Does anybody use forward assist?
- Thread starter Vent_O_Later
- Start date
Squeeze
New member
What Wasteland said. I don't even remember popping the
FA, but I do it. As for making problem cases stick tighter,
IMHO that is BS. Slam home the bolt, and a problem case is
stuck. When I pop the FA, and is still doesn't lock up,
I KNOW THE RIFLE IS DOWN. FWIW, I WOULD NEVER OWN AN AR-15
WITHOUT A FORWARD ASSIST. I have recurring nightmares about
firearms not going BANG. I smack the slides on my pistols,
I smack the bolt handles on my auto loading shotguns, and
I smack the FA on AR-15s. For auto loaders, specifically,
and all firearms in general, until I am sure the bolt is locked
up, I don't trust it to go BANG.
Squeeze
willy1947
Active member
43 years ago, they took my M14 and gave a CAR-15. I wrote home for a shotgun, Ithaca Model 37. Dad sent the shotgun and his WWII 1911. I came home alive.
The forward assist was the best thing they added to the Car-15 next to the cartoon book on how to clean it.
Now, I enjoy my AR's it only took 30 years. I own 4 of them. I wish I had my 6.8mm, 43 years ago.
Forward assist is not a must if it sets in a safe but in the real world it is a must.
The forward assist was the best thing they added to the Car-15 next to the cartoon book on how to clean it.
Now, I enjoy my AR's it only took 30 years. I own 4 of them. I wish I had my 6.8mm, 43 years ago.
Forward assist is not a must if it sets in a safe but in the real world it is a must.
You should ask Scott from Specialized Dynamics and AzBushman about the importance of a forward assist. Both have gottne nailed by a bolt that comes out of battery.
Scott and I were out one day, and I called in a bobcat, about 30 yards in front of him. He placed his crosshairs on it's head and pulled the trigger, "CLICK." The cat heard it, looked at him, but the caller started again, and the cat turned it's attention back to the call. Scott stayed calm, as a good shooter with a malfunction should, and eased his 1911 .45 from his holster. he proceeds to shoot and hit the cat. It ran off, but we tracked it and Scott put it down with my Specialized Dynamics .223 AR. We checked his rifle, and found that in getting out of the truck the bolt had come out of battery.
Bushman was out with me on his first predator hunt, and we were cautious about noise discipline, so when he lowered hi bolt he did so very carefully. The bolt stripped off the round from the mag, and closed, but it didn't rotate and lock. 90 seconds into the stand a bobcat comes walking right at him, he squeezes the trigger, and "CLICK". Bushman eases the charging handle back, and dropped the bolt hard, immediately he pulls the trigger and the cat goes down.
When I am going out on a stand I will "bump" my forward assist just to be safe. It's like everything else, get into a pattern, and you will make less mistakes, and forget fewer things.
Scott and I were out one day, and I called in a bobcat, about 30 yards in front of him. He placed his crosshairs on it's head and pulled the trigger, "CLICK." The cat heard it, looked at him, but the caller started again, and the cat turned it's attention back to the call. Scott stayed calm, as a good shooter with a malfunction should, and eased his 1911 .45 from his holster. he proceeds to shoot and hit the cat. It ran off, but we tracked it and Scott put it down with my Specialized Dynamics .223 AR. We checked his rifle, and found that in getting out of the truck the bolt had come out of battery.
Bushman was out with me on his first predator hunt, and we were cautious about noise discipline, so when he lowered hi bolt he did so very carefully. The bolt stripped off the round from the mag, and closed, but it didn't rotate and lock. 90 seconds into the stand a bobcat comes walking right at him, he squeezes the trigger, and "CLICK". Bushman eases the charging handle back, and dropped the bolt hard, immediately he pulls the trigger and the cat goes down.
When I am going out on a stand I will "bump" my forward assist just to be safe. It's like everything else, get into a pattern, and you will make less mistakes, and forget fewer things.
doggin coyotes
Well-known member
I've used my AR's a bunch in the real world. Hunting and targets. Can't think of one time I have used the FA. Wouldn't feel one bit handicapped without it. Just me.
Quote:We checked his rifle, and found that in getting out of the truck the bolt had come out of battery.
Did you figure out how or why this happened?
Quote:We checked his rifle, and found that in getting out of the truck the bolt had come out of battery.
Did you figure out how or why this happened?
Arizona Bushman
New member
SnowmanMo said:
slugger
New member
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesI've used my AR's a bunch in the real world. Hunting and targets. Can't think of one time I have used the FA. Wouldn't feel one bit handicapped without it. Just me.
Quote:We checked his rifle, and found that in getting out of the truck the bolt had come out of battery.
Did you figure out how or why this happened?
Doesn't this also mean that there was a live round in the chamber while in the vehicle?
That'll make ya do the "press hard there are 5 copies" here in Colorado if caught..
Quote:We checked his rifle, and found that in getting out of the truck the bolt had come out of battery.
Did you figure out how or why this happened?
Doesn't this also mean that there was a live round in the chamber while in the vehicle?
That'll make ya do the "press hard there are 5 copies" here in Colorado if caught..
Vent_O_Later
New member
The only reason I see bumping it is because it's there, I don't know about you guys, but I make [beeep] sure my rifles ready right when I get out of the truck, rack one in, check the bolt position and off I go. I can see it's purpose before all [beeep] brakes loose, but if it does go click, you gotta pull the charging handle anyway.
longrange2
New member
Frankly, I don't need to see a round in the chamber. I note which position the top round in the mag is in (left or right) before I insert the mag. Once the bolt is closed I remove the mag and make sure that the top round was chambered. The new top round will be in the opposite position if a round chambered. The other benefit of doing it this way is you can do it in the dark by feel, you don't need to see into the chamber.
When I am trying to be quiet hunting I ease the bolt carrier forward and use the depression in the side of the bolt carrier to push it forward with my thumb. Then I can see and feel when the bolt closes. I like the looks of an upper with a FA better than a slick side, but I just don't use the FA. If a round won't chamber for some reason I get it out of there and chamber another.
Originally Posted By: WasteLandI had shot plenty of guns before the military but never ARs. So the standard procedure stuck with me from boot camp at the range, afghanistan before I stepped outside the wire everyday, and even today hunting.
When loading a bolt closed and unloaded weapon, stick mag in, chamber round, pull slowly on charge handle until I see for my self that round is in the chamber, close bolt, give the FA a good palm heal strike.
When I am trying to be quiet hunting I ease the bolt carrier forward and use the depression in the side of the bolt carrier to push it forward with my thumb. Then I can see and feel when the bolt closes. I like the looks of an upper with a FA better than a slick side, but I just don't use the FA. If a round won't chamber for some reason I get it out of there and chamber another.
Originally Posted By: WasteLandI had shot plenty of guns before the military but never ARs. So the standard procedure stuck with me from boot camp at the range, afghanistan before I stepped outside the wire everyday, and even today hunting.
When loading a bolt closed and unloaded weapon, stick mag in, chamber round, pull slowly on charge handle until I see for my self that round is in the chamber, close bolt, give the FA a good palm heal strike.
Last edited:
mtnkid85
Member
Originally Posted By: HookedOriginally Posted By: Vent_O_Later the last thing i want to do is hammer the thing in there.
I used mine once, and learned this the hard way.
I can pretty much tell (now) where the bolt needs to be in order to go `bang`, and I can let the bolt close slowly enough that it will stop before that point(?term-battery?), then a light push of the FA button or use your thumb.
The important thing is to not force it if there is a problem.
Almost exact same procedure for me every time.
I slowly drop the bolt then lightly push the FA to get that final lock on the bolt. Never "bang" or "smack" it, I want to feel if there is a unnatural amount of force needed.
I wouldnt want to go with out it, unless it was a sided charger.
I used mine once, and learned this the hard way.
I can pretty much tell (now) where the bolt needs to be in order to go `bang`, and I can let the bolt close slowly enough that it will stop before that point(?term-battery?), then a light push of the FA button or use your thumb.
The important thing is to not force it if there is a problem.
Almost exact same procedure for me every time.
I slowly drop the bolt then lightly push the FA to get that final lock on the bolt. Never "bang" or "smack" it, I want to feel if there is a unnatural amount of force needed.
I wouldnt want to go with out it, unless it was a sided charger.
doggin coyotes
Well-known member
I would think it never was fully locked up rather than somehow came unlocked getting out of the vehicle. Makes much more sense.
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesI would think it never was fully locked up rather than somehow came unlocked getting out of the vehicle. Makes much more sense.
Sounds possible. Normally when I get ready to go into an area, we will stop and load up, so that the slamming of the bolts won't spook something. So I like to check my forward assist to make sure that something like this doesn't happen.
Sounds possible. Normally when I get ready to go into an area, we will stop and load up, so that the slamming of the bolts won't spook something. So I like to check my forward assist to make sure that something like this doesn't happen.
Let's talk pre-hunting. For those who reload, make sure you fully size your brass. None of this adjust your shell holder so it lightly kisses the bottom of the die. Make sure that baby cams over. Second seat your primers deep. Slam fires are no fun. Always make sure your gun (AR) is pointed in a safe direction when loading and if rapid firing in case the heat build up causes a round to "cook off". If you are not fully sizing your brass, do what dangerous game hunter do before hunting. Load your clip and cycle your rounds thru the gun to make sure they chamber safely before going hunting. Me? I fully size, seat primers deep, put my empty mag in and pull the charging handle back to lock the bolt open and I leave it that way (locked open). I load the clip, and when I get to my hunting spot and am still inside my vehicle, I put in the clip and release the locked back bolt using the release button letting that baby slam home. Then I put on the safety and go hunting. Never had a failure to to fire or used the FA. Still like having the FA in case I ever needed it.
Coyote Cruiser
New member
I push it all the time. If I walk real far carrying my rifle when I sit down I push it. If I switch from my shotgun to my AR that has been layin in the dirt and sand I push it. While in the stand and see a coyote coming I push it and cliq the safty off. It's just one of those things it takes less than a second and can be the difference between looking like an [beeep] or looking like an [beeep] with a freshly killed coyote.
SGT. D
New member
Originally Posted By: WasteLandI had shot plenty of guns before the military but never ARs. So the standard procedure stuck with me from boot camp at the range, afghanistan before I stepped outside the wire everyday, and even today hunting.
When loading a bolt closed and unloaded weapon, stick mag in, chamber round, pull slowly on charge handle until I see for my self that round is in the chamber, close bolt, give the FA a good palm heal strike.
I knew that every day I left the wire or a animal is in my sights, that round is ready to go.
I do the same thing with my bolt actions as far as watching the round slide into chamber.
FAs are a real AR specific item. any other weapon that has ever had a charging handle can be used the exact same way, hitting it forward.
Never had to use my FA in combat, even when my weapon was wrecked and nasty, I never had one jam
+1 Did the same. Safe habit.
When loading a bolt closed and unloaded weapon, stick mag in, chamber round, pull slowly on charge handle until I see for my self that round is in the chamber, close bolt, give the FA a good palm heal strike.
I knew that every day I left the wire or a animal is in my sights, that round is ready to go.
I do the same thing with my bolt actions as far as watching the round slide into chamber.
FAs are a real AR specific item. any other weapon that has ever had a charging handle can be used the exact same way, hitting it forward.
Never had to use my FA in combat, even when my weapon was wrecked and nasty, I never had one jam
+1 Did the same. Safe habit.
Coyotejunki
Well-known member
I was taught to use the FA on a M16A1 in Boot camp also. When I get to my stand, I quietly chamber a round and use the FA to make sure the bolt is locked up when I use an AR15.
I'll slam the bolt home when on the range or not worried about the noise. Never had a fail to fire.
I'll slam the bolt home when on the range or not worried about the noise. Never had a fail to fire.