Author: David Reeder

  • What does a forward assist do?

    Put simply, a forward assist manually forces the bolt forward if the cartridge doesn’t go into battery. It is a physical option for resolving situations in which the return spring is unable to drive the BCG and bolt home. Read on to learn more.

    The side view of an AR15 forward assist and bolt carrier group from the Brownells “Smyth Busters” videos.

    The forward assist is a push-button assembly on many AR15/M16/M4 type rifles intended to help push the bolt carrier forward in situations where the return spring has failed to do so. This might be the result of more than one factor, though it mostly happens to a dirty weapon (or one with some other obstruction).

    FIND IT: Need a replacement or upgraded forward assist?

    Brownells demonstrating the use of a forward assist on a cutaway model.
    Brownells demonstrates the use of a forward assist using a cutaway model.

    Forward Assisting: the Argument

    The entire notion of a forward assist (and the concept of forward assisting) is contentious. Many people believe it unnecessary. Detractors correctly note that Eugene Stoner, the weapon’s original designer, disapproved of the feature. Proponents will occasionally reference the use of a forward assist by Kyle Rittenhouse to put his weapon back into battery during his defensive shooting in Kenosha, WI in August 2020. They will also assert that it’s “better to have it and not need it” than the reverse.

    The argument has been around as long or longer than that of 9mm vs .45 and any other three gun debates you might dredge up. The debate becomes more significant when discussing a defensive rifle than one intended for hunting, but even then there are strong, salient points pro and con.

    BE Meyers MAWL Man showing off a slick-side upper receiver that does not have a forward assist.
    Closeup of the forward assist mechanism on a Ballistic Advantage upper receiver and Sharps Bros. lower receiver with LAW Tactical folding stock attachment. Guest-starring MAWL Man!

     

    BE Meyers MAWL Man showing off the slick side of a LevDef (Leviathan Defense) upper receiver without a forward receiver. This forward assist assembly is a part of a KS-47 rifle, itself and AR15-style design that takes AK magazines.
    This forward assist assembly is a part of a KS-47 rifle, itself and AR15-style design that takes mags like this the XTech AK magazine shown (and other AKM style mags obviously).

    Do you need a forward assist on your AR15?

     

    The variance between weapons that may or man not be a “slick side” vs. “assisted” may be found anywhere in the world one might find this broad family of weapons – as you can see here in the photo of a Palestinian fighter patrolling Jenin Camp (مخيم جنين), north of the West Bank adjacent to the city of Jenin. Photo by PJ Pendlebury, @pj_pendlebury.

    FIND IT: Need a replacement or upgraded forward assist?

    What is a forward assist?

  • FAFO Meaning: Understand Those 4 Letters to use ’em better!

    FAFO Meaning: Understand Those 4 Letters to use ’em better!

    FAFO. It’s a term that has gone from relative obscurity to mainstream, and (given the conversational FAFO meaning) for good reason. Why? Because FAFO is one of the best acronyms ever to see widespread use. But what does FAFO mean?

    It’s a phrase that eloquently expresses the idea of just desserts, or even Playing stupid games and winning stupid prizes, but with the wonderful addition of implied violence or physical harm.

    FAFO literally means “Fuck Around And Find Out.” It’s succinct, direct, and recognizable. Damn near any reasonable person can identify a FAFO moment when they witness one.

    FAFO meaning: F around and find out
    The term FAFO is more often used than the full phrase, at least in public, and we’re okay with that. The acronym certainly works well enough, and there’s always good symbology available (as you can see on a high-quality FAFO shirt).

    But wait, there’s more.

    FAFO MEANING

    We’ve already answered the question, “What does FAFO mean?” but we haven’t really explained its significance. There’s so much more to FAFO than the acronym and the words those letters stand for. It’s an expression that can contain any mix of condemnation, humor, threat, or instruction.

    See, the world is increasingly full of unnecessarily belligerent or adversarial people who just aren’t savvy enough to justify their attitudes. This might be the result of overconfidence, hubris, a (false) sense of security provided by the anonymity of a keyboard + user name, or even just the ill-advised certainty that our current beta male, violence-averse, conflict-reluctant social construct will render assholes safe from the consequences of their actions.

    Sometimes, it’s just an oh-so gratifying convergence of entitlement and/or stupidity, the laws of probability and physics, or someone willing to provide a physical chastisement for inappropriate behavior (i.e., whipping someone’s ass).

    And the best part is, it’s unapologetic.

    Is it a colloquialism? An aphorism?

    Why not both gif (humorous)

     

    FAFO Meaning: Its Public Uses

    Interestingly, the phrase has made its way from TikTok and other social media platforms to political circles. We hear it not just in TV shows but in news reports during the demagoguery of lawmakers and public officials, and of course in various diatribes by celebrities and influencers.  Elon Musk directed a FAFO tweet at Kanye West when he booted the unpredictable clown-shoe hip-hop artist from the X platform. President Trump engineered a FAFO moment with Columbia’s president over illegal immigrant deportations just days after he took office – and then tweeted about it.

     

    What does FAFO mean? It means "Fuck Around and Find Out"
    This FAFO tweet made the rounds after a brief kerfuffle between President Trump and Gustavo Petro, his counterpart in Bogotá, over the deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States back to Colombia. This is a somewhat different FAFO meaning than the one we intend when we watch someone collect their stupid prizes, but the premise is the same.

    Now, uses such as these aren’t usually as entertaining as the public ones that result in lessons learned (q.v.), but no matter how you parse it, FAFO is a justly popular phrase.

    How popular, you ask? Glad you asked. The Washington Post called it the “Word of the Year” back in 2022. Recent events (including the 2024 election and subsequent Trump administration actions) have made it more popular than ever, and it has definitely secured a place in military vernacular (with the same contextual FAFO meaning but additional profanity and some good old-fashioned dark humor.

    We’ve even seen debates between what some are calling traditional parenting vs “FAFO parenting,” which might not entirely be a bad thing as long as we don’t go full Spartan-baby-over-the-cliff with it.

    This definition, taken from Urban Dictionary, is probably the funniest definition on that site. The most accurate, too, though some will take issue with the "Chad" description.
    This definition, taken from Urban Dictionary, is probably the funniest definition on that site. The most accurate, too, though some will take issue with the “Chad” description.

     

    This FAFO definition takes itself a little more seriously, but also does an adequate job of explication.
    This FAFO definition takes itself a little more seriously but also does an adequate job of explication.

     

    This fuck around find out definition is iffy at best.
    This fuck around find out definition is iffy at best. Biker gangs? WTF. They surely use it, but it’s doubtful they coined the phrase. (See below.)

     

    Fuck Around and Find Out meaning.
    We’re apparently not the only one’s who are dubious about this “biker” explanation.

     

    What is FAFO? A Song Helps Explain

    There’s even a country~ish rap song about it. This is Bryan Martin with Charlie Farley, OG Caden, and Austin Tolliver. It’s an interesting take on FAFO, with a pretty specific Second Amendment focused FAFO meaning.

     

    FAFO Lyrics

    I love my country, love my freedom
    Fuck a welfare, no, I don’t need ’em
    Shotgun raised from the woods to the plate
    Ain’t never went hungry, ain’t ever too late
    To come around here son, running your mouth
    You can fuck around and find out
    You can fuck around and find out

    You may make it through the snakes, snares and alligators
    But once you get to the gate, you can’t depend on your waders
    ‘Cause you’ll be over your tater, I’m talking growing tomaters (yeah)
    Feeding the worms I’ll fish with later
    I’ll have a fish stick plate over a six-foot grave
    Before I take a knee as our anthem plays (stand up)
    My hand’s on my heart, I stand on what I say (what I say)
    And my Second Amendment handles what I can’t
    I ain’t tryna be Billy Badass or talk shit (nope)
    I’m just saying, there’s the line, don’t cross it

    I got a Red Ryder gun when I was three
    So I don’t run or hide from anything
    Bitch, I’m a red, white and blue-collar boy from the south (from the south)
    Hey, you can fuck around and find out

    I love my country, I love my freedom
    Fuck a welfare, no, I don’t need ’em
    Shotgun raised from the woods to the plate
    Ain’t never went hungry, ain’t ever too late
    To come around here son, running your mouth
    You can fuck around and find out (OG, here you go)
    You can fuck around and find out

    If they looking for me, well, they know where to find me
    I’ll be half drunk, strapped up in a white tee
    I can show you if it’s needed, when you see it, you’ll believe it
    If you don’t love it you can leave it, Michael Jackson, you can Beat It
    FAFO, I teach you how this game go
    Different joint, same smoke, wake up, wear the same clothes
    Real redneck, I’m a piece of white trash
    Blue collar boy but my lady’s high class
    Got my music way up loud with a cigar in my mouth
    Fuck around and come find out, how we do it in the south (come on)

    Ain’t saying nothing but you’re running that mouth
    I never take a handout, I’m too damn proud
    I’m a son of the dirty south
    Where the trucks sit high and these straight pipes loud
    This land, a land of freedom
    Double barrels in case we need ’em
    Man up or sit your ass down
    We done talking, fuck around and find out

    I love my country, I love my freedom
    Fuck a welfare, no, I don’t need ’em
    Shotgun raised from the woods to the plate
    Ain’t never went hungry, ain’t ever too late
    To come around here son, running your mouth
    You can fuck around and find out
    You can fuck around and find out