Quoted:
I am new to AR15s so please be gentle
I have been watching some videos and reading some articles and it has been said that the Forward Assist is of little use in 'normal' shooting and it was an elaborate way of being able to move the bolt forward in adverse conditions. I would welcome some comments on my observations.
Thanks
GG
The "problem" with using a forward assist is that there is usually some reason WHY it might be needed. Rather than forcing the round into the chamber, you'd be much better served by stopping, evaluating the situation and correcting whatever is wrong. Ammo mis-sized or damaged? Replace it. Chamber fouled or obstructed? Clear it and clean it.
Now, in a combat situation––in the heat of a firefight––you might want to jam the round in and take a chance that the gun fires, but like you've read, in "normal" (non-combat) shooting, the FA is rarely necessary.
The one situation where this might be disputed is if you're trying, for whatever reason, to chamber a round quietly. Rather than slamming the bolt forward, you could control it forward, then press the forward assist to make sure the bolt's locked in battery.
One could argue, however, that even this situation might not be considered "normal" shooting.
Around here in retro land, though, the argument is less often about whether it's "needed" than what looks better! You'll find a lot of folks here who like the streamlined look with no FA, but some of us like the FA because there was one on the rifle Uncle Sam issued us.
Bottom line––find an AR version you like, and build one!
In the end, you'll probably wind up with multiple ARs anyway. Some with FA, some without. Embrace the variety!
And welcome!