Quoted: Thumb pressure only with hand still partially on the grip. NEVER STRIKE IT WITH THE PALM OF YOUR HAND UNLESS YOU WANT TO JAM YOUR RIFLE SO TIGHT THAT IT WILL REQUIRE AN ARMORER TO CLEAR IT. If thumb pressure won't close it, don't force it. Cycle the weapon and try a fresh round.
The proper use of the forward assist is like spices. A little can be good, too much can ruin things.
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Sorry, no disrespect intended, but I gotta call BS on this. Way BS. Massive BS. The Mother of
ALL BS.
Palm of the hand has been taught for many years. I have done it with dozens of M16s over 8 years in the Infantry. So did all my fellow Infantrymen. AFAIK it is STILL taugt in BRM in BCT and AIT and IOBC. Have NEVER seen a malfunction related to tapping the forward assist with the palm, this is the approved method. That's because it works. If you are being shot at you will not take the time look and see if your weapon is fouled. You will insert a new mag, let the bolt slam home, tap the FA once or twice,
to make sure it is battery,acquire your target and send copper coated lead where it needs to go in an expedient manner.
PFC Miller (Silver Star) Found out quickly in An Nassiriya that the forward assist is not a useless apendage, even if your weapon is so fouled that it becomes a manual action rifle. He had to close the bolt manually with the FA every time, but still killed enough Iraqis in the mortar pit to save several of his comrades. Can you say with 100% certainty that your weapon will
never become as fouled as his when you need it? I can't.
A thumb on the FA? Give me a freaking break. Might as well thumb your nose.
Not near enough pressure if you have sand or carbon fouling preventing the bolt from going into battery.
It's not an airsoft rifle. I have never seen a swift, firm tap with the palm on the FA ever cause a problem. If you don't want to use it, fine, but harbor no illusions about it's fragility.
Where did you get this from? Certainly not in the Army or any serious training facility. Maybe at Barbie M16 school.
Just as hokey as the myth that you should not let you bolt slam home for fear of damaging something. That is the way it was designed to function.
Sorry to be so long winded, but I have never heard anything so ridiculous.