Any Need
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Luger9x19
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Any Need?
In a combat rifle - maybe.
Civilian rifle - Most cases no.
The dust cover is not necessary unless you plan on dragging your rifle through mud.
The forward assist is for a combat situation where your rifle fails to go bang. If a round fails to chamber properly the FA can force it in battery and potentially cause catastrophic failure. If your rifle fails to fire during a day at the range it is time to stop and investigate why.
In combat its another story. In the U.S. Army we called it SPORTS: Slap the bottom of the magazine. Pull the charging handle. Observe the open chamber area. Release the charging handle. Tap the forward assist. Shoot.
There are some hunting situations where the FA can be useful to chamber a round quietly by slowly releasing the charging handle and the using the FA to make sure it is in battery.
Just my opinion. Getting a new upper just to get a FA and DC is an unnecessary expense.
Plus if you do get another upper, it won't be long before it gets lonely and you get another lower for it.
In a combat rifle - maybe.
Civilian rifle - Most cases no.
The dust cover is not necessary unless you plan on dragging your rifle through mud.
The forward assist is for a combat situation where your rifle fails to go bang. If a round fails to chamber properly the FA can force it in battery and potentially cause catastrophic failure. If your rifle fails to fire during a day at the range it is time to stop and investigate why.
In combat its another story. In the U.S. Army we called it SPORTS: Slap the bottom of the magazine. Pull the charging handle. Observe the open chamber area. Release the charging handle. Tap the forward assist. Shoot.
There are some hunting situations where the FA can be useful to chamber a round quietly by slowly releasing the charging handle and the using the FA to make sure it is in battery.
Just my opinion. Getting a new upper just to get a FA and DC is an unnecessary expense.
Plus if you do get another upper, it won't be long before it gets lonely and you get another lower for it.
Hoov
Member
Only if you were going to shoot with a can.
cyphertext
US Veteran
Totally unnecessary. The original rifle did not come with the forward assist. The Army requested the forward assist be added due to the fact that their previous issued rifle, the M-14, had an operating rod that allowed a soldier to force the bolt forward.
As already stated above, the military trained with SPORTS to clear a stoppage, which includes tapping the forward assist to insure the bolt is forward. Many folks who don't have military training assume that you should just push that forward assist and force the bolt forward to chamber a round, but that could create issues. When shooting at a range, it is better to troubleshoot why the bolt is failing to go forward under spring power.
Ejection port cover could be nice to have, but not required either. Money would be better spent on extra ammo and range time in my opinion.
As already stated above, the military trained with SPORTS to clear a stoppage, which includes tapping the forward assist to insure the bolt is forward. Many folks who don't have military training assume that you should just push that forward assist and force the bolt forward to chamber a round, but that could create issues. When shooting at a range, it is better to troubleshoot why the bolt is failing to go forward under spring power.
Ejection port cover could be nice to have, but not required either. Money would be better spent on extra ammo and range time in my opinion.
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There used to be a lot of utube videos showing folks using the FA to beat cartridges into the chamber and the disassembly of the rifle when fired.
At one point in time, someone was making snap on dust covers for several self loading military type firearms. If the bolt cycled, the cover flew off. Haven't seen any in decades. Guess there wasn't a market, or that market was overseas.
The dust cover is nice if you're out and about in all sorts of weather. Cuts down on cleaning.
At one point in time, someone was making snap on dust covers for several self loading military type firearms. If the bolt cycled, the cover flew off. Haven't seen any in decades. Guess there wasn't a market, or that market was overseas.
The dust cover is nice if you're out and about in all sorts of weather. Cuts down on cleaning.
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touchoneoff
Member
Personally, instead of buying a new upper, I would just save a little longer, and buy a second AR.
lunger
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I get a lot of good natured ribbing at the range for my original Sport sans dust and F/A . It usually stops when they see how it shoots .
In my opinion unnecessary for most civilian use, but who says guns or accessories have to be necessary. I've bought plenty over the years, just ask my wife .
In my opinion unnecessary for most civilian use, but who says guns or accessories have to be necessary. I've bought plenty over the years, just ask my wife .
touchoneoff
Member
I get a lot of good natured ribbing at the range for my original Sport sans dust and F/A . It usually stops when they see how it shoots .
In my opinion unnecessary for most civilian use, but who says guns or accessories have to be necessary. I've bought plenty over the years, just ask my wife .
Hey, I tell you what, I wish I still had my original Sport rifle! I have the Sport II now, and although it is a decent rifle and has served me well, that original Sport had an edge on it in the accuracy department.
Engine49guy
Member
My Colt SP1 has never jammed in 40 years so has yet to need a FA.
On the other hand have an early Bushmaster A2 that failed to go into battery a few years back, couldnt pull the charging handle back either as it was stuck,
(Dont forget that when the bolt is out of battery it blocks the rifle from being able to hinge open),
After bumping the FA a few times the bolt closed enabling me to open the rifle and fix the problem.
On the other hand have an early Bushmaster A2 that failed to go into battery a few years back, couldnt pull the charging handle back either as it was stuck,
(Dont forget that when the bolt is out of battery it blocks the rifle from being able to hinge open),
After bumping the FA a few times the bolt closed enabling me to open the rifle and fix the problem.
Rastoff
US Veteran
The forward assist is unnecessary until it's necessary. All my ARs have the forward assist. I have never needed to use it and I've been in some really nasty weather and very dusty conditions. I must say, the AR was a well designed rifle. The forward assist is one of those things that it's better to have an not need than need and not have. Alas, the chances of needing it are very slim.
The dust cover is a very useful tool to keep dirt out of the ejection port. This is good when doing an army crawl through very muddy or dusty environments. Are you planning on doing that? I'm not.
All my ARs have dust covers on them. As useful as they might be, I always forget to close them. So, I might as well not have them.
The dust cover is a very useful tool to keep dirt out of the ejection port. This is good when doing an army crawl through very muddy or dusty environments. Are you planning on doing that? I'm not.
All my ARs have dust covers on them. As useful as they might be, I always forget to close them. So, I might as well not have them.
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