Forward assist, or not?

[MrSmitty]

Ok, I've been looking at AR's, and seeing the DPMS Sporticals, and they are cheaper than others, but what I want to know is, is the forward assist, really necessary now-a-days? I know when they were in Vietnam they needed them when the guns were dirty, and the chamber fouled..I think they look better with, than with out, but is the Sportical an ok gun? Just wondering?

 

[excursion12]

On a true fighting gun I could maybe see an argument for it. But on a fun gun there isn't a good use for the thing. If the round won't chamber, you probably don't really want to shoot it.

 

[Fargo]

I kinda consider forward assist the "armorer call button"*. If you absolutely need to get one more round off, then by all means hit it. If the bolt isn't going forward smoothly, it is because something is stuck, usually in the chamber. Smacking the FA may get the bolt to lock up but it is gonna jam whatever is in there really tight and good luck getting that opened back up.

Even a smack the buttstock on a really hard object drill probably isn't going to do it. I do not consider not having FA to be a real drawback. Others may disagree.

Best,

Joe

*phrase "armorer call buttone" shamelessly stolen from a friend.

 

[tomc]

My experience with the AR is that it's better to have a forward assist, especially after you've been shooting for a while. Even if you're not looking at it as a combat rifle, you'll never know when you'll need to push that round forward.

 

[68kidd]

i have owned the DPMS sportical for almost 2 years and never had a problem with the gun. i just like to shoot at the range . i am not the most experinced gun guy . just my

 

[esrice]

Given the amount and type of shooting most of us civvies do with our ARs, I don't think its absolutely necessary. That being said, I'd skip the Sportical for other reasons.

Maybe take a look at the new S&W Sport model (also inexpensive and no FA).

 

[451_Detonics]

I not only think they are unneeded but give a place for crud or other objects like a blown primer anvil a place to go and lock up the gun.

 

[Que]

The FA has a purpose. If it is ever a possibility it would be needed, why have an AR without one? You never know what could happen, especially if you are running reloads.

 

[LPMan59]

i've used it before. It's not like the FA is some costly upgrade. $0.02

 

[dross]

The FA has a purpose. If it is ever a possibility it would be needed, why have an AR without one? You never know what could happen, especially if you are running reloads.

This. What's the harm? Downside: a little weight. Upside: if you need it, you have it.

 

[LPMan59]

This. What's the harm? Downside: a little weight. Upside: if you need it, you have it.

and if you're anything like the average BRD sufferer, all the other crap you hang on the rifle will make the weight of the FA completely negligible.

 

[SSGSAD]

I have a Colt, Match and have the F A I would rather, have it, and not need it, than need it, and NOT have it !!!!!

 

[jrainw]

If you are trying to load the rifle quietly it is usefull, but that is a rare occasion.

 

[sepe]

Dunham's has a Bushmaster flat-top for $769.99 still good tomorrow.

As far as the Sportical, I've seen people saying to avoid them and I've also seen people that have loved them. Not sure what the price of the Sportical is (the places I've seen them, they were around a little under $700). If it were me and I could swing it tomorrow, I'd head to Dunham's just to see if the Bushmaster is on sale still (ad says it is but I'm not sure if they've got different items on sale in different parts of the state).

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

I haven't read any posts prior to mine. The fact is technology has come light years since the original inception of the AR, from a technical reliabilty standpoint the forward assist is nothing more than a useless reminder of where we've been and no indication of where we are at. If i need nostalgia I'll talk to all my relatives who are vets and there stories of the transition from the M1A1 to the AR

 

[Yukon227]

I have an M&P Sport. It has no FA and no dust cover. If you clean your gun regularly it most likely wont be an issue, but I had an issue after firing 30 or 40 blanks with my golf ball launcher that would have been solved by FA. Blanks are nasty dirty. I have had no issue with regular ammo.

 

[pftraining_in]

Unless you are performing waterborne ops, the forward assist is not needed.

The charging handle does a far better job than the forward assist to get a round into the chamber. If a round does not chamber completely, it should not be chambered at all. The original M-16 did not include a forward assist, it was added by request of the Military, not the designer.

If your reloads do not chamber, they are out of spec and should not be in the rifle.

One additional issue with the forward assist is the construction. The design and components are the weak link to the system. If any part fails, small parts enter the upper and lower and typically lock the bolt.

 

[snowman]

Simply, Yes you want a forward assist.

 

[Fordtough25]

My good friend has had his DPMS sportical for a good 2 1/2 years now with no problems, so I can't say don't get one. But all my AR's have had forward assists, I like having it on there. Only had to use it once, but it allowed me to get the bolt fully forward so I could break the rifle down and find the problem. My

 

[Gamez235]

I am on the fence on this one. I can start by stating that not a whole lot of other firearms do not have forward assist (FA, from here on out), so why does the M4/AR? I am a firm believer that if something won't naturally go into the chamber, don't try to force it. Using your FA to ensure the firearm in properly into battery I can understand. I wouldn't give it anything more than a light tap though. I've seen a few people just beat the snot out of it trying to get a round in there, only for it to stay there till the cleaning rod knocked it out.

It's tapped in the "Army" doctrine though as a step during several manipulations though. I can remember every time I jammed a mag and let the bolt go home, I'd give it a push. Nowadays I just yank on the charging handle and get the round out of there from the get go.


I guess not having one is really not a big deal to me. The hardcore's will tell you absolutely have to have one, but others will see it as a dated feature of the platform.

If you have one, I guess I'd just say "tap" responsibly?