I recently built my first rifle. As you can guess, it was an AR15 in the .223/.556 cal. anyway, I had so much fun doing it and like working on guns that I've decided to get an FFL and open a business. While I was at the gun show this past weekend, I saw some AR's that had the dust cover removed, and the forward assist sections cut out of the frame, leaving the bolt carrier assy. exposed. When I inquired as to why they had done that, I was told that the dust cover was an antiquated and unnecessary on the gun. When I asked if that didn't allow more dirt and debris to get into the mechanism causing malfunctions, I was told that it presented no such problems. Anyone know if that is true. I did like the lever that was tapped into the front of the bolt assy. which basically does away with the charging handle and aids in wounded operation of the rifle.