AR-15 "forward assist"

If you have the magazine out, the bolt will not catch open unless you push the bolt catch in.

Quote:
, remove the magazine, second pull the charging handle back til the bolt catches open, clear the jam. After the jam is cleared, replace the magazine, depress the bolt release so the bolt rams home, chambering another round.

 
From it's inception to the current crop of M-16's(not AR-15's) in the A3(full auto not flat top) and M4 (select fire)versions there have been over 400,000 improvements....it is the most improved/proven reliable design in all of firearms history.

Obviously if it fuctioned flawlessly from its inception, there probably would only have been say...100 improvements.

I'm not claiming that older weapons when cared for didn't work...just that there was a lot of room for improvement.
 
I value the f. assist for what crapshoot said earlier, to keep noise to a minimum.

When you get out of the truck in the middle of the night about to set up on a calling spot, you try to avoid clearing the neighborhood when you yank back and let a round slam in. So you slide back easy on the charge handle and ease the round in, but without the spring force it won't fully chamber. So you can then bump the forward assist to push it all the way in without as much noise.
But as far as a jam or short cycle due to dirt etc, never needed it for that.
 
I agree with crapshoot and Big_Tex22 have to say about the forward assist on the AR-15. I always use it because I try to avoid unnecessary noise when I load my rifle when I'm hunting. I've never had the need to use it for any other reason though. MI VHNTR
 
Big & MI - Thanks for that tip, I would not have thought of it. That reason alone is enough for me to choose a forward assist equiped upper.
 
For anyone that's interested....some good history on the M-16.
Note especially the years 1965-1970.

It makes for some interesting reading on the early history of the rifle. A rifle which, by the way, after numerous early improvements, has been a very reliable infantry rifle.

I guess the reader can decide for himself if the history provided correctly records what actually occurred or not.........

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as18-e.htm
 
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