AR-15 without forward assist

[UrbanWolf]

I'm gonna be honest, that i'm not very knowledgeable with AR-15s, only have a Windham Weaponry for less than a year. But hey, I'm here to learn.
I've been looking for a 20 inch AR-15, because they are da shit IMO. my local shop have a few pre-ban(?) 20 inch's. I'm digging them for they are Colt.
They just dont have forward assist, i know the first production M16s without forward assist are a disaster when first used in Vietnam, without proper maintenance and wrong ammo of course. But with proper maintenance will they make great shooters?
The only reason i can think of to not want a forward assist on a closed bolt gun is that if you have a round that won't seat its better to just eject it and go to the next round which does not need to be shoved into the chamber(which can cause all kinds of problems).

[clublights]

I'm sure someone around here will come thru with a better answer......


but I feel compelled to say this

if you need the forward assist while shooting anything short of ACTUAL combat...

your doing it WRONG.

[20X11]

Yes...forward assist is rarely used in a non-combat situation. If you have to JAM a round into the chamber, you should really dump that cartridge and move on to the next. I have NEVER used the forward assist in 30 years of shooting ARs.

[Ridge]

Forward assist is only really needed if you ease a round into the chamber; to verify the bolt is fully seated.

[SideShow Bob]

I'm sure someone around here will come thru with a better answer......


but I feel compelled to say this

if you need the forward assist while shooting anything short of ACTUAL combat...

your doing it WRONG.

Yep, proper cleaning and maintenance and good quality ammo, you should have no problems. But resale value will suffer.
We all here want the tacticool stuff.........

[dwalker460]

A lot of "precision" AR-15;s are built sans FA, and are called "slick sides". Never needed my FA either.

[clublights]

Yep, proper cleaning and maintenance and good quality ammo, you should have no problems. But resale value will suffer.
We all here want the tacticool stuff.........

Agreed.. I should have noted that my AR does have the forward assist... but then again . I don't think anyone makes a flat top without the forward assist...

at least I can't recall seeing one.

[porfiriozg]

I used it once when i was using brown bear ammo, and was glad i had it

[UrbanWolf]

Agreed.. I should have noted that my AR does have the forward assist... but then again . I don't think anyone makes a flat top without the forward assist...

at least I can't recall seeing one.

I like AR-15s with the fixed carry handle, after so used to AK and SKS sights, AR-15 sights are heaven. I would love to get a nice M16A2 clone, but haven't find one i like, I'm not a fan of the new Bushmasters. I want chrome lined barrel, chamber too, just me been me.

[Zundfolge]

I've never had to use the forward assist on any of the AR's I've owned over the last decade or so.

But I have a good story about the use of one.

Good friend of mine shoots a lot of 3-Gun. Has a real nice JP-15 that he used in competition.

One day in the heat and pressure of competition a round wouldn't seat properly so he wacked the forward assist, put sights on target, pulled the trigger and BANG! ... blew apart the $$$ rifle he spent many moons saving for. Seems there was a squib load stuck just inside the barrel, protruding slightly into the chamber. Slamming the FA caused the bullet to set back in the case which spiked pressures even more making the KB! worse.

So I guess the lesson is, if you ever actually NEED a forward assist, you should probably be breaking down the rifle and looking for obstructions instead.

Point of all this rambling is, if you find a good deal on an AR sans Forward Assist, buy it (especially if it has a dancing pony on it).