Forward assist: Difference between revisions

[[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 seen through the ejection port]]

The '''forward assist''' on a firearm is a button found on firearms with non-reciprocating cocking handles, commonly on [[AR-15]] rifle derivatives, such as the [[M16 rifle]], and is usually located near the [[Bolt (firearms)|bolt]] closure.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=O'Connell |first=James |date=2020-04-20 |title=The M16 in Vietnam: A History of the Weapon's Effectiveness in the Vietnam War and the Necessity of its Creation |url=http://philologiavt.org/articles/10.21061/ph.228/ |journal=Philologia |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=14–19 |doi=10.21061/ph.228 |s2cid=219084970 |issn=2372-1952|doi-access=free }}</ref> It is a ratchet like device that interfaces with the multiple serrations found on the side of the bolt carrier. The original AR15 and M16 designs lacked the "bolt forward assist" feature found on the later M16A1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Army Infantry Weapons |url=http://www.forces80.com/infweap.htm |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.forces80.com}}</ref> When hit, it pushes the bolt carrier forward, ensuring that the bolt is locked. In order to ensure that the [[Extractor (firearms)|extractor]] is clipped around the rim of the casing, the forward assist is usually struck rather than pushed. It is commonly incorporated into standard loading procedure to prepare a firearm for firing, or to close the bolt when the firearm is excessively dirty.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRgR1vhS8lcC&pg=SA2-PA40 |title=Soldier's Manual MOS 02K: Bassoon Player |chapter=Load, Reduce a Stoppage, and Clear an M16A1 Rifle |publisher=[[United States Department of the Army]] |page=2–40 |year=1980 |access-date=2019-12-25 |via=Google Books}}</ref>