There is another view on the forward assist which is worthy of consideration. In response to my question here on how he conducts a press check, Paul Howe responded:
Submariner,
I use my right hand to pull back on the charging handle to see/feel brass. If I want to feel, slide my left/non-firing hand around under the weapon and touch the case. I release and then palm strike my forward assist. Finally I close my dust cover with my non-firing hand. The reason I use my right hand on the charging handle is because it must come off the grip to use the forward assist after I do my brass check.
I know the other technique used is to pull your magazine and then check to see that a round has stripped off. This came from using the MP-5 as best as I can tell. The problem I have with this technique is that you are unseating the life blood of your weapon. I see more problems with students not seating magazines correctly than forward assists breaking. I personally don't want them to pull the mag out once they put it in correctly.
I also use this technique on an M-1 Carbine, Grand, M1A, AK, etc.
Both systems work, I just prefer the way I teach.
Paul
Last edited by Submariner; 11-19-11 at 14:20.
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