Rittenhouse Use of Forward Assist

[stanmerrell]

A question came up in the forum this week about the use of the forward assist on the AR15, and it prompted me to remember the Rittenhouse self defense use of the forward assist, which is a great story. It's the only documented and published story I know of where the forward assist was used in combat. I wonder if there are other examples? Anyway, if you have never read the story, look it up it's pretty interesting, at least to me.

 

[BB57]

Well….I’m real cautious about using a teenager with minimal training who made some arguably poor choices to get in the situation in the first place as a credible source to say a forward assist saved a life.

It’s possible his AR-15 short stroked and failed to go into battery due to being fired without adequate support, perhaps it was dirty or improperly lubricated, perhaps it got bumped out of battery after being dropped or kicked. Who knows.

It’s possible he used the forward assist to fix an identified problem. It’s more likely he just got lucky.

In my experience in the military with an M16A1 I never found the forward assist to be useful for anything other than immediate action drills. In the field, my preference was to use my thumb against the forward end of the bolt carrier at the front of the cutout to press the bolt and bolt carrier into battery. When being quiet mattered we’d ease the bolt closed with the charging handle and then confirm it was in battery with what amounted to a press check against the bolt carrier.

Later, shooting tactical rifle matches, I preferred a slick side upper to minimize weight and bulk (there is zero advantage tarting up a fast, light weight, superb handling carbine with pounds of tactical **** you don’t need slowing down the carbine). If you had to use a forward assist you were already probably looking at a long afternoon coming up the loser’s bracket.

 

[Mark Pilcher]

It worked, and he lived. I don't know the extent of his training in immediate action drills. He reduced a stoppage at night, under attack, and got the rifle back into action. For that alone, he has my respect.

 

[inspcalahan]

It worked, and he lived. I don't know the extent of his training in immediate action drills. He reduced a stoppage at night, under attack, and got the rifle back into action. For that alone, he has my respect.

And what's really impressed me since that ordeal finally wrapped up, is his continued push and involvement in the Second Amendment. He's open about seeking training and standing up for our rights.