Forward Assist and Kyle Rittenhouse vidicated

[montana]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do7sbWaZstQ Start at the 11:00 minute mark. The forward assist saved Kyle Rittenhouse's life..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhjU8InWxr0

[fmyellowj]

The testimony challenged my understanding that a forward assist was unnecessary, as per InRangeTV's instruction. Now I need to find a good, tight fitting upper with a forward assist to replace my Grendel's slab side.

[HKGuns]

I have a FA on all the rifles I buy or build, I don't use it a lot, but figure it doesn't hurt anything either. He probably didn't have time to handle that situation as others would suggest clearing this sort of malfunction. What works on the range doesn't necessarily always work in real life.

Personally, I like having options.

[biodsl]

In all my many years training and using pistols, I've never have, or been taught to, push forward or hit on the slide to chamber a round or fix a malfunction. Tap, rack and go (or tap, rack and assess as they began instructing a few years back).

If a round won't chamber, get rid of it. Use the charging handle.

[montana]

In all my many years training and using pistols, I've never have, or been taught to, push forward or hit on the slide to chamber a round or fix a malfunction. Tap, rack and go (or tap, rack and assess as they began instructing a few years back).

If a round won't chamber, get rid of it. Use the charging handle.

Yup and the prosecution tried to claim he did just that to justify bicep dudes aggression with a pistol..I have used the FA numerous times, especially in winter while hunting. I never understood the need to remove an option, but that's just me. In Kyles case, it saved his life...

[Double Naught Spy]

In all my many years training and using pistols, I've never have, or been taught to, push forward or hit on the slide to chamber a round or fix a malfunction. Tap, rack and go (or tap, rack and assess as they began instructing a few years back).

The AR15 isn't like your typical pistol and the FA most definitely can help with chambering particularly with a dirty gun. You can "tap-rack" over and over with a dirty gun and not get a round to chamber, sometimes. IF (and this is a big IF) all you need is for the round to go into chamber, the FA is quicker than trying to chamber a new round, which may be critical in some situations.

As montana pointed out, I don't understand the need to remove the feature. I have used it in hunting a few times over the years when I have needed to quietly chamber a round...usually because I have managed to start hunting without a round chambered and then find myself in close proximity to prey and unable to fire. Charging the gun by pulling and releasing the charging handle would simply make far too much noise.

[HKGuns]

In all my many years training and using pistols, I've never have, or been taught to, push forward or hit on the slide to chamber a round or fix a malfunction. Tap, rack and go (or tap, rack and assess as they began instructing a few years back).

If a round won't chamber, get rid of it. Use the charging handle.

How you going to do that on your back with a BG in your face beating you with a skateboard? Or any other similar situation?

[Old Bob]

In over 20 years of 3 gun, I can count on one finger how many times I used my FA. Would I go into a match with an AR without a FA? No! Better to have it & not need it than to need it & not have it.

[Klem]

Isn't it amazing that the one time a person needs his AR to work flawlessly he needs to use the FA.

[HKGuns]

Isn't it amazing that the one time a person needs his AR to work flawlessly he needs to use the FA.

Kind of ironic how it runs against conventional wisdom!

[Happy2Shoot]

The FA is also necessary if you want to chamber a round quietly. Sling shotting a round is around 110 to 120 dB

[Dt219]

Amen. That’s why I like and use it. Much quieter to get into battery outside the vehicle

[biodsl]

...especially in winter while hunting.

I have used it in hunting a few times over the years when I have needed to quietly chamber a round...

The FA is also necessary if you want to chamber a round quietly. Sling shotting a round is around 110 to 120 dB

Amen. That’s why I like and use it. Much quieter to get into battery outside the vehicle

So it's a hunting thing?

[montana]

So it's a hunting thing?

I have never seen such a little part create such controversy, back lash and almost cult like hatred. I'll let the anti Forward Assist Ian show you how it is successfully used LOL. I wonder why he didn't just push on the bolt carrier scallop in the ejection port as he and his partner in crime always suggest, since using the FA will make any obstruction worse when forcing a new cartridge into a dirty chamber .Start at the 5:56 minute mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0gMfb5ADfM

[lazyengineer]

In my own experience, when I have the rare failure to chamber a round, I've almost never been able to finish closing it via the Forward Assist, and generally just wedge the gun locked up even moreso. And end up having to mortar it out. In my experience, the best way I can get a round that doesn't want to readily chamber, to chamber, has been to clear, reinsert the stubborn round, and do a full bolt drop on it. In my own experience, the only time an AR doesn't want to properly chamber, is due to some sort of debris obstruction, or an insufficiently sized casing. Neither of which tend to be overcome when I hit the FA.

Obviously his experience differed, but then, so did his whole day! Perhaps in his case, he had the charging handle get partially engaged during the excitement from he was carrying it, causing a partial pull-back and failure to fully reclose; in which case, that is a setting where I could indeed seeing the forward assist work. A noteworthy case-study.

[Jakegsxr11]

Just used my forward assist to chamber a round on a frozen gun (10*F) hunting last week, worked great.

[Morvandium]

Side charging uppers, in particular reciprocating ones, allow quietly chambering a round and ensuring the round is fully inserted without a forward assist. Reciprocating side charging designs also drop the weight of a normal charging handle, though they add a smaller handle attached to the bolt and remove some additional material removed from the upper.

Maybe it's because I grew up shooting mostly bolt and slide action guns, but the whole idea of designing a charging handle to manipulate the bolt assembly as an unconnected piece, then adding a different part and modifying the receiver to house it, all to replace the functionality of a small handle attached to the bolt carrier group seems ... inelegant, though I can see certain advantages. Especially with how it makes me take my eyes off sights, red dot, or scope, the rear charging handle + forward assist on the AR platform is not really one of its selling points for me.

I do find the history of the forward assist and charging handle to be fascinating. However, I'm quite happy there are other options these days, because side chargers are my thing. Just wish they were more common so their prices were lower.

[LRRPF52]

Remember, he picked up his friend’s AR-15 from downstairs without even chambering a round. It had already been chambered with a full mag inserted in it, according to his testimony.

I doubt the rifle was even lubed. Had it been lubed, chances of experiencing a FTFeed like that are slim.

He almost got curb-stomped though by a mob of communists, and had he not pushed the FA at that moment, he’d most likely be dead.

[Happy2Shoot]

I do find the history of the forward assist and charging handle to be fascinating. However, I'm quite happy there are other options these days, because side chargers are my thing. Just wish they were more common so their prices were lower.

What if I told you the standard AR-15 type charging handle is a "side charger" when used with the left hand by professionals. Also, a reciprocating charging handle attached to the bolt is a dangerous liability in a combat scenario. Ever fire a few magazines around a left corner wall, bushes, chest full of gear and straps, and so on. I'm not sure who invented the hate for the forward assist, but I never heard one complaint the entire time I was 0311. As a civilian at the range, or hunting deer I doubt it matters either way.

[lazyengineer]

What if I told you the standard AR-15 type charging handle is a "side charger" when used with the left hand by professionals. Also, a reciprocating charging handle attached to the bolt is a dangerous liability in a combat scenario. Ever fire a few magazines around a left corner wall, bushes, chest full of gear and straps, and so on. I'm not sure who invented the hate for the forward assist, but I never heard one complaint the entire time I was 0311. As a civilian at the range, or hunting deer I doubt it matters either way.

This. Co.plwtely enclosed with no exposed reciprocating parts? Yes please. Steyr AUG is the same as well.