SIGforum
If the overwhelming majority thinks forward assists are bad or unnecessary...
August 11, 2025, 10:44 AM
KSGMIf the overwhelming majority thinks forward assists are bad or unnecessary...
...why is there a dearth of forged "slick side" uppers?
August 11, 2025, 10:52 AM
Dwill104Is there an overwhelming majority? I haven’t heard anyone saying it’s particularly bad or dangerous. Barely used or useless, sure, but not bothersome enough to seek out or pay extra for a slick side receiver. Plus, some government contracts probably require a FA, and it’s far easier and cheaper for companies to just keep making the standard receiver with FA than to make separate ones with and without.
August 11, 2025, 11:21 AM
RogueJSKquote:
Originally posted by Dwill104:
Barely used or useless, sure, but not bothersome enough to seek out or pay extra for a slick side receiver.
Pretty much this.
August 11, 2025, 11:31 AM
Mars_AttacksI've had to smack blanks home several times.
You can't open the gun with a stuck shell.
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August 11, 2025, 11:41 AM
KSGMquote:
Is there an overwhelming majority? I haven’t heard anyone saying it’s particularly bad or dangerous. Barely used or useless, sure, but not bothersome enough to seek out or pay extra for a slick side receiver.
In every conversation I have participated in, or read, the forward assist ultimately gets no love.
Slick side receivers wouldn't be more expensive if they were more prolific. When Aero used to make/sell them, they weren't more expensive than their others.
August 11, 2025, 02:38 PM
sigfreundquote:
Originally posted by KSGM:
In every conversation I have participated in, or read, the forward assist ultimately gets no love.
You evidently haven't seen my comments on the question.

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“I can’t give you brains, but I can give you a diploma.”
— The Wizard of Oz August 11, 2025, 03:30 PM
KSGMThank you, sigfreund, for holding me accountable. I had forgotten about this thread...
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/2820051394/p/1There was actually majority support for the device in that discussion.
August 11, 2025, 04:34 PM
fischtown7I love my side chargers, no FA necessary. Just bum p the charging handle on the side but have never needed to.
August 11, 2025, 08:43 PM
jljonesWas there an official ballot or something similar that I missed out on? I mean I voted in the last three elections, suppressor covers are evil, 5.56 is better than .223 and SIG sucks; yes or no?
Was my ballot harvested or something? How can I tell?
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August 11, 2025, 09:50 PM
MikeGLIquote:
Originally posted by jljones:
Was there an official ballot or something similar that I missed out on? I mean I voted in the last three elections, suppressor covers are evil, 5.56 is better than .223 and SIG sucks; yes or no?
Was my ballot harvested or something? How can I tell?
It's in the pile of mail in ballots that we havent counted yet, we'll get to it next week.
I find that I use mine a lot, but I also press check before a course of fire. Small press check, then I hit the forward assist.
NRA Life Member
Steak: Rare. Coffee: Black. Bourbon: Neat. August 12, 2025, 04:51 AM
KSGMI did admit error in reply to sigfreund's post.
I have seen multiple discussions elsewhere on the interwebs in which the FA was brutalized. I am recalling them from years ago though. Maybe the overall sentiment has changed. The device certainly seems favored by the population of SIGforum, based on the thread linked above (which I created and subsequently forgot about).
This new thread was more-or-less inspired by my hunting for a forged slick side upper, coming up with nothing, and recalling those discussions I read from years ago.
I did see an Aero upper on GB, but I try to avoid GB.
August 12, 2025, 06:39 AM
fritzquote:
Originally posted by KSGM:
This new thread was more-or-less inspired by my hunting for a forged slick side upper, coming up with nothing
Wilson Combat has sold uppers without forward assist for many years.
August 12, 2025, 06:45 AM
KSGMAs far as I can tell, Wilson doesn't currently offer a forged assistless upper by itself. They do seem to have them assembled with barrels and HG, but the one I investigated is not in stock.
August 12, 2025, 08:13 AM
sigfreundquote:
Originally posted by fischtown7:
I love my side chargers, no FA necessary. Just bum p the charging handle on the side but have never needed to.
I am not familiar with side chargers. From that I assume that pushing the charging handle forward pushes the bolt carrier forward and therefore acts exactly like the forward assist except on the other side of the receiver—correct?
► 6.0/94.0
“I can’t give you brains, but I can give you a diploma.”
— The Wizard of Oz August 12, 2025, 08:26 AM
fischtown7quote:
Originally posted by sigfreund:
quote:
Originally posted by fischtown7:
I love my side chargers, no FA necessary. Just bum p the charging handle on the side but have never needed to.
I am not familiar with side chargers. From that I assume that pushing the charging handle forward pushes the bolt carrier forward and therefore acts exactly like the forward assist except on the other side of the receiver—correct?
They do make left handed ones, but mine are on the right. Just think SKS,AK,VZ or Benelli M4. Love being able to just leave the rifle on my shoulder and chamber a round, also has the advantage if you mount a scope its easier to operate than the traditional charging handle.
Only problem I ever had with an AR was a forward assist that was not installed properly and it would catch the notches on the BCG if it was leaned at an angle. Easy enough fix but another potential problem.
August 12, 2025, 08:54 AM
sigfreundOkay, I assumed when you mentioned "side charger" it was in reference to an AR-type rifle, but with something that allowed cycling the bolt without using the traditional AR charging handle. I don't consider a charging handle that's attached directly to the bolt like my Benelli Super 90's or an M14's to be what I was asking about.
Thanks, though.
► 6.0/94.0
“I can’t give you brains, but I can give you a diploma.”
— The Wizard of Oz August 12, 2025, 09:57 AM
fritzquote:
Originally posted by KSGM:
As far as I can tell, Wilson doesn't currently offer a forged assistless upper by itself. They do seem to have them assembled with barrels and HG, but the one I investigated is not in stock.
I just checked their website -- 4 different models of billet uppers without assist are available to ship.
August 12, 2025, 10:50 AM
KSGMThe OP did specify
forged.
I also ran into plenty of slick side uppers from various manufacturers in billet, in my initial search before creating the thread.
August 12, 2025, 11:17 AM
fritzI saw that. Just offering options, in case the forged search doesn't work out.
August 12, 2025, 11:41 AM
KSGMI understand. Thank you.