Saga of the AR15 Forward Assist: A Solution Searching for a Problem

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From ForgottenWeapons.com


Saga of the AR15 Forward Assist: A Solution Searching for a Problem

July 30, 2020 Ian McCollum Commentary, Select-fire Rifles, Video 42


In 1963, the US Army set out to purchase 85,000 AR-15 rifles as a one-time procurement to hold the infantry through until final adoption of the expected Project SPIW rifle. Where the previous Air Force purchases of the AR-15 had been simple over-the-counter transactions with Colt, the scale of this new contract prompted Robert McNamara to set up a committee to standardize the rifle requirements of all four service branches. One of the disputed items was the addition of a manual bolt closure device.

The Air Force, having tested the AR-15 for several years by this point, saw no need for such a device. The Army, however, insisted that it was necessary both as a confidence-building feature for the infantryman and because it might in some situation solve a malfunction. Today, let’s discuss the sequence of events that led to the eventual January 1964 adoption of the now-familiar plunger type bolt closure device.




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I may be the only shooter who has needed an AR forward assist but was shooting a slick side upper. The problem was really stiff magazine springs. They were new, and the first round was super tight against the feed lips. The return spring didn't have enough force to get it off. I did fix the mags, but the forward assist would have helped under the circumstances.
 
Useful when you’re done cleaning your weapon (oh god he said weapon instead of firearm !! The end is near!!) and you need to put a round in the chamber without that very distinctive noise that can be heard from far away in the silent night. Great from preventing the CSM from turning a relax exercise into a lets say, a real bad exercise :p
 
I personally prefer the FA. And seen many times where the forward assist was needed, or rather when not employed there was a failure to fire.

While I agree that it is not strictly nesessary on some guns, depending on use, I will always pick having one over not.
 
Mmm great this rubbish again.

I think its stupid for a semi auto to be designed with no way to manually manipulate the action forward and backwards. The whole argument that the FA on an AR 15 is a useless feature is also stupid. The notion often spread by simpletons who fail to understand the design and function of the firearm; thinking that its a bulky unnecessary feature while at the same time they bolt 45degree offsets, fake suppressors and IR lights to it.
 
I've used mine.

I've also tapped the slide forward on many handguns.

I've also tapped the bolt forward on several other semi-auto rifles.

I can't imagine why someone would be opposed to having one?
 
The Army procured 85k of these and AF saw no faults over the years tested, why are you thanking the world. Great quip though!
 
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Its like building a dirt bike without a kickstart. A snowmobile without a pull cord, an airplane without a manual gear lever.
 
You could carry a few extra rounds of the same weight instead, that would solve a common stoppage.
The Israelis welded their FAL charging handles to make them reciprocate, so there must have been some interest in forward assist in the desert.
 
Stoner was a great designer in my opinion, but relying entirely on spring power to strip and chamber cartridges, 100% of the time, is poor design thinking.

The bolt closure plunger or (forward assist), being at an angle to the bolt travel, was a quick fix that will not ensure 100% chambering of a gritty BCG. I suppose nothing is 100% in this world as good ole Murphy tells us.

Ideally for maximum leverage, the forward assist should push the BCG exactly on the boreline. If not possible, ie, as in bolt action action rifles, the pushing force should at least be parallel to the boreline.
 
Forcing a round into the chamber is dumb. If it won't feed naturally, then forcing it won't help. Clear the stoppage, replace your worn or out of spec mags or buy a better quality rifle.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
I may be the only shooter who has needed an AR forward assist but was shooting a slick side upper. The problem was really stiff magazine springs. They were new, and the first round was super tight against the feed lips. The return spring didn't have enough force to get it off. I did fix the mags, but the forward assist would have helped under the circumstances.
Click to expand...

I did too, for a very similar reason. Some dust had gotten into the ejection port after it had locked open, and the bolt didn't have enough momentum to strip that first round off the mag. Tried the normal drill twice, same result. Thumb recess on the bolt was too far back to use. I could SEE the chamber was fine, the bolt just had to get home. Tapped that forward assist, round chambered, gun re-lubed itself after that first shot, and ran fine after that.

Thankfully this was not on a 2-way range, but it convinced me of the wisdom of the FA.

Sassybee said:
replace your worn or out of spec mags or buy a better quality rifle.
Click to expand...

In the military, all your mags are worn out, and the only quality of rifle is the one Her Majesty has deemed fit to issue you.
 
Sassybee said:
Forcing a round into the chamber is dumb. If it won't feed naturally, then forcing it won't help. Clear the stoppage, replace your worn or out of spec mags or buy a better quality rifle.
Click to expand...

I keep hearing that and you're right -pounding on the FA to force a round into the chamber is wrong, however if the BCG won't go into battery because of a little grit or sticky mag and only a nudge is required to assist it into battery, than I can see the utility of using it. Also the option to close the action silently is also good.

I'd rather have the option of using it or not at my discretion , rather than no other option except clearing the rifle and starting over. Is FA a must have? Probably not.

Is it a nice to have? Probably.
 
The Honda dirt bikes came with a weak kickstart for a while.

Elect start...but when you needed to kick, the case and kickstart mechanics would fail, most likely in the bush.
 
We will never operate our rifles in battle conditions with weather/dirt/temperature extremes etc. (we may never operate our ARs again anyway). If you don't have it, and you need it on the battle field, it could be the last day of your life.
 
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