

The military subsequently required that the forward assist was added before the full rollout of the weapon to the infantry. In fact, the first AR-15s that were delivered to the military did not have the forward assist installed as an option. Forward Assist, Tradition or FollyĪn AR upper receiver houses the traditional forward assist button by which many people identify the AR-15, falsely believing it’s not a real AR-15 without one. The structural integrity of the upper receiver is important, however, a quality upper is likely to outlast its internal components. Of course, there is stress imposed on the upper when a round is fired, but the force is focused more in the bolt carrier group and buffer system. At its heart, all it must do is contain the bolt carrier group, charging handle, facilitate a means to close the action manually, and cycle the action when it’s fired. Regardless of configuration, all AR-15 uppers perform the same basic job. Whether these changes are welcomed or scorned depends upon individual needs, tastes, and use of the weapon. By adding or taking away features to the upper receiver, the function and purpose of the overall weapon are fundamentally different. While the weapons design differences may appear to be cosmetic they are indeed not. Many AR-15 upper receivers seen today bear little resemblance to the original military issue M16A1 that began its service during the Vietnam conflict. The AR-15 has gone through numerous evolutions in its military application as well as adapting to the demands of the civilian market. However, time marches on and the only thing that remains the same is the fact that things change. The AR-15 is instantly recognizable by its distinctive, traditional upper receiver profile. AR-10 / LR-308 Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies.
