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The forward assist was demanded by the army in early testing with the idea of providing the same kind of "bump" troops armed with the M1 and M14 rifles gave the op rod if the bolt didn't fully close. The problem was that the M16 was a lot more likely to be jammed tight if the bolt was forced closed on a bad cartridge or with crud on or around the cartridge than the more open M1 and M14. I have heard that troops called the forward assist a "jam maker".
Jim
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