The designer of the original M16 military rifle, Robert Eugene Stoner, said it wasnt required.
The U.S. military, however, said it was needed.
Still, some AR-15 rifles have a forward assist, and some do not.
What does the forward assist do? This is the question the author addresses before diving into whether the feature is needed.
Then we can decide if its necessary.
Its nothing more than a bolt-closure machine.
It gives the user a manual way to kill the rifles action.
A U.S. soldier with the 101st Airborne returns fire while securing a landing zone in 1967. Pfc. Michael J. Mendoza is armed with an M16A1 — note the forward assist on the right side of the rifle. Image: NARA
Whatever the cause, the forward assist lets the user manually seat the bolt forward and in place.
In the old days, the M1 Garand, .30 Carbine and M14 all had forward assists.
By the way, AK-pattern rifles have a similar design to those American rifles.
The forward assist on a commercial AR-15 rifle is on the right side of the upper receiver. Shown above is a Springfield Armory SAINT Edge.
The user can push forward the charging handle on an AK to terminate the bolt and fire the shot.
What Do Those Do?
Those serrations are ratchet teeth the forward assist engages to kill the bolt.
Ever wonder what those “teeth” were on the side of the AR-15 bolt carrier group? They are used by the forward assist to drive the bolt forward into battery.
A forward assist comprises a plunger, pawl, and two springs.
When the plunger is released, a spring forces it back to the rear and retracts the pawl.
USAF Forward Assist Missing in Action?
Wearing chemical warfare gear, an Airman participates in Team Spirit ’81 at Kunsan Air Base, ROK. M16 rifles used by the U.S. Air Force did not have forward assists. Image: Staff Sgt. Alex Taningco/U.S.A.F.
Stoner originally designed the M16 with no forward assist, as he saw no need for it.
In fact, Stoner thought a forward assist would cause more trouble than it was worth.
A forward assist also added weight and cost to the rifle.
Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Atkinson, a 81mm mortar forward observer, adds firepower against the enemy in an ambush. His M16A1 is equipped with a forward assist. Image: Sgt. A.V. Huffman/U.S. Marine Corps
The U.S. Army, however, had other ideas and made the forward assist mandatory.
Thats how the M16 evolved into the M16A1.
There were other requested changes from the military in the M16A1, but thats for another story.
The forward assist is used to close the bolt on an AR-15. Its function is not to fix a malfunction or “jam.”
Next, Pull the charging handle all the way to the rear observe for a case or cartridge ejecting.
Next, Release the charging handle.
Then, Tap the forward assist.
An airman armed with an M16 rifle stands guard at an airfield during Operation Desert Storm. Note the absence of the forward assist. Image: Senior Airman Kern/U.S.A.F.
Finally, Squeeze the trigger to fire.
This method is a bit outdated in my opinion.
If you have a malfunction or jam, your first response is not to push on the forward assist.
Only use the forward assist after a Tap and Rack.
Another situation where the forward assist can be useful is when doing a press check.
Sometimes, releasing the charging handle after a press check will not fully kill the bolt.
This is when you should press the forward assist to exit the bolt fully.
Use a finger on the support for right-handed shooters or a thumb for left-handed shooters.
One way to avoid using the forward assist is to let the charging handle fly into battery.
Dont ride the charging handle thinking the BCG should not slam home.
When I do this, I always look to see if the bolt is fully closed.
If it is not, I tap the forward assist.
In my opinion, Id rather have the forward assist for those few instances when I need it.
Otherwise, I can simply ignore it.
Let me know what you think by visiting the forum link below.
Go to forum thread
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