Do I really need a Forward Assist?

[lysanderxiii]

We were taught the same at Ft Leonardwood and it didn't matter if you were there for combat engineer or construction engineer school.

As I stated before, I have used the FA many times with both the A1 and A2 on the range and in combat situations. I went to basic in 1989. The FA does have its place. Again if it takes more than a light tap then you need to correct other issues.

The "T" in S.PO.R.T.S. . . .

 

[12Bravo20]

The "T" in S.PO.R.T.S. . . .

100% correct!

And tap means just that. Beating on the FA will only lead to even more problems.

 

[mcb]

You have one!

Tell us about it!!!

Lots of fun with pop can, tennis balls, and some paint cans. The screw top beer cans work nice since you drink the beer and then (some time later) fill them with water and shoot them. I do that or buy cheap Summit Diet Cola from Aldis.

 

[The Glockodile]

Lots of fun with pop can, tennis balls, and some paint cans. The screw top beer cans work nice since you drink the beer and then (some time later) fill them with water and shoot them. I do that or buy cheap Summit Diet Cola from Aldis.

I think I need one.

It’s a tool with a very specific intended purpose.

 

[troy fairweather]

One for golf balls would be fun.

 

[Peakbagger46]

The forward assist is handy after doing a quiet press check and that’s where it’s given me piece of mind at work. Maybe it’s OCD but it’s nice to know that round is still seated and good to go.

 

[tark]

One for golf balls would be fun.

Hi, Troy! THIS is for golf balls! Bore is a bit large so 4F works best Golf balls don't weigh much for their size. If they were heavier, 1F would probably work best. Good for around 400 yards on the fly.

 

[mcb]

One for golf balls would be fun.

The new versions from both X-products and F5 brands have the options for a sub barrel that screws in and works with golf balls too. Mine unfortunately is an older X-products version (bought used off a friend) and only does stuff the diameter of a pop-can.

 

[troy fairweather]

Hi, Troy! THIS is for golf balls! Bore is a bit large so 4F works best Golf balls don't weigh much for their size. If they were heavier, 1F would probably work best. Good for around 400 yards on the fly.

Nice, I have a Mortar I made for billiard balls found some heavy seamless tubing and bored out for the balls. Problem is billiard Balls are hard to find anymore, some day I'll make one for golf balls.

 

[wesmonster]

I’ve only ever used the FA on one build, my first 7.62x39 upper. At the time I didn’t realize my ASC mags were junk and sometimes a round wouldn’t fully chamber, a light push on the FA always did the trick, and I usually did it at least once per mag. Once I found mags that actually worked, never used one since. So in a situation where your rifle may be dirty and need a bit more oomph, it’s good to have, but you can also do the same by just pushing on the cutout of the bolt carrier.
I’ve removed FAs on all my ‘range’ ARs that shoot surplus or imported ammo to allow some blowback to escape and keep crud from venting thru the charge handle. My SHTF AR still has one.

 

[mljdeckard]

I have never used one. If a round won't close forward, I don't want to push it in further. FOR ME, a failure to close fully is either a bad round, a new rifle that is so stiff it needs to be broken in, or breathtakingly dirty. My unit just got a new batch of M-4s, and we took them to the range, we had a lot of failures, mostly double-feeds, but no failures to close the bolt.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I have never used one. If a round won't close forward, I don't want to push it in further. FOR ME, a failure to close fully is either a bad round, a new rifle that is so stiff it needs to be broken in, or breathtakingly dirty.

What you 'want' and what you 'need' may be in total opposition at critical times.

 

[jmorris]

Nice, I have a Mortar I made for billiard balls found some heavy seamless tubing and bored out for the balls. Problem is billiard Balls are hard to find anymore, some day I'll make one for golf balls.

Lots go get old pins to shoot, not as many ask for old balls.

 

[King Medallion]

Where's the earth shattering ka-boom?!!?

 

[citizenconn]

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 buy slick sided uppers when I can. Short of that you can put a non-functioning plug in the FA hole.

 

[herrwalther]

We were taught the same at Ft Leonardwood and it didn't matter if you were there for combat engineer or construction engineer school.

As I stated before, I have used the FA many times with both the A1 and A2 on the range and in combat situations. I went to basic in 1989. The FA does have its place. Again if it takes more than a light tap then you need to correct other issues.

I think it is a then vs now type. I went through basic in 08. And we went over the FA for many reasons. Stubborn round you could either tap it or just yank the charging handle to get a fresh round. We were taught both methods and it was left to our best judgement which to use. Even for range qualification. I never encountered a round where tapping the FA fixed the issue. If the round was bad, it went for a ride via the ejector. Non combat jobs around the same time frame went either way on getting that instruction. This is also how I learned SPORTS is taught differently based on where and when you got trained.

The two instances where I used the FA other than intended have been to do a silent brass check. Slight pull back of charging handle, look/feel for a chambered round, ride forward, tap FA to make sure the bolt is locked. The other was when Private Joe Snuffy forgets to put the buffer and spring back in his rifle and the bolt carrier is bound in the buttstock. FA helps get it unstuck easier. Unfortunately, I had to use the FA more for the missing buffer than I did for doing a ninja style brass check. Do either of these instances matter to a civilian light user? Probably not.