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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 295
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 295 |
Just wondering what people here on the Fire are preferring for their AR builds or buys. Seems like there are good arguments both for and against having a forward assist on an AR. I definitely like the looks of them, but for a typical range/fun gun, kinda seems unnecessary.
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 790
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 790 |
Stoner had it right the first time. They're more likely to complicate a problem. But most uppers have them. And most know not to use them except to assure full battery when easing the carrier, trying to be discreet....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,326
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,326 |
Stoner had it right the first time. They're more likely to complicate a problem. But most uppers have them. And most know not to use them except to assure full battery when easing the carrier, trying to be discreet.... I am no expert but I agree with this
I may not be smart but I can lift heavy objects
I have a shotgun so I have no need for a 30-06.....
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,394 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,394 Likes: 1 |
Exactly why I changed the upper on my S&W - discretion while calling coyotes.
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,326
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,326 |
I think I could live without the forward assist but would not mind keeping the dust cover.
I may not be smart but I can lift heavy objects
I have a shotgun so I have no need for a 30-06.....
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,639
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 23,639 |
Depends...................
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
MM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
always forward assist. Have never seen an issue that it could or did create.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 429
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 429 |
I like having the option. Never experienced a downside.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436 |
Useful to put the round back in battery after easing the bolt back just enough to drain the water after a crossing.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 734
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 734 |
Would not have one without a FA. I hunt & I like to keep it quiet while chambering by riding the bolt with my thumb, and then pressing the FA, to home the round.
I would have got him too but a Dad Blam snow flake hit me in da eye....
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 14,653
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 14,653 |
Seems like there are good arguments both for and against having a forward assist on an AR. What are the good arguments to not have one?
your flippant remarks which you so adeptly sling
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,689 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,689 Likes: 3 |
I have several slick side uppers. I don't miss the forward assist on those. I have one regular upper. I've never used the forward assist but don't mind that it is there. Forward assists get a great big "Meh" from me. To each their own.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,911 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,911 Likes: 2 |
always forward assist. Have never seen an issue that it could or did create. This plus 10
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 790
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 790 |
Only time I ever used one was decades ago. Stuck a live round behind a broken case fragment. Slightly stuck became very stuck.
No harm cuz happened at a MG shoot, nobody shooting back. Arguably, operator judgment fail. On a positive note learned how to remove fragments.
Understand the proper uses: easing into battery discreetly, checking, etc. Not something I need.
See no material downside to having and not needing.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664 |
If you only use your AR for hunting and range shooting the need for forward assist is far less than if your azz is on the line. If your azz is on the line have forward assist is like a spare tire, you hope you don't need it but glad you do when you need it.
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14,722 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14,722 Likes: 2 |
It's hard to think of why I'd go out of my way to avoid a FA
Politics is War by Other Means
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,640 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,640 Likes: 1 |
FA aids in the double checks I like to do when I first lock & load.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436 |
Aesthetics, the original slick and slender AR was a very outer space ray gun, all, what, 6+ pounds of it. A2's, A4's, M4's are just rifles with stuff hanging on them. My kid's M4 all up seems heavier than my Romanian SAR1 with a steel CLIP.
Last edited by 5thShock; 11/17/21. Reason: forgot an h
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1 |
Would not have one without a FA. I hunt & I like to keep it quiet while chambering by riding the bolt with my thumb, and then pressing the FA, to home the round. This ^ If you shoot enough sooner or later you’ll have a small piece of brass or primer get in the bolt lugs race, and pulling the bolt back to see if the spring loaded close approach sucks.. ESPECIALLY if you are hunting. I only do slick sides on target guns.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,463
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,463 |
The last AR that I built was without a forward assist in order to save weight. No need for an FA in a hunting rifle.
Dan
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