Seems to be an interesting question on some of the other boards I'm looking through.

Reason I ask is the Smith & Wesson M&P Sport doesn't have either and comes in at $649.

To me that sounds like a hell off a deal, what are your thoughts?

I'm soooo close to getting this AR thing done.

Not very important at all.

The forward assist will cause more problems than it will help. If the round didn't properly chamber when the bolt was released smacking the forward assist is just going to make the jam worse. Only practical use I can think of for it is to quietly chamber a round if you're hunting and don't want to load until you get in the stand or something.

Dust cover can help keep dirt off of the bolt but isn't necessary, especially if you're just take your gun to the range. I was out on a 30k acre ranch in west Texas and went prairie dog hunting with my gun that doesn't have a dust cover. Drove several miles on 4 wheelers with the gun in the front rack. Everything covered in dirt and it still functioned fine. Also had the gun as several matches where there was a ton of dust being blown around and it was never an issue.

The forward assist wasn't on the original model sent to Vietnam, but added soon afterward because there's no way to manually close a dirty bolt that won't close on its own without one. The dust cover is there to keep crap from getting in the action in the first place.

I bought an M&P 15 Sport and have no complaints with it. It's not going to be put through the same abuse that the ones from the armory undergo. The first time I feel the need to relive the good old days at OCS and low-crawl in the dirt or go through the quiggly with my M&P 15 Sport I'll consider buying a different upper receiver for it but until then it does everything I need it to do.

Thanks guys...was at Cabelas in Ft. Worth yesterday and handled one. Seemed stout, and then found this through one of the other forums:
http://youtu.be/EwXhm45x3WM
Seems stout enough for what I want to do. He's got another couple on there as well where he leaves it out in the rain for a few hours and just lets it air dry against the wall. 600 rounds with no problems.

For $650 I don't think I can go wrong.

Here's the other one I was talking about:
http://youtu.be/xx_VEyFLXig

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For $650 I don't think I can go wrong.

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If you buy online, you can get a better rifle for less. You're looking at $705 out the door for the M&P Sport.

You can get a PSA for less:

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/lower-receivers/complete-psa-ar-15-lower-classic-edition.html

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/complete-uppers/16.html

You could come close to building a BCM for around the same price if you assemble the lower.

The M&P Sport fills a niche, but when you get around $700, it's hard for me to spend that kind of money on one.

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The forward assist wasn't on the original model sent to Vietnam, but added soon afterward because there's no way to manually close a dirty bolt that won't close on its own without one. The dust cover is there to keep crap from getting in the action in the first place.

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Your thumb + indentation on bolt carrier (don't have equal sign on phone) forward assist.

If that won't chamber the round, its probably time for some remedial action.

I have been burned by not using the forward assist before... Got in the stand unloaded and we had a pack of pigs come in. I pulled the bolt back to load and let it down as soft as I could without making noise. Forgot to charge it with the forward assist and 'click'. No dead piggies for me... The other guys in the stand with me took care of a few, but there would have been at least two or three more down if I had my act together. Lesson learned!

Do you need it? Probably not, but I do like having it there, same reasons as above, trying to chamber a round quietly it's nice to have the forward assist to know your bolt is closed

Dust cover...not unless you are an infantryman that lives in a muddy foxhole (and many do).

Forward assist is a little more useful. It was intended to close a dirty bolt, not a jammed case. Run enough full auto while adding oil and the lugs get pretty grimy. Its also helpful when you press check the weapon to ensure a round is chambered.

It depends on what you're using it for. I would personally get one with the dust cover and forward assist--they were put there for a reason and won't cost much if anything more.

The dust cover will play more of a preventative role than anything, keeping crap out that could gum up your rifle and cause you to Need to use that forward assist.

The forward assist is extra insurance in case you need to close the bolt quietly or force it closed when it gets a little too dirty.

Will you ever NEED either? Probably not.
You'll most likely miss them though at some point in the future and wish you had them--like I said, it depends what you use your gun for and how much.



[This message has been edited by artifact_collector101010 (edited 4/4/2012 6:19p).]

Its like a condom.....Its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

Man...you guys love your AR's.