How important is a forward assist on an AR-15?

KEEPING THE AR-15 FORWARD ASSIST These features are especially useful if you get dust, sand or dirt in the weapon that can slow bolt operation. Forward assists also help if you’re putting lots of rounds downrange and won’t have a chance to clean or lubricate your rifle.

Do you need a forward assist on an AR?

The forward assist is not a necessary part of an AR-platform rifle, carbine, or pistol. The only logical conclusion is that all ARs should be side-charging, and we could stop having this argument all together, leaving the forward assist in the gun history bin where it belongs.

Which way is safety on an AR-15?

On the left side of the gun above the pistol grip, you will find the safety selector. On most ARs, there will be two options: safe and semi. Move the safety selector so the little arrow is pointing to “safe”.

Is a dust cover necessary for an AR-15?

A dust cover for the ejection port can keep the dust out of the gun. This is dangerous and can cause the gun to jam up, stop working right or even backfire. You only need to use the cover when you are finished using the rifle in question.

What does the 15 in AR-15 mean?

ArmaLite Rifle
The letters stand for ArmaLite Rifle — and not for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.” ArmaLite first developed the AR-15 in the late 1950s as a military rifle, but had limited success in selling it. In 1959 the company sold the design to Colt.

What is a side charging Upper?

A side charging upper assembly eliminates the need for a charging handle. Rather than placement in the back, the charging handle is moved to the side. Side-charging AR-15s are similar in action to the FN SCAR and AK47.

What does it mean to ride the charging handle?

The topic is… “Don’t’ ride the charging handle forward!” So what harm can “riding the charging handle forward” cause? #1 – Failure to load a round in the chamber properly. Translated, this means your gun fails to load… meaning you’ve now caused a malfunction.

What is a charging handle on a rifle?

The cocking handle, also known as charging handle or bolt handle, is a device on a firearm which, when manipulated, results in the bolt being pulled to the rear, putting the hammer/striker into a spring-loaded (“cocked”) “ready and set” position, allowing the operator to open the breech and eject any spent/unwanted …