A forward assist that includes at least some of a plunger; a partially rotatable, spring biased pawl extending from a portion of the plunger; a projection extending from a first end of the plunger; and at least one head having a recess formed in at least a portion of the, wherein the head recess is mateable with the projection of the plunger, and wherein the head is secured to a first end of the plunger via interaction of the projection and the head recess.