an FA or getting one without. I'm looking for a lower end upper and they seem to be a good $30-$50 more for a slick side, although I haven't checked prices in a bit.

I plan on going with a PSA or Anderson upper if I go with a FA. Otherwise I'll have to go with some other brand as I don't believe either PSA or Anderson offers a non-FA upper.

On one hand I don't foresee ever needing to use the FA. I've even read that many U.S. military members aren't even taught how to use the FA in basic, which tells me it's probably an unnecessary add on if they don't bother to teach about it's use. I habitually leave my ejection port closed when using it in a non-range environment, so I don't think much foreign material will make it into the action.

On the other, it's cheaper and easier to locate a FA upper, and in the off chance that I'd need it it would be there.

I plan to designate it's role as a walk around the property, HD, and a nasty weather hog hunting rifle. I don't intend to be kind to it, it needs to be able to take a fall into swampy mud and keep on chugging.
 
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1) If you are doing an M16A1 clone, you will have an FA.

2) If you are doing an M16A1 clone, you will have an FA.

3) Many folks believe the FA isn’t warranted, but for my own AR’s built for my personal use, I include FA’s in all of them, just in case.

4) If you are doing an M16A1 clone, you will have an FA.
 
I would skip the FA unless you like the looks of it. If I have a round which doesn't chamber in my daily shooting, I eject it for inspection rather than try to "assist" it into the chamber and likely getting myself into more trouble.

Saves a tiny bit of weight and can sling it with that side on your back with no FA digging into you.

I was trained, and trained others when doing weapons training with the M16/M4 but have been out a while so can't speak to today.

In the end, not a huge deal either way to be honest though.
 
Varminterror said:
1) If you are doing an M16A1 clone, you will have an FA.

2) If you are doing an M16A1 clone, you will have an FA.

3) Many folks believe the FA isn’t warranted, but for my own AR’s built for my personal use, I include FA’s in all of them, just in case.

4) If you are doing an M16A1 clone, you will have an FA.
Click to expand...
I'm not wanting to do an exact clone, just something similar
 
I have a slick side and a upper with the casting for the FA. I bought a plug to fill the hole.
Plug solution was the cheapest solution.
 
I like FA for when I am hunting and don't chamber a round until I am on my stand. I don't want to let the action slam shut and give away my position. For range shooting it wouldn't matter. Still there is no other way to positive close the bolt.
 
d2wing said:
I like FA for when I am hunting and don't chamber a round until I am on my stand. I don't want to let the action slam shut and give away my position. For range shooting it wouldn't matter. Still there is no other way to positive close the bolt.
Click to expand...
That’s how I’ve used mine as well. Ride the charging handle and use the assist to finish chambering. It’s helpful there. Otherwise I have never used it.
 
d2wing said:
I like FA for when I am hunting and don't chamber a round until I am on my stand. I don't want to let the action slam shut and give away my position. For range shooting it wouldn't matter. Still there is no other way to positive close the bolt.
Click to expand...
This^^^ If you ever want to ease the bolt down & load the rifle quietly, the FA is necessary to be sure you are in battery.
Regards,
hps
 
All of my non side charging rifles have one, but it’s been my experience that it’s pretty rare that it actually solves a problem and can sometimes make it much worse. So I guess I would say it should either not be used or used with caution.
 
Scout21 said:
I'm wanting to piece myself together an M16a1-ish clone. I really like the look of a slick sided upper, that is, without a forward assist.

I'm torn between getting an upper with an FA or getting one without. I'm looking for a lower end upper and they seem to be a good $30-$50 more for a slick side, although I haven't checked prices in a bit.

I plan on going with a PSA or Anderson upper if I go with a FA. Otherwise I'll have to go with some other brand as I don't believe either PSA or Anderson offers a non-FA upper.

On one hand I don't foresee ever needing to use the FA. I've even read that many U.S. military members aren't even taught how to use the FA in basic, which tells me it's probably an unnecessary add on if they don't bother to teach about it's use. I habitually leave my ejection port closed when using it in a non-range environment, so I don't think much foreign material will make it into the action.

On the other, it's cheaper and easier to locate a FA upper, and in the off chance that I'd need it it would be there.

I plan to designate it's role as a walk around the property, HD, and a nasty weather hog hunting rifle. I don't intend to be kind to it, it needs to be able to take a fall into swampy mud and keep on chugging.
Click to expand...

If I recall correctly and someone please correct me if I'm wrong,
The original design that Eugene Stoner came up with did not have a forward assist. He was against the forward assist because his idea was that jamming something in that's already stuck is just going to make the situation worse. That was a requirement that the ordinance department thought would be a good idea and it's been that way ever since. There's a really good podcast episode about this rifle on the Lions led by donkeys podcast.
 
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d2wing said:
I like FA for when I am hunting and don't chamber a round until I am on my stand. I don't want to let the action slam shut and give away my position. For range shooting it wouldn't matter. Still there is no other way to positive close the bolt.
Click to expand...
I was going to post "I've never used my FA" until I came across your post and you changed my mind. I don't hunt so I wouldn't have that experience as a base to make a comment. I think you just made the most convincing case for having a FA.
 
Yes. The rifle needs it.

ALL other rifles have them in one form or another. Bolt rifles have the bolt, semi-automatic rifles (aside from the one in question) have a cocking piece (or whatever), lever guns have levers, single shots come with shooters with thumbs.
I was taught early on to hit the cocking handle on my M-14 to insure the round was inserted (for the first shot).

The AR platform has no other manner of ensuring the bolt is closed and locked. I have on one occasion (keeping the muzzle downrange and not getting it close to my very face) slammed a somewhat jammed AR - commercial with no forward assist - butt first into the ground. That did alleviate the malfunction but people did look at me with suspicion.

No, like most other firearms, one doohickey will not prevent or cure all problems. But it will take care of 'that' problem.
 
The AR does not need the forward assist IMHO. I prefer my uppers without it but I don't go out of my way to avoid the forward assist. I have never had a stoppage made better through use of the forward assist and in my early days of owning an AR I made one or two stoppages much much worst trying to use the forward assist. Its nice for the quiet close/press check but I can do that without the forward assist. I honestly can't remember the last time I used a forward assist on one of my ARs...
 
I had a slick side Colt AR-15 in the 70s and 80s and could have really used FA on that hunk of junk. Now all of my ARs have FA and I rarely if ever use it but it's there if needed.
 
Most, if not all, will agree that extracting a round that failed to chamber is preferable to forcing it, in all but life threatening situations. You can check to be sure the rifle is in battery using the thumb in the recess just behind locking lugs on your bolt, but the FA provides a more solid "feel" to assure the rifle is in battery.
IMHO, best to have one and not need it than need one and not have it.

Regards.
hps
 
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