Forward assist

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plodder

plodder

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I have the forward assist feature on all of my ARs, but I have serious doubts as to the effectiveness and necessity of it. I cannot think of a single instance in which I was able to get a balky round to properly chamber. I can think of multiple instances of when I aggressively manipulated the forward assist that it did nothing but severely jam a round out of battery.

Sometimes ejecting this jammed round requires more than my hands can apply to the charging handle. I'm thinking of getting an upper and BCG that do not have Forward Assist provisions for my next build.

What say you?
 
It's useful for quietly chambering a round (or checking to make sure one is) when hunting. Can also be used when some greenhorn you're trying to teach eases the CH forward instead of just letting it go :banghead:

Otherwise, though, I don't use it.
 
I actually found the need more than ever before in hunting applications.

There are times when you may need to be quiet when charging the rifle. I first came across this when a former employer was on a hunt with a R25 308 and the guide would not let him chamber a round until setting up for a shot. Now, people may balk at that, but it doesn't matter what you think or want to do on a guided hunt if the guide has his rules. Former boss had to slowly pull back the CH and let it down ever slower. That caused the cartridge to not be fully pushed into the chamber, hence, no click when he went to squeeze the trigger.

Now, if the rifle would have had a forward assist to push the cartridge the rest of the way, there would have been a 6x6 on his wall.

Not many will ever need to have this function of ability, but since it doesn't ever hurt me, I like the muscle memory and knowing if ever in a position where a quiet chambering is needed, I can assure myself the round is seated properly.

my $.02
 
For awhile I was curious about it when I was thinking about trying to make an ultralight build. Removing it or using an upper without one barely saves any weight.

I guess it's kind of innocuous. It has its uses as described above. It really doesn't hurt anything if you use it correctly (don't force rounds into battery or they will get stuck as you've learned). It doesn't really hurt anything just being there or really get in the way. I guess if I had a rifle that didn't have one, I wouldn't really care, but I wouldn't go out of my way or spend extra money to get an upper without one.
 
The forward assist is only to seat a cartridge that is already in the chamber, if you hit the button with more than a light tap you are usually asking for trouble. It was designed to be a help in loading the first cartridge from the mag if you didnt pull the bolt back all the way,or didnt let go of it to load. Without a reciprocating charging handle your only option for a partially loaded cartridge was to yank the charging handle hoping the stuck one ejected. That being the case(no pun intended), if a finger push won't seat it you usually need to drop the mag and pull the charging handle.
 
Forward assist sure does come in handy when getting out of the truck on a calm quiet day before looking for yotes or g-hogs. I use it a lot.

I suppose the same could be said if you were caught unprepared in a defense situation and needed to load without 'screaming' where you were & what you were doing.

Other than that, haven't ever really needed one.
 
if you want to move the carrier forward to make sure a round is chambered, or because someone eased the charging handle down, you could just use that divot on the side of the carrier to push it forward, could you not?
 
justin22885 said:
if you want to move the carrier forward to make sure a round is chambered, or because someone eased the charging handle down, you could just use that divot on the side of the carrier to push it forward, could you not?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have read that is the purpose of that indention on the carrier. That spot may be a little warm under some conditions.
 
I've used it a couple of times. It doesn't hurt anything and it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
 
i thought the purpose of that indentation was to kick the dust cover open?.. or was this supposed to be some kind of the dual purpose feature?
 
One of my ARs has it out of four. Never used it and never had a need to use it and never wished I had it on the rifles that don't have it. My AR rifles are range guns and that's about it. The only environment they see is the range. So while I can see it as useful for quieting the chambering of a round for hunting or getting a stuck round home I never had any use for it or needed it. I guess to some extent it's a matter of what you use the rifle for and how you use the rifle.

Just My Take....
Ron
 
I have often heard it referred to as a "press check" of checking the chamber of an AR quietly for a round. I used it many times in the military to make sure Private Joe snuffy was ready for a patrol.

Other than that, I have found it very useful for fixing an AR if someone forgot to put their buffer tube back in and the carrier gets stuck in the buttstock.
 
I'm with Reloadron, my S&W Sport is a range rifle and does not have the forward assist. I like the "slick side" reciever, from a cosmetic standpoint.

My rifle has never had a failure to go into battery in 1500 rounds fire, not really worried about.
 
My Son had an early AR without the forward assist. We were out in the field
with it shooting at stumps and tin cans and stuff. We ran about 50 rounds
through the gun and a cartridge went into the chamber but not quite all the
way. We pulled back on the charging handle or whatever they call it and it
came loose from the cartridge. Then we took a rock and tried to knock the
cartridge out with the cleaning rod. The cleaning rod expanded and now we
had a cartridge and a cleaning rod stuck in the bore. It would have been nice
to have that forward assist at that time.
Zeke
 
lysanderxiii said:
The debate started in 1962 and hasn't stopped yet....
Click to expand...
While I do not know the forum demographics I would venture a guess that 75% of the membership was not around in 1962, even as infants. So with new shooters there are new to them questions. Anyway, wasn't it around 1963 the M16 rifle entered service and wasn't till 1969 the M16A1 with the forward bolt assist came along? Really matters not because as new shooters come along the same questions many of us posed decades ago will be asked again, and again, and again and they will be answered again, and again, and again. :)

Ron
 
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MachIVshooter
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Join Date: August 11, 2005
Location: Elbert County, CO
Posts: 13,293
It's useful for quietly chambering a round (or checking to make sure one is) when hunting. Can also be used when some greenhorn you're trying to teach eases the CH forward instead of just letting it go

Otherwise, though, I don't use it.
__________________
"Life is harder when you're stupid. Sometimes, it's also quite a bit shorter."-1911Tuner

what he said
 
rem1858 said:
My view is that it is better to have it and not need it, then it is to not have it and need it.
It is there, use it if needed, if not, don't use it.
Pretty simple...
Click to expand...
Oh sure, get logical and start applying common sense why don't we? :)

Really, it doesn't hurt anything by being there.

Ron
 
Carried one for Uncle Sam from 1972 until 1975; had a FA. Many thousands of rounds and never had to use it. Was trained in Basic to use it, understood it's use but never needed it - that was back when the feature (can't remember if it was the A1 or A2 model) was supposed to be needed in a pinch - I was lucky, never a pinch and never used. I would say obsolete today. Thanks.
 
Every time this comes up I think of the YouTube video of the guy that fires his AR, nothing happens so he smacks the forward assist and tries again. Still nothing, so he he smacks it harder then, kaboooom.
Who saw that coming? Ummm, everyone.
 
Well, it's something to kick with a combat boot when everything else has failed.

I mean, with a Mauser, 03 Springfield, or either M1, or M14, or SKS, or AK-47, you had a forged steel bolt handle or OP rod handle to kick it shut when the organic fertilizer hit the rotary air dispensing machine.

It may not help, but it steels feels good to at least have 'Something Steel to kick' as a last resort in combat.

rc
 
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