Remove forward assist?

smak_daddy

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Crazy question. Is it possible to cleanly and completely remove the forward assist (including it's annoying lump on the receiver) without harming the integrity of the upper? Heck, I'd even ditch the brass deflector if I could.

To me, the forward assist (and brass deflector) on the AR-15 is equivilant of the appendix in humans.
 
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Sure but you will make the gun look like a Bubba'ed POS :(

The problem is the hole that will be left and the contours will just not look right.
 
Crazy question. Is it possible to cleanly and completely remove the forward assist (including it's annoying lump on the receiver) without harming the integrity of the upper? Heck, I'd even ditch the brass deflector if I could.

To me, the forward assist (and brass deflector) on the AR-15 is equivilant of the appendix in humans.

I don't know about removing an existing one, but I know there are upper receivers that are manufactured without the forward assist.
 
They serve a purpose in military in dirty conditions and can load rifle nearly silently. In the military I was a pretty good shot. I doubt forcing me to switch would benefit others in my squad.
 
In great conditions I tend to agree. I appreciate the case deflector. I have shot ARs without one and have been hit in the cheek with brass. On a related note I once had a hot brass from an FN FAL go down my shirt in prone. Sgt. wondered why I was doing a pushup.
 
You can buy a 9mm upper like the one Rock River makes. No forward assist or deflector. It will have to be modified, hole for gas tube drilled, clearance cut for bolt cam pin milled, but you'll have a very clean looking upper. Those uppers are more expensive than normal ones but it will give you exactly what you're looking for.
 
Or just keep your eyes open for an older one. No assist, no deflector.
They turn up because most folks want the updated bells and whistles, to go with short barrels, quad rails and M4 stocks.
 
I kind of assumed he was looking for a flattop upper. If not than an old M16 style upper would be just the ticket, assuming he could find one.
 
Yes, if a flat top is desired, it would be necessary to track down one of the current slick sides. Just not as popular or common.
Last one I bought was a DPMS LoPro @$89 before the export restrictions made things less convenient.
 
Yeah I was lefty shooting a mates AR. It was a shooting around corners drill where I was on the left side. It was steel cased ammo and the extractor pulled it out in such a fashion that it wacked me right in the cheek. totally missed the deflector. Then about 1 mag later I got another one on my hat brim. Would want to shoot all day like that so ill keep the deflector. Never used the FA but I assume if the rifle were gunked I might.

Smith and wesson makes a sport carbine with no FA that should be in CAnada soon. In theory.

-chris
 
i dont understand the hate for the forward assist lately... i like mine i see its benifits, if i want to ensure the gun is in battery i just push the button i dont have to pull the charging handle.
 
i dont understand the hate for the forward assist lately... i like mine i see its benifits, if i want to ensure the gun is in battery i just push the button i dont have to pull the charging handle.

Same here, i find it very helpfull and there was a major reason why Gene Stoner put it there back in the 60's.

Heck its even been a personal habit for me to hit the damn thing right after every load/reload and I have never had any stopages in firing a C7 or M16
 
The only problem I ever saw was in the use of blanks. User had partial failure to feed kept hammering on it until the thinly walled casing malformed making the jam pretty complete. I don't see the hate. Hell, concentrate on the sights!
 
I am old enough to remember when just about the only AR15s that could be had were slick side and everyone wanted a FA.

Far be it from me to tell you what you do and what you do not want in a rifle. But consider; both the FA and the shell deflector could prove useful in SHTF situations. Chances are you'll never need either of them, but you never know.
 
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