Forward assist: Difference between revisions

'''Forward assisting''' is the practice of moving the [[bolt (firearms)|bolt]] or bolt carrier of a firearm fully forward ''in battery'' when the return [[spring (device)|spring]] has not done so (or there is a chance that it will not have done so) to prevent [[out-of-battery]] firing. It is only used on [[closed bolt]] only firearms. Some firearms have a dedicated device to allow forward assisting; on others, it is simply a procedure performed on reciprocating (IE: attached to the bolt/bolt carrier) [[charging handle]]s.

[[File:M-16 forward assist.jpg|thumb|250px|The forward assist of an M16A2 rifle, highlighted by a red circle. Note the multiple serrations on the side of the bolt carrier that interface with the device seen through the ejection port]]

The forward assist is generally not necessary as a standard procedure on any firearm. with theAn exception ofis the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[SA80]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steward |first=Oliver |date=2018-01-01 |title=The British SA80 Assault Rifle: Was it ahead of its time? |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-british-sa-80-assault-rifle-was-it-ahead-of-its-time/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Having realized the frequency with which the firearm jammed when taken outside of the clean environment of the test range, the forward assist was implemented to save the operator the potential danger of aiming the rifle and pulling the [[Trigger (firearms)|trigger]] and the rifle not going off because the [[bolt (firearm)|bolt]] is not fully forward (a safety arrangement called a "safety sear" stopping the [[hammer (firearm)|hammer]] from being released and the firearm firing, because of the dangers of firing with the bolt not fully closed).<ref>{{Cite web |first=Todd |last=Gimian |date=2021-07-17 |title=AR-15 Forward Assist: What It Does & Do You Need One? |url=https://www.pewpewtactical.com/forward-assist-ar-15/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Pew Pew Tactical |language=en-US}}</ref>{{verification failed|date=October 2022}}

The design of the [[L85]] makes the forward assist quite awkward as the left supporting arm must come off the hand grip and reach over the top to strike the bolt forward with the left edge of the left hand, much like a "karate chop". It may be a perception of awkwardness by external users due to unfamiliarity, as the drills are not seen as awkward by common users, it is a slick and swift drill when carried out by trained personnel where reload and ready times are similar to that of M4 type counterparts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-27 |title=Enfield SA-80: L85A1 L85A2 L85A3 assault rifle (UK) |url=https://modernfirearms.net/en/bez-rubriki-en/sa80-l85-eng/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Modern Firearms |language=en}}</ref>{{verification failed|date=October 2022}}

==Further considerations offor use==

The forward assist's use can correlate with an increase in malfunctions with feeding and extraction. Test data from the original trials indicate that, while the forward assist itself is not causal to inducing a malfunction, the need to use the forward assist will likely coincide with feeding and extraction issues exclusive from the use of the forward assist. While the forward assist can be effective in some circumstances as the tests demonstrated, the firearm's user should know when a to conduct a remedial action, such as cleaning the firearm, if repeated feeding and extraction issues present themselves and as time allows. It has also been demonstrated to be a safe mechanism to use even when held while firing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Full Spectrum |title=The Vindication of the AR15's Forward Assist |website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhjU8InWxr0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/MhjU8InWxr0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|accessdate=7 September 2020}}{{cbignore}}