The ORIGINAL AR 10 rifles, Sudanese and Portuguese variants, as built by AI, did NOT have a forward assist. The updated Port model DID have an FN FAL type adjustable gas regulator ...
which you didn't really need any way, but it was a thoughtful addition
After several thousand rounds through a few dozen examples of the ORIGINAL AR 10 rifles, with just about ZERO malfunctions, with a wide range of ammo including Remington .223 Accelerators, and my light reloads with 125 gr bullets at 7.62X39 velocities, I can state that IMHO, the ORIGINAL AR 10 design did not require a forward assist. That BIG HEAVY buffer and THICK recoil spring, and MASSIVE bolt, all did the job of whacking the 7.62 NATO cases into the chamber quite enthusiastically.
No manual intervention required.
However, all of the MODERN / HYBRID AR 10 designs seem to use as many AR 15 parts as they can. These AR 15 parts were scaled down when the AR 10 was redesigned from a full sized 7.62 NATO BATTLE Rifle into the notorious 5.56 Poodle shooter. While using these smaller AR 15 parts in an AR 10 makes sense from a manufacturing/cost effective perspective, some of those smaller AR 15 parts may compromise reliability and functionality when incorporated into the full sized AR 10.One has to wonder exactly where the designers compromised on these NEW AR 10 Hybrids.
I've been interested in these new Hybrid AR 10s for years now, but am holding out waiting for a NEW AR 10 that was as robust and reliable as the old ORIGINAL AR 10s ... and didn't cost more than my 4X4 van.
This new LMT AR 10 might be the one I've been waiting for.
Until then,
I'll pi$$ away my money with .300 Whisper, 6.8 SPC, etc in an AR 15 platform.
That way at least I can engage standard bred poodles instead of the tea cup poodles with a clear conscience.
PS: Do you ever wonder what would have happened if Stoner had showed LeMay an AR 10 in .243 Win, instead of an AR 15 in 5.56??
All opinions expressed on the internet are suspect ...
some opinions may be more suspicious than others,
YPMMV
[;{)
LAZ 1