Is bolt assist on AR really needed?

[briansmithwins]

Situations like this is why a FA comes in handy:

http://youtu.be/WcfqZFWpk9s

Without utilizing the CH as a FA I wouldn't have been able to fire two rounds after the rifle was dirty.

Not all shooting happens on sunny days at the range, at known distances, at stationary targets, with a clean rifle.

BSW

 

[Destructo6]

Press Check: often the bolt will not go fully into battery after performing one. So, hammer that forward assist.

Otherwise, not so much.

 

[arizona98tj]

Not needed IMO.

If you have a failure, your responce should be an imediate action drill, not to cram on the FA.

Very, very true.

I have seen far more shooters at the range hammer on the FA and jam that round to the point where a rod down the barrel is required to drive it out than I've ever seen successfully seat a round in a dirty rifle.

That being said....if you are a soldier or a LEO or some other such occupation where you anticipate crawling around in the mud, much, sand, etc....and feel you need a FA to ensure your survival/safety, by all means make sure you have a FA on your rifle.

Me? I'm getting too old to soldier (did my service back in the '70s) and I can afford to keep my AR clean and in a reliable condition. And if one of my reloads decides it is not suitably sized to fit the chamber, I already know that smacking the FA isn't going to make my life any easier. I sure wouldn't hesitate for a second to purchase a M&P Sport, without the dust cover or the FA.

 

[plodder]

I used the FA on one of my ARs once. Took me about 20 minutes to clear the jam that resulted:banghead: Since I up to this point have never experienced a mortal combat, do or die situation on the range I frequent, I think I will refrain from attempting to force a bad cartridge or load of dirt into battery position.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

in the military, it became almost automatic (pardon the pun) to push the forward assist when you chambered the first round. I have seen couple posts abound babying the charging handle on an AR10 or bolt on mini 14, it is not really good to baby these, let the bolt shut at normal speed. if you are hunting, chamber a round and put it on safety, then go to your blind etc. when you need a forward assist, you will be gald it was there.

 

[breakingcontact]

No. If I have a round that isn't fully chambered, I'll eject that round instead of potentially seriously jamming up the rifle with a bad round.

 

[chicharrones]

I use mine often. I hunt with my AR-10 and I baby the bolt shut so not to make any noise. I use the FA to make sure bolt is closed. On the LR308 version the FA is the shell deflector. A lot of big money swat style ARs are slick sides. Slick sides carry much easier as they don't snag on clothes. You can use your thumb to push the bolt forward and it is just the right amount of pressure to keep you from chambering a round that shouldnt go.

That's the best reason I can think of for us civilian shooters. Quiet chambering. I've done it myself for the heck of it, just ride the bolt charge handle forward and give the forward assist an easy push to finish closing the bolt. It's quite slick.

 

[Longhorn 76]

If you have ever had to bump the slide of your pistol to load a round, you might want an assist.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I used my exactly 2x during 'break-in' ie first 200 rounds and never since. So probably not.

 

[CGRifleman]

I've never needed or used one on a civilian AR. The only gun I've ever used the forward assist on was an M16A2 but being that I'm in a service that is not primarily combat-oriented, our M16s look like factory seconds made from leftover parts and I've yet to see one go 300 rounds without malfing.

 

[benEzra]

They are useful when doing a press check on a civilian AR, but as others have mentioned you can also ensure the bolt is back in battery simply by pushing on the bolt carrier. However, having a forward assist keeps oil/grime off your thumb and is a little quicker. Loading the chamber by riding the charging handle, then using the FA to seat the extractor over the rim, is also easier on ammo (keeps the firing pin from dinging the primer).

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I keep hearing references to a "civilian" situation, in rapid fire combat with grit etc. building up...... you will need the forward assist.... and "riding" a charging handle is never recommended or ever good.....they serve a purpose.....use common sense.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Whether you are target shooting, hunting, or on a two way range, you are much better dumping a bad round than forcing it.

I can see two situations, both not civilian.

1. Very dirty chamber from a prolonged engagement.
2. Loading silently by holding back the charging handle then seating the extractor over the rim with the FA.

Mike

 

[kingcheese]

the way I see it, the m16, M&A, and ar platforms wouldn't have ever gotten the forward assist if there wasn't a real problem present, you may never actually need it, but your gonna hate not having it if youever do, its not like you can slap your charging handle to help the bolt seat properly

 

[skoro]

It was on the M-16a1 back in the day...

 

[X-Rap]

My son who is a combat vet of recent wars agrees with JShirley and others in the clear and recharge and his given reason is that the bolt will properly chamber a round and if not forcing the FA might render the gun totally useless.
I like it for reasons stated regarding quieting down the noise by riding the bolt and then locking it up with the FA. I use this technique while hunting and it works fine. It seems that the dust covers and FA come as a pair on many of the uppers I see and the dust cover is a must for me as it can take a reliable rifle and make it not so much if crap gets in there.

 

[velocette]

I see fairly regularly at the large municipal range that I work part time at, live round jammed AR rifles. Usually due to steel cased ammo or gun show reloads.
(Don't get me started on them.)
If the shooter has assaulted the forward assist, then clearing the jam is a lot more difficult and brutal. If we cannot open the action, a rod down the bore will NOT move the round. Banging the firearm's butt on the ground seems to be the only way to clear it. Not a good thing to do with a loaded rifle and one done very carefully.
FA's might be worthy in rare circumstances, but for the huge majority they will cause far more problems than they ever might cure.

Roger

 

[Welding Rod]

I would rather have no flash suppressor than a 3 prong flash suppressor because using one to break bands on crates might bend the barrel.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Ages ago. We didn't have forward assist on our M-16s.

That's the Air Force version (although some leaked to other services.) The M16A1 was the first version with the forward assist, and it was needed.

One use was when crossing water (a rice paddy, stream, etc.) it was SOP to "crack" the bolt to let water drain from the barrel -- then use the forward assist to ensure the bolt was fully closed and locked.

 

[Bobson]

No. If a round doesn't seat just by fully retracting the bolt and releasing, you have a problem. Remove the round.

John

John, I know you're a combat vet. I'm an Air Force vet and my brother was an infantry squad leader in the Marine Corps. Why does the military teach the use of the FA if the best thing to do is to simply remove the round and move on? This isn't my way of suggesting you're wrong - I'm just curious why the inconsistent teaching exists.

 

[jmr40]

I almost never shift my truck into 4X4. But when I need it, I need it bad. I'd rather have it, and never need it, than not have it, and find I do need it.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have used the FA once..maybe twice, in 25 years of shooting them. Not really needed for non-combat guns, IMHO.

 

[jaytex1969]

If you have a failure, your response should be an immediate action drill, not to cram on the FA.

I spent 7 years in the Infantry with M16/203's in various states of use/abuse/decay.

Most of that time was in the swamps of Georgia, with numerous trips to the Mojave desert for training and the 7 months of Desert Shield/Storm. (all nasty environs for your weapon)

My forward assist was quite valuable on numerous occasions. There is not always time for the immediate action drill for THAT shot.

The immediate action drill we were taught to use, in fact, included the FA in the sequence. We used the "acronym" of "S.P.O.R.T.S."

Slap the magazine upward
Pull the charging handle to the rear
Observe the ejected round
Release the charging handle forward
Tap the forward assist
Squeeze the trigger

 

[horsemen61]

I am building an AR 15 CURRENTLY and will try to go with a slick sided upper I just think they look nicer

 

[YZ]

I almost never shift my truck into 4X4. But when I need it, I need it bad. I'd rather have it, and never need it, than not have it, and find I do need it.

Why not fix a bayonet then?