Forward assist how important?

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YoungGun

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Two questions?

1)How important is it to have a forward assist on an AR15?
2)I’m thinking about buying a newly built Sun Devil AR15 that does have a forward assist for $1,200 is it worth it?
 
I built a AR15 and for about 2 years it never had a forward assist on it I just added it a week ago and the only reason I added it was for looks. Once I had the rifle shootable I just kind of didn't care about that last small part. I never once needed to use it and I shot Highpower quite a bit which was a hundred rounds in a row a few different Saturday mornings.
 
I think it's a nice thing to have. It won't be used much during shooting at the range, as usually your gun is clean and the conditions are normal; but, I think it is handy in a bad environment such as combat where you would have the probabilty of getting the action of your AR dirty. I've heard about swat teams using them before entry to check the chamber of their rifle. You would do this my pulling back about an inch or so on the charging handle, verifying that there is a round in there and then using the forward assist to secure the round in battery.
 
I think it's a nice thing to have. It won't be used much during shooting at the range, as usually your gun is clean and the conditions are normal; but, I think it is handy in a bad environment such as combat where you would have the probabilty of getting the action of your AR dirty. I've heard about swat teams using them before entry to check the chamber of their rifle. You would do this my pulling back about an inch or so on the charging handle, verifying that there is a round in there and then using the forward assist to secure the round in battery
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I hadn't really thought of it that way that's a great point Sam. I was only thinking about ideal situations which is when mine is used most.
 
They're not necessary. The only practical use they have is as a stealthy or convenient bolt closer, which is something that can be accomplished with your thumb almost as easily. Using them as a way to jam home a reluctant round (either due to the ammo being out of spec or the rifle being dirty) is an outstanding way to turn your weapon into a single-shot when the round you force in goes off and then fails to extract.

All of that said, they have no disadvantage except a very small weight and bulk penalty, and it is often easier to find an upper with one than without. I've given them entirely too much thought, and I think they're a non-issue.

As to the Sun Devil rifle, it's worth considering, but it will depend on what parts are in it and who did the wrenching. Probably a good bet in the current environment. Sun Devil receivers are quite good.

Mike
 
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I've heard about swat teams using them before entry to check the chamber of their rifle. You would do this my pulling back about an inch or so on the charging handle, verifying that there is a round in there and then using the forward assist to secure the round in battery.
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I use my thumb to pull the bolt forward when doing a chamber check. But I'm wrong handed, so my right hand is right there anyway.

I've never used the FA, but I'm not willing to go out of my way to build a rifle that doesn't have it.

The only drawback I've found is that it pokes me in the chest when the rifle is slung. I've just got to live with that, because the brass deflector does the same thing, and I've found it necessary.
 
I've used mine a couple times, but not due to "round irregularities" or whatnot--it was inevitably mag-related issues when it was just barely hung up/not "fed" enough to finish the path into the chamber. The couple times were both with the same mag (which is a "range mag", so I don't really worry). Once I also needed to use it when a buddy had packed up already at the range, and forgot about one or two partially-loaded mags that he offered me to shoot, and it was also mag-related (but once again, it was a "range mag" of his, as well).

Ideally, you won't *need* it, especially if all of your equipment is well maintained; however, there wouldn't be a FA at all if there weren't times where not everything was perfect, equipment-wise.

Granted, I'm right-handed, so it doesn't bother me that it's there, and granted the weird "mag issues" related above could've been solved with my thumb rather than the FA....but I didn't feel like feeling the bolt with my thumb by that point after having been shooting :uhoh:
 
I believe it is mainly a military thing... At least in the Canadian Forces they are taught to push it every time they load a new magazine. In harsh/dirty combat situations it is useful but under normal clean circumstances you hardly ever get a jam of any sort.
 
remember those two guys that shot up Los Angeles a few years back with full body armor? well the one guys gun jammed and they shot him in the neck or face area because his rifle jammed and he was tryin to unjam it. so after it was all over they said if he had just gave his FA a good smakc he would have kept going. So I quess they are very important for bad guys who want to shoot up LA. HA, yea they are VERY important in a combat situation when the round doesnt make it all the way into the chamber and needs a little nudge. im sure they have saved plenty of lives. personally Ive never had to use it other then to check to see if a round was in my chamber like SamG stated.
 
I've heard about swat teams using them before entry to check the chamber of their rifle. You would do this my pulling back about an inch or so on the charging handle, verifying that there is a round in there and then using the forward assist to secure the round in battery.
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That's how I was taught to check the chamber during a deliberate load in the .mil also. Usually the weapon will go back into battery when you release the partially retracted charging handle, but then give the charging handle a couple taps to verify after you confirm a round is chambered.
 
As already stated, if it is used to lock the bolt after a "no look" chamber check, it is good. To force an out of spec round into the chamber, it is bad.
 
it's good if you intend to run your rifle hard and fast (NFA fun, carbine classes and matches, etc.)
 
Traditionally they are a vital part of the AR rifle. In combat they may be needed. Maybe, they will also be needed in competition where speed counts. Also so close the bolt more quietly.

For the average shooter though, no way are they necessary. If you get one for cosmetics or just because they all seem to have them these days then that is fine. Just dont think it should be a vital part of the so called SHTF battery.
 
This is my opinion and strictly mine.
You don't need a forward assist even though all of my AR15 rifles have one.

Again, my opinion and strictly my opinion here,

You don't need to spend $1200.00 for a small market share manufactured AR with no forward assist, if you really want on, there are still original Colt SP-1 AR-15 non-forward assist rifles that can be bought for $1200.00 if you keep your eyes open.
 
They are useful in combat situations. I don't know about everyday range use. Then again, they were developed for combat. Therefore, I would say there're important.
 
My patrol rifle is a Bushmaster Carbon 15 M4, it doesn't have a forward assist and I've never missed it. In fact, I can't recall ever using one one either an AR-15 or M-16.
 
Helz,

The rifle that jammed for the BG in LA was an AK47 type (Romanian AIM I believe), due to a stovepipe, no armorers call button.....even in an AR a stove pipe can't be cleared with a FA.
 
For whom? You and me? No.

A soldier under extended combat conditions, shooting to save his life? Could be very important. Extract or no extract, getting ONE more round in and downrange could save your life.
 
Every semiautomatic and fully automatic rifle under the sun except for 2 has a forward assist.

It's just that on rifles other than the m16/ar15 it's called a charging handle, and whilst it's true the AR also has a charging handle good luck using it to push the bolt forward on a round that hangs up in the mag. So to that end while it's not absolutely needed for us sport/recreational shooters for those whose lives depend on their equipment it's absolutely neccacary.

I've used mine a couple times usually for those not quite jamms where the round leaving the magazine stops the bolt just before clearing the feed lips


BTW the rifles without a charging handle are the Hakim and Swedish AG42
 
+1 coronach


they are A way to do some things
they are not THE way
and certainly not THE ONLY way

hence, unnecessary
 
. said:
remember those two guys that shot up Los Angeles a few years back with full body armor? well the one guys gun jammed and they shot him in the neck or face area because his rifle jammed and he was tryin to unjam it. so after it was all over they said if he had just gave his FA a good smakc he would have kept going.
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:scrutiny: The shooter in question had an AK-47 not an AR-15 ... exactly what forward assist were "they" talking about?
 
$1200? It should have a forward assist, if for no reason other than, for $1200, I wouldn't want to be missing a standard feature that certainly doesn't hurt anything.
 
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