Need an AR15 answer

cdoc42 · December 29, 2012, 10:11 PM

I just received a gift of a .223 Panther AR15 rifle, new to a guy who has a 55 year history of revolvers and bolt-actions. I sent an e-mail to Panther, but failing a response, I'll ask here:

There is a spring-loaded button on the right side of the receiver, angled toward, but below, the bolt mechanism. No where in the instruction book is any mention of its function. What is it for?

Ajtozzi · December 29, 2012, 10:23 PM

It's a forward assist. Google it there are tons of YouTube videos that will should you what it does.

WWWJD · December 29, 2012, 10:27 PM

And odds are good that you'll never ever use it. Lots of manufacturers leaving that part off these days. Was more necessary in the days of the M16 in the jungles of Vietnam where dirt and grim could leave a guy without a working rifle. Now they handle the dirt and grim much better than they ever did before.

Palmetto-Pride · December 29, 2012, 10:31 PM

You don't ever want to hit that button, that button starts up the built in flux capacitor......

AGENT TIKKI · December 29, 2012, 11:12 PM

I find it useful at the range, especially after doing a chamber check on an AR....

RC20 · December 29, 2012, 11:12 PM

Quote:

And odds are good that you'll never ever use it. Lots of manufacturers leaving that part off these days. Was more necessary in the days of the M16 in the jungles of Vietnam where dirt and grim could leave a guy without a working rifle. Now they handle the dirt and grim much better than they ever did before.

Agreed on never needing it. Worse than an appendix (adds complexity and cost at negative return) .

As for Nam, question always was, what good does it do to force a round into a gummed up chamber? The answer is it does not.

So, the correct answer is you should never use it. You might get one shot.
Ok, I will say, if one shot will save your life, go for it. Otherwise......

chris in va · December 30, 2012, 12:18 AM

...and yet when the S&W sport came out they dissed the whole idea of no FA calling the gun 'cheap'.

Go figure.

globemaster3 · December 30, 2012, 12:44 AM

Since racking an AR in the field can be a little loud when hunting, I normally ride my charging handle in and use the FA to fully lock up the bolt into battery.

Other than that, never used it. Even the immediate action drills the USAF is teaching ignore it.

Quentin2 · December 30, 2012, 01:17 AM

Quote:

I find it useful at the range, especially after doing a chamber check on an AR....

Same here, very useful for that so it's a feature that I want in an AR.
Nice to see you here Agent Tikki!

Palmetto-Pride · December 30, 2012, 04:37 AM

Ok I was being funny earlier, but here's my serious answer. I have used mine before when the bolt didn't go fully into battery, yea it doesn't happen often, but it still happens occasionally. I would rather have and not need it than need it and not have it.

Tucker 1371 · December 30, 2012, 10:04 AM

The Marines teach us to use it but IMHO it's fairly useless unless your weapon is dirty and you absolutely HAVE to chamber a round that doesn't want to go in. You tap it and it nudges the bolt forward on a stubborn round.

If you're having to use the forward assist a lot you need to either A) Use better ammo B) clean your rifle or C) buy better mags.

Just my .02

CTS · December 30, 2012, 10:46 AM

Quote:

If you're having to use the forward assist a lot you need to either A) Use better ammo B) clean your rifle or C) buy better mags.

Or Option D: a combination of any of the above.

Nathan · December 30, 2012, 02:11 PM

It is absolutely necessary because the gun has no way to apply forward pressure to the BCG. Without being closed, the gun is somewhere between difficult and impossible to breakdown..

That said, I have never used it for that, but I would. I have used to silently load. I would guess soldiers might use it for bolt closed confirmation after a quiet chamber check...

Palmetto-Pride · December 30, 2012, 02:26 PM

Not trying to beat a dead horse here, but I don't see how someone can say its useless when infact there are times when it is needed especially for a quit clambering to make sure the bolt goes into battery.

cdoc42 · December 30, 2012, 07:45 PM

Thanks to all. I gather if I clean the weapon as I should, I should not need it. It sure would be helpful if the Pather user info made a note about it, though.

Mezzanine · December 30, 2012, 09:01 PM

I havent had a malfunction from using it nor have i ever wished i didnt have it. My .02.

December 29, 2012, 10:11 PM	#1
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	Need an AR15 answer I just received a gift of a .223 Panther AR15 rifle, new to a guy who has a 55 year history of revolvers and bolt-actions. I sent an e-mail to Panther, but failing a response, I'll ask here: There is a spring-loaded button on the right side of the receiver, angled toward, but below, the bolt mechanism. No where in the instruction book is any mention of its function. What is it for?

December 29, 2012, 10:27 PM	#3
WWWJD Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Central KY Posts: 552	And odds are good that you'll never ever use it. Lots of manufacturers leaving that part off these days. Was more necessary in the days of the M16 in the jungles of Vietnam where dirt and grim could leave a guy without a working rifle. Now they handle the dirt and grim much better than they ever did before. __________________ *~Mark* NRA Endowment FTW

December 29, 2012, 10:31 PM	#4
Palmetto-Pride Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,071	You don't ever want to hit that button, that button starts up the built in flux capacitor...... __________________ “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” -Margaret Thatcher-

December 30, 2012, 12:44 AM	#8
globemaster3 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Posts: 1,482	Since racking an AR in the field can be a little loud when hunting, I normally ride my charging handle in and use the FA to fully lock up the bolt into battery. Other than that, never used it. Even the immediate action drills the USAF is teaching ignore it. Last edited by globemaster3; December 30, 2012 at 08:44 AM.

December 30, 2012, 04:37 AM	#10
Palmetto-Pride Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,071	Ok I was being funny earlier, but here's my serious answer. I have used mine before when the bolt didn't go fully into battery, yea it doesn't happen often, but it still happens occasionally. I would rather have and not need it than need it and not have it. __________________ “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” -Margaret Thatcher-

December 29, 2012, 10:23 PM	#2
Ajtozzi Member Join Date: September 14, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 87	It's a forward assist. Google it there are tons of YouTube videos that will should you what it does.

December 29, 2012, 11:12 PM	#5
AGENT TIKKI Member Join Date: September 18, 2010 Posts: 49	I find it useful at the range, especially after doing a chamber check on an AR....

December 30, 2012, 12:18 AM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	...and yet when the S&W sport came out they dissed the whole idea of no FA calling the gun 'cheap'. Go figure.

December 30, 2012, 10:04 AM	#11
Tucker 1371 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,649	The Marines teach us to use it but IMHO it's fairly useless unless your weapon is dirty and you absolutely HAVE to chamber a round that doesn't want to go in. You tap it and it nudges the bolt forward on a stubborn round. If you're having to use the forward assist a lot you need to either A) Use better ammo B) clean your rifle or C) buy better mags. Just my .02 __________________ Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250 Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!! If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging. OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe

December 30, 2012, 02:11 PM	#13
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	It is absolutely necessary because the gun has no way to apply forward pressure to the BCG. Without being closed, the gun is somewhere between difficult and impossible to breakdown.. That said, I have never used it for that, but I would. I have used to silently load. I would guess soldiers might use it for bolt closed confirmation after a quiet chamber check...

December 30, 2012, 02:26 PM	#14
Palmetto-Pride Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,071	Not trying to beat a dead horse here, but I don't see how someone can say its useless when infact there are times when it is needed especially for a quit clambering to make sure the bolt goes into battery. __________________ “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” -Margaret Thatcher-

December 30, 2012, 07:45 PM	#15
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,687	Thanks to all. I gather if I clean the weapon as I should, I should not need it. It sure would be helpful if the Pather user info made a note about it, though.

December 30, 2012, 09:01 PM	#16
Mezzanine Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 103	I havent had a malfunction from using it nor have i ever wished i didnt have it. My .02.