Open Bolt vs. Closed Bolt

While we might hear the terms “machine gun” and “submachine gun” a lot, a more detailed discussion will often touch on the terms “open bolt” and “closed bolt.” But, what do these terms mean?

Firearms engineers choose between open and closed bolt configurations based on intended use and performance priorities. Each design offers distinct trade-offs in manufacturing cost, accuracy, and heat dissipation.

The Differences Between Open and Closed Bolts

The difference between a firearm with an open-bolt design versus a closed-bolt design is the position of the bolt prior to firing the gun. On an open-bolt gun, the gun is ready to fire when the bolt is locked open and there is no cartridge in the chamber. When the trigger is pulled, the bolt moved forward and strips a round from the magazine. As the bolt closes, the round is fired and the cycle continues until the trigger is no longer depressed or the gun runs empty. In a closed-bolt design, is it the opposite. The bolt is closed and a round is in the chamber prior to firing the gun. Pulling the trigger drops the hammer, the round is fired, the action is cycled, and this continues until the trigger is released or the magazine is empty.

The MP-40 exemplifies classic open bolt engineering from World War II. German forces relied on this submachine gun’s simple, reliable design throughout the conflict. Image: Sa-kuva

Examples of a closed-bolt design firearm include the AR-15, the Springfield Armory Hellion, MIA rifles and the Kuna pistol, to name just a few. For examples of open-bolt designs, you really need to look back at submachine guns designed during World War II.

A detailed close-up photograph of a British Sten submachine gun bolt assembly displaying the firing pin integrated into the bolt body and the minimalist open bolt construction. Open bolt firearms use integrated firing pins. Closed bolt guns require separate hammers. Sten SMG exemplified open bolt simplicity. British submachine guns minimized component count. Open bolt designs reduced manufacturing costs. WWII weapons prioritized production efficiency. Submachine gun bolts remained mechanically simple. Open bolt mechanisms eliminated unnecessary parts. — The Sten gun’s bolt assembly shows just how simple open bolt designs really are. British engineers stripped away everything unnecessary to create an incredibly cheap and effective submachine gun. Image: International Military Antiques Inc.

Some of the most common and icon submachine guns during the war were an open-bolt design. The American M3 Grease Gun, British Sten SMG, and the German MP-40 Schmeisser were all open-bolt designs. Also developed during the war was the American M1941 Johnson light machine gun and the German FG 42. These two example are unique because they incorporate an open bolt in full auto and a closed bolt in semi-auto fire.

Open Bolt Design Firing Cycle

Here’s the layman’s explanation of the cycle of operation on an open-bolt design and a closed-bolt design.

An American soldier in combat gear holding an M3A1 Grease Gun submachine gun during REFORGER 85 military exercises in West Germany with other troops visible in the background. Open bolt firearms remained military standard. Closed bolt guns replaced them gradually. M3A1 Grease Gun used open bolt operation. American submachine guns cost little to produce. Open bolt designs enabled mass production. Military weapons prioritized reliability over precision. Submachine gun service lasted decades. Open bolt mechanisms proved extremely durable. — Armed with an open bolt M3A1 Grease Gun, PFC Jose Ledoux-Garcia guards his M60A3 tank in West Germany during REFORGER ’85. Image: NARA

To fire an open bolt design, whether a semi-automatic or a full-auto firearm, the first step is to insert a magazine and then retract the bolt. In an open-bolt design, the bolt remains rearward. It is literally open and the firearm is ready to fire. Press the trigger and the sear releases the bolt, driving the bolt forward, pushing a cartridge out of the magazine and into the chamber and firing the cartridge in one swift motion. The bolt then cycles back ejecting the spent case and then moves forward to start the process over.

In a closed-bolt design, the process is different. Insert a loaded magazine and pull back on the charging handle and release it. The bolt flies forward, strips a cartridge from the magazine and runs a cartridge into the chamber. The bolt is literally closed and ready to fire. Press the trigger and either a hammer is tripped or striker released, which fires the cartridge.

Pros and Cons

In an open-bolt system, as the trigger is pressed to fire the gun the weight and mass of the bolt moves forward, jolting the gun as it slams closed. That movement can interfere with the shooter’s aim. In a submachine, that’s not much of an issue. In a closed-bolt design, the bolt is forward and a press of the trigger releases the hammer or striker, so there is no movement in the bolt prior to firing the shot. A closed bolt design is more conducive to better accuracy.

Swedish military personnel conducting an amphibious landing operation while carrying Carl Gustaf m/45 submachine guns with water splashing around them as they move from boats to shore. Open bolt firearms function in wet conditions. Closed bolt guns require careful protection. Carl Gustaf m/45 used open bolt design. Swedish submachine guns emphasized reliability. Open bolt systems resist water damage. Amphibious operations demand robust weapons. Military firearms handle extreme environments. Open bolt mechanisms maintain operational readiness. — Swedish military personnel conducting an amphibious landing operation while carrying Carl Gustaf m/45 submachine guns. Also known as the Swedish K, the m/45 was an open bolt design. Image: Swedish Army Museum/CC BY 4.0

The advantage of an open-bolt design is realized in full-auto guns. High rates of fire create extreme heat in the chamber and barrel, which can create a dangerous situation called a “cook off.” This is where a cartridge in a heated chamber fires without the trigger being pulled. In an open-bolt design, since the bolt is open and there is no cartridge in the chamber, air cools the chamber and will prevent the risk of a cook-off.

A World War II British Sten submachine gun displaying its crude stamped metal construction, side-mounted magazine, and bare-bones open bolt firing mechanism against a plain background. Open bolt firearms enabled wartime mass production. Closed bolt guns cost significantly more. Sten SMG exemplified open bolt economy. British submachine guns used minimal materials. Open bolt designs reduced manufacturing expenses. WWII weapons prioritized quantity production. Stamped metal construction lowered costs. Open bolt mechanisms simplified assembly processes. — The British Sten gun embodied open bolt design at its most basic and economical. At roughly $10 to produce, it proved you didn’t need expensive manufacturing to create an effective weapon. Image: Will Dabbs, MD

Another advantage of an open-bolt design is that it generally uses fewer parts than a closed bolt design. In an open-bolt design, the firing pin is generally machined as part of the bolt. Because of the inertia caused by the bolt closing when the trigger is pressed, the fixed firing pin strikes the cartridge primer without the need for a hammer and firing pin.

A Finnish military serviceman engaging enemy forces from a crater position while operating a German MP-40 submachine gun showing the practical combat application of open bolt weapon systems. Open bolt versus closed bolt affects battlefield reliability. MP-40 employed proven open bolt operation. Closed bolt weapons require more protection. Finnish forces trusted open bolt SMGs. Open bolt submachine guns perform under stress. Winter warfare demanded dependable firearms. Combat weapons used simple mechanisms. Open bolt designs ensure operational effectiveness. — A Finnish soldier crouched in a bomb crater firing a German MP-40 submachine gun during the Continuation War. Image: Sa-kuva

Since open-bolt guns are inexpensive to make and use fewer parts, they were mass produced during WWII. The American M3 Grease Gun for example cost about $20 to produced compared to other submachine guns that cost upwards of $70 at the time. The British Sten gun cost only about $10 to make during the war. Both of these open-bolt design weapons were inexpensive and quick to produce.

Sergeant Bruce E. Strickler wading through the Cu De River while carrying an M3A1 Grease Gun submachine gun during a patrol mission into Elephant Valley searching for Viet Cong positions. Open bolt firearms withstood harsh environments. Closed bolt guns required more maintenance. M3A1 Grease Gun featured open bolt reliability. Vietnam War weapons endured extreme humidity. Open bolt designs handled adverse conditions. Jungle combat demanded dependable firearms. Submachine guns served multiple military conflicts. Open bolt mechanisms rarely malfunctioned. — Sergeant Bruce E. Strickler wading through the Cu De River while carrying an M3A1 Grease Gun during a patrol mission into Elephant Valley searching for Viet Cong positions during 1967. Image: U.S.M.C.

Conversely, closed-bolt designs are more complex and expensive, but can fire more accurate shots and are generally more “refined” designs. Examples of full-auto closed bolt designs would be rifles like the M16 and the M14.

Conclusion

So there you go. If you’re reading up on a machine gun design and they reference “open bolt versus closed bolt,” you’ll now understand what it means. Now that you understand the firing sequence, it’s and an open and closed case from there.

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