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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,457
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
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I like it in case I’m hunting and need to be “quiet” when chambering a round. I can pull back and then slowly let the charging handle return, and then make sure the bolt is fully closed/round fully chambered with the forward assist.
Not usually necessary, but if the chamber is dirty, and you don’t wanna just yank back on the charging handle and let ‘er go, then it COULD be of some use. This is why I prefer a forward assist. I won't own an ar without one. Bb +2 Spooked a couple groundhogs when I chambered my first round of the day. Learned to close it quiet and seat with bfa.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,170
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2006
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I just chamber at the truck, figure they heard me drive in anyway...
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,246
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
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When hunting an AR, I chamber before I open the door of the truck.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,331 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
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I like it in case I’m hunting and need to be “quiet” when chambering a round. I can pull back and then slowly let the charging handle return, and then make sure the bolt is fully closed/round fully chambered with the forward assist.
Not usually necessary, but if the chamber is dirty, and you don’t wanna just yank back on the charging handle and let ‘er go, then it COULD be of some use. This is why I prefer a forward assist. I won't own an ar without one. Bb +2 Spooked a couple groundhogs when I chambered my first round of the day. Learned to close it quiet and seat with bfa. Are you guys allowed to use semi-autos now? Their illegality was one of the great injustices of my childhood.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,457
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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In PA semi rifle for ground hogs, coyotes, small game. No deer bear or turkeys. Probably legal 3 years maybe?
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,949
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Stoner has a nice slick sided upper and matching rail for $99 at Midway. Absolute steal and I can't remember the last time I used a forward assist.
Hunt hard, kill clean, waste nothing and offer no apologies.
"In rifle work, group size is of some interest...but it is well to remember that a rifleman does not shoot groups, he shoots shots." Jeff Cooper
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,638
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,638 |
Another light bulb went on recently when I started to look at sling carry. Being left handed, with a conventional front carry the FA jabs me in the gut. The deflector might also be an issue, but perhaps not as much, and it really can't be eliminated, especially for a lefty.
I suppose the ultimate solution would be to get a dedicated left hand AR, but that involves a whole slew of limitations, beginning with choice options.
Anyhow, it's got me thinking about an upper without the forward assist.
Paul
Stupidity has its way, while its cousin, evil, runs rampant.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,182
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Depends on what the situation is. There have been accounts of their usefulness in military settings, most notably in Iraq during the initial faze. As the story goes a young army corporal shot 7 Iraqi soldiers and each time he had to use his forward assist to load a round because of all the Iraqi sand that was in it. He wasn't known to keep his gun clean as I recall.
Most of us won't be in those conditions, but I like the idea of using it to quietly load a round. I use mine for gophers around our place and keep it clean so I have never used the one on mine.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,920
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
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I don't own any now but the brother in law has several side chargers and they are nice.
Makes charging the rifle easier with a large optic of thermal on top.
As far as i know he has not had a problem because it does not have a forward assist.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,623 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
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If you have a side charger (reciprocating style), then that IS your forward assist.
With rear charging /non-fixed charging, FA is something you don’t need, until you do. With side (fixed) charging, you already have it.
Last edited by hh4whiskey; 08/02/20.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,798
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
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9 times out of 10, a forward assist will get you in pickle. If the round isn't chambering, there's probably a good reason.
My HD rifles have a functional FA.
I build both, most times I plug the FA hole with a derlin plug.
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Campfire Tracker
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Nah....10 out of 10 they work just fine for helping chamber a round much more quietly. If you’re using it while firing, then it’s a zero sum game to begin with. LOL
Last edited by hh4whiskey; 08/04/20.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
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9 times out of 10, a forward assist will get you in pickle. If the round isn't chambering, there's probably a good reason.
My HD rifles have a functional FA.
I build both, most times I plug the FA hole with a derlin plug. I have used a forward assist hundreds of times and never once did it make a situation worse. That said if you feel the urge to hammer on the FA then "pickles" are in your future.
John Burns
I have all the sources.
They can't stop the signal.
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