Poll: Forward Assist or No

[stanc]

Is the forward assist necessary on a Modern Sporting Rifle or a carry over from the Military design?

The forward assist is a carry over on civilian versions, likely done for at least a couple of reasons:

1. Manufacturers are already set up to produce upper receivers with a forward assist.
2. Many civilian shooters want to have the same configuration as used by the military.

That the forward assist is not truly necessary is evidenced by its absence from the M110 sniper rifle.

Original Stoner Design did not have a forward assist. The addition was the military requirement. Correct me if I’m wrong but from what I’ve read it was a reaction to failures caused by chambers that weren’t chromed and powder initially used in military ammo.

I have to say you're wrong. The M16A1 rifle was given a forward assist at the insistence of the US Army leadership, who wanted to have the same ability to close the bolt as did previous self-loading, service rifles (M1 Garand and M14) which had integral bolt handles. The problems you note occurred with early production M16A1 rifles, which already had a forward assist.