How Does it Work: Open Bolt vs Closed Bolt Firearms

[@christophergolias3610]

My wife always responds to hearing me play your videos. "Oh is Ian joining us?"

[@RaDeus87]

My SO calls him Gun Jesus, mostly because that's what I call him 😉

[@christophergolias3610]

@@elopeous3285 it was edited for a typo ten seconds after I posted it.

[@breadman32398]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@MsDemzon]

As soon as my wife hears “hi, I’m Ian.” She goes “hi Ian!” And waves in the direction of my iPad.

[@zacharykelly7434]

My wife never mentions Ian, but when I turn on C&Rsenal she rates Maes outfits

[@ACRVasquez]

I absolutely applaud these short format videos explaining basic concepts. These can easily be referenced in later videos to reduce the need to keep going over the same basic info over and over. Great idea, Sir. (Also, Ian didn't use the word "obsolete" once. Good job.)

[@mrb692]

This video makes describing open and closed bolt firearms in each video obsolete :P

[@ThatGuy-te9wh]

Open bolt guns are not at all obsolete. Why? Because their simple mechanics means anyone can make them.

[@grimmerteam4228]

Come on Ian, just admit that you made this video to show us some more of the Chauchat.

[@swedishviking4086]

And remember the MAS 38

[@arrowtt3364]

@@swedishviking4086 You mean the SMG that couldn't fully cycle the magazine?

[@arrowtt3364]

@@agentwashingtub9167 I never knew that.

[@swedishviking4086]

@@arrowtt3364 Haha yes indeed!

[@planescaped]

@@arrowtt3364 yeah, he said in a Q&A that it had been deactivated in the past by drilling and someone attempted to reactivate it and screwed it up.(bullets seat too far into the chamber IIRC) It explains why he got it so cheaply. XD

[@AndyKraken]

Probably the best, most concise, and most understandable summary I've seen on this topic as of yet

[@peterbills4129]

Agreed. The other two of the top 3 videos recommended to me from duckduckgo were 48 and 10 minutes long. Everything I needed to know was presented in 4 1/2 mins.

[@merguetroidrittzlesnat2287]

Great video, Ian. I'm a "seasoned" (OK, I'm older than dirt) gunsmith, and whilst I do not typically have clients who bring in open bolt semis, it *is* the kind of question I get asked about by a fair percentage of folks who are hanging around the shop when I'm cleaning a firearm and just think I have some time to kill. I've already been referring lots of them to your channel for interesting firearm notes, and this is especially helpful for them. As I don't possess any open bolt firearms to demonstrate with, it's sometimes difficult to explain concepts to some folks. I've just printed up a simple flyer about this site and have them on the counter in the shop so I can just hand them out. Looking forward to the blowback vs. locked breech video, too. Thank you so much for making learning so much fun for my clients and me. And like @Christopher Golias has said, your voice typically brings my wife over to watch. I've got a full beard and handlebar mustache, but she says you've got me beat in the facial hair department. And my forehead goes much higher before my ponytail begins :)

[@GordonFreeman.]

So rather than chatting with your customers while cleaning guns you hand out flyers? Just teasing , im sure you're not a dick but the way you wrote that made me laugh.

[@JSCB-365]

I know you precieve that these potential customers are draining your valuable time. You have to spend the time to develop a relationship with these people when they have questions spend a moment maybe show them a video. But turn that into didn't you say you wanted to repair your grandfather's gun or I'd bet you would be interested in upgrading the widget on that AR I sold you two years ago. M Lok rails are lighter and more comfortable than those old quad rails. Bring that bad puppy buy we can get that installed for you

[@merguetroidrittzlesnat2287]

@@GordonFreeman. Thank you, you got it -- and that it got you to laugh. Whilst I *can* be a dick (I'm also retired from 20 years as a paramedic-firefighter, then 9 as a state trooper), I have the flyers so that people don't have to write down a URL that I can only sometimes remember.....plus I let them watch this video in my shop if it pertains to what they've asked about. A lot of my clients are active or retired fellow public safety folks, and we count a lot on word of mouth advertising. Frighteningly, some of the FNGs who come in are inexperienced enough with firearms (and a lot of fellow old guys never carried autoloader pistols) who have never seen the "tap & rack" procedure. I make sure to teach it to folks who seem never to have heard of it (or who have forgotten it), and while we do not have a range here, I can do it with Snap Caps to fit whatever they bring in, unless it's a Makarov on Nambu. And sometimes machining or brazing a part really does take all my attention, at least for a few minutes, so using my shop computer to let them watch a couple of videos is a benefit to both of us, at least until I realize they've gone over to PornHub.....

[@merguetroidrittzlesnat2287]

@@JSCB-365 Not so much as draining my valuable time, but sometimes I'm just really in the middle of something they're waiting for and that takes all my attention for a least a little while (please see above note).. I have a lot of spare time in the shop, and most of my clients are former coworkers or their friends and families, etc. I actually *do* spend time talking with them, and only divert them to a video when I can't demonstrate something with the stuff in the shop, or if I get a "moose in the headlights" look when I describe something. But your point is well taken.

[@francischen1075]

@Ian - I think your videos are easy enough for firearm seasoned enthusiasts to understand, but since you are doing reference videos, I think newcomers to the channel might appreciate video(s) that go over some of the basic nomenclatures of firearm parts. For example, it took me a some good googling to figure out what a trunnion is, in the context of small arms. Such videos might give newcomers a good starting point to be able to follow along your other videos..

[@Seelenschmiede]

This is a good idea. Maybe call it "What is what for beginners" or something like that.

[@csours]

Yes, what exactly is a bolt? Seer? Action? Receiver? Striker/Hammer/Firing Pin (I actually know what these are, but it would still be cool to see Ian do them)

[@jameshealy4594]

*Sear, a seer is someone who makes woo-woo noises and pretends to see the future (hey, I'm a sceptic).

[@gnarshread]

Agreed!

[@jimvandemoter6961]

@@Seelenschmiede This is a good idea. Something else to keep in mind, not all new gun owners are necessarily young. I got my first gun when I was eighteen in 1970. I sold it after six months. I didn't own another gun until eleven years ago when I was 55. Just an idea for you to consider.

[@pupfriend]

Only 7am and I already learned something today

[@Echowhiskeyone]

Any day you learn something new, is a good day.

[@woolver42]

As somebody whose interest in guns is entirely platonic, this has helped me out a lot in understanding your other videos.

[@soapmaker2263]

My interest in guns is explicitly sexual, and this video has helped me immensely as well.

[@jameshealy4594]

"Intimate and affectionate" - Yeah I'm not sure I would describe an interest in firearms as platonic mate, it still implies a fair number of issues. ;D

[@MinuteBracelet]

@@jameshealy4594 Reminds me of that story where a guy on /k/ got super drunk and accidentally had sex with his mosin nagant.

[@KageMinowara]

@@MinuteBracelet God I love /k/.

[@smortboi1320]

Reading the replies let’s me know that platonic does mean what I thought it did

[@sohrabroozbahani4700]

thank you for doing this, I've been through three militia courses at high school and one more than necessary conscription boot camp and through all of that nonsense nobody was able to clearly explain this difference. you just made my life far better, one good childhood question is finally answered...

[@eltadashi1]

I think it would have been worth mentioning that the gun "FG42" as an example shoots on a closed bolt on semi-auto and on an open bolt on full-auto. Is the FG42 the only gun, which is able to do that in one rifle?

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

I believe the Stoner 63 can do it, although you have to reconfigure it substantially to do so. It cannot be done with a simple lever throw like the FG. That's the only one I can think of at the moment, I believe there may be one or two others.

[@Mongo63a]

@@thegoldencaulk2742 - The Stoner 63 does not do this. The LMG/auto rifle fires from an open bolt all the time and the selector does nothing. When it is converted into rifle carbine it fires from a closed bolt in auto and semi so its not like the FG42 that does it based on the selector.

[@francischen1075]

LWRC M6 does this. I believe it was to fulfill the original requirements of the Marine Corp for a replacement of the M249 SAW.

[@UXB1000]

The SCAR HAMR does this too, if I recall correctly.

[@leoapanasenko5717]

i think Ian is making this chanal more newcomer friendly so probably mentioning such examples would be to much for a video like this. If you are new you dont want to be told this and this is also an exeption. In my opinion it would be better to mention this things on videos talking about this rifels etc. but i can understand you thought

[@BrutusTheOwl]

I like the slight change of pace in video, outlining fundamental differences, advantages, and disadvantages of various basic firearms design. Yet, it still manages to be just as interesting as your usual videos. :)

[@chip6954]

Every time I search YT to clear up a technical firearm question, system, or concept, this guy ALWAYS delivers!

[@KhaiJbach]

more of this kind of explanation please. its the kind of basics that lead into the why's of the designs you show us...

[@Sarin-Q]

As someone interested in developing his own firearms, I love that you make these educational videos that dive into the function of a gun. Fantastic work, and keep it up!

[@mattisvov]

Many hugs to Ian for clearing that up. As a dude with a sort of lukewarm interest in firearms, just enough to watch some youtube vidoes now and then, I am unaware of a lot of basic concepts, and this explained it very well.

[@MAWA2024]

I'm watching this 5 yrs later, but it's just another example of why Forgotten Weapons is one of the most important gun channels on KZbin.

[@n3ochars]

Finally! Been waiting for a while for you to make a series like this.

[@Paul-ie1xp]

The Majority of people outside the US that haven't served in a Military, will never have the opportunity to have first hand experience with firearms. Videos like this help make your general content much more accessible.

[@Salesman9001]

Only countries that don't have opportunity to own or shoot guns are either dictatorships or Japan and Japanese visit other countries just to shoot guns. Even in UK you can own rifles and shotguns quite easily and spoons are illegal items over there. These videos make the content much more accessible tho. Before I had to hunt down multiple books from libraries nation wide to get same info Ian gives in short video.

[@sangerzonnvolt6712]

I'm from Hungary I don't know about normal people but for hunters you need to study biology to get a license

[@beavisbutt-headson3223]

That probably couldn't be less true. Mind that you don't need to actually own a gun to be able to shoot it

[@MichaelEdmond]

@@Salesman9001 spoons?

[@PrezPendejo]

Why do people keep believing things like this.

[@ST-zm3lm]

I just want to thank you for all that your channel has taught me over the last several years. To another great year!

[@HATECELL]

I love this format. Short, digesable information that hits the right spot between overly simplified and too technical

[@csours]

More of this please Ian. No detail is too small for an explainer! Preferable with contrasts from different guns/eras!

[@danepatterson8107]

I'm so glad you did this. There are so many technical terms whose meanings I would like to better visualize and understand. This is a vid I've waited for for years

[@tskwared667]

I like this format a lot. When I first stumbled onto your channel I didn't know anything about the different types actions, (blowback, delayed blowback, long recoil, etc) I slowly picked up the information through context but it would have been great to have a reference like this to learn a lot of the basics you use when describing weapons.

[@T33K3SS3LCH3N]

Straight to the point and super informational. This is why you're the best channel on the topic.

[@Arthurzeiro]

Is Ian flexing his french collection at us?

[@Boredoutofmywits]

ALWAYS

[@rriflemann308]

The “How does it work” format is excellent, these educational concepts are often forgotten in weapons technology revenue, kudos!

[@regsparkes6507]

Thanks, very much for the concise explanation of these bolts. I've been shooting ( non competitively ) for many years now, and until now, have never understood this before. Well done!

[@curious-relics]

Perfect explanatory video. Jumping right into the relevant info without minutes of setup and irrelevant background info

[@sadkat9162]

Thank you Ian, very cool

[@hoss2060]

I love these videos. I find firearms really interesting and want to learn more. I know basics but a lot of the internal mechanics go right over my head and this is much more easily digestible than just an article. Love to see more vids like this

[@robertgad3269]

Excellently done, in part because it is so concise without sacrificing accuracy. Wish I had the same talent. I often get asked technical questions by relative newbies, to which I deliver highly accurate responses to listeners beginning to nod off.

[@DivingHawker]

I think making a playlist of simple, short videos like that explaining basic concepts could be a great thing to do. I mean, you did a really great job with this one and I'm sure you could create an amazing guide like this with more beginner-friendly videos, slowly going towards more complex topics.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

kzbin.info/aero/PL9e3UCcU00TRIeypXC53S8r81DZRvoXmu

[@DivingHawker]

@@ForgottenWeapons Oh nice, thank you for all your work!

[@Engtissueman]

I've been wondering about this for some time and finally decided to find a resource explaining it. Thanks for the clear, concise description.

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

Excellent description of open/closed bolt configuration. I now fully understand that my MP40 works on the open bolt system. The MP40 does have a pneumatic style buffer to help master the reciprocal mass of the bolt assembly. Unfortunately, my MP will never fire again as it has been deactivated (to old U.K. spec) but at least a few of the parts of the weapon can still move and be appreciated.

[@jerodamerson8865]

Even though I understand these concepts and mechanics this video is presented in such a fashion as to not make me feel stupid, but when I showed this video to a friend with a rather basic understanding of of firearms (gun go boom type of person) he was easily able to grasp the concept. Well done Mr McCollum, I look forward to future information videos

[@williamv9965]

Thanks Ian. I really enjoy your “How Does it Work” videos. IMO they are concise, brief and very informative.

[@RoyRogerer]

I finally understand the different reason behind both designs, and on top of that, I understand why FG42 has both mode at the same time, from a 4 min video. Great one, thanks!

[@geofox9484]

This is something I’ve always wondered but never had a clear answer on, thanx man! Love the channel

[@saradolphin3242]

Thanks Ian it's Nice to see Old Gun's still Working!

[@batwing-plays]

I'd love to have more of these, please! Such a short videos (either basic comparisons or ideas explanations) are a great learning tools.

[@axierurresti981]

Amazing video, thanks

[@saidonfax]

Thank you. I actually specifically searched about this topic and came here to this video which easily explained everything. Again, thank you. And this is an awesome video!

[@Thermalions]

Never having handled a gun or having had any interest in them before randomly coming across your channel, this was a very informative explanation. I'd be keen to have a few more of these concise explanation videos aimed (pardon the pun) at viewers like me.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I plan to make a whole series of these. :)

[@Thermalions]

@@ForgottenWeapons Excellent news

[@IAMULKAIR]

This is exactly what I needed. With these sort of videos, I can learn a whole lot about guns!

[@TheWarmotor]

When I saw this video on my feed this morning my first thought was "I wonder he'll explain locked breach vs. blowback?" and lo, you mention it first thing :) I hope you touch on straight blowback vs. delayed!

[@thefrogger6507]

Damn, bless this channel. I don't even have any firearms, I'm just a big enthusiast, and I love these explanations.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Thanks for this. It’s good to have a short quick and reasonably detailed explanation of what the difference is for people who don’t know guns.

[@tomofengland]

This is such an incredibly thorough video! So much useful information, and yet short and easily digestible

[@lancelittleton9802]

Props for using the Chauchat for demonstration purposes!

[@hexadecimil]

Thank you so much Ien. My son and I have learned so much. And that you have a video dedicate to this educational topic is really wonderful. Thank you for all your work.

[@storBoomer]

Loving this new format and the detailed explanation. I'm not owning any guns but am well-interested in their wide variety of technical details and mechanisms. Would love to see such a video for ammunition as well, such as different types and their advantages/disadvantages, calibers vs. choices of grain sizes etc. As dumb as it might sound, this field has always remained somewhat of a mysterious world to me. Thank you, Ian, for your hard work and all your effort. :)

[@whatcanilearnhere9158]

very clear. well done. i am now begining to tell anyone i talk with about firearms engineering to watch your vids. thanks again

[@TheLoxxxton]

Nice to see a back to basics video. Thanks for the upload

[@quickattackfilms7923]

Yes! I was asking for something like this. A lot of times, gun terminology goes over my head so this stuff will help.

[@Moped_Mike]

I like this style of video. I love your vids where you show off guns, but I’m looking to learn more about how those guns work. Thanks!

[@DomagojSkiljan]

Thanks Ian for clearing up things. There is a lot of terminology that i kinda sortha understand, and videos like this make it easyer for me to follow. Happy Hollydays from Croatia 🎅

[@stonewall11b1984]

Please do more of these. Very well made and very informative. Excellent work sir.

[@caseylocke4474]

I've been a shooter all my life but I have not fired a wide variety firearms. I only know a bit about the ones I've used. It's hard for an uneducated person like myself to assess someone more educated, but this gentleman is well-spoken, to the point, and speaks with confidence. He makes me want to learn more from him.

[@Valmon14]

Finally I definitely needed this. I just watch Ian for the relaxation so most of the gun terms fly past my head.

[@edvineyard1143]

Excellent summary of the differences.

[@nutiketgotc]

This is good content. The channel has historically been marketed to an audience that knows guns but knows little about odd or failed guns. It's nice to see content which can be used to educate people who are new to guns entirely. Very helpful, please continue.

[@salavat294]

Once upon a time, a buddy of mine got a “Lakefield Plinker” 22 cal semi-auto for Christmas. One time we put an absurd amount of ammunition through it, to the point where the once semi-auto rifle turned into a fully automatic carbine. It was way too much fun to shoot.

[@Braskus]

Figured it was pretty obvious. But i googled closed vs. open bolt to find a video explanation. Not surprised the perfect video showed up from ian.

[@prashantmakemerich]

this channel teaches me something new about firearms everyday...

[@CenturianCornelious]

You are a very logical thinker and speaker. I like that.

[@TodayLifeIsGoood]

A long time ago, I asked for more straight up educational episodes. Looks like my wish got finally granted.^^

[@SangTheCryptek]

I'm very happy you made this video. It answers questions I've always had but was too afraid to ask. I'm a firearms admirer and hold an appreciation for them, but I don't own any and have little practical experience with them. Always afraid of being labelled as a armchair warrior when asking potentially obvious questions.

[@crimsonwolf7248]

Love this channel, it educates as well as demonstrates.

[@robert2pkt0]

Can‘t wait to see more of these series, love it. Thanks! Have a great new year.

[@kenhelmers2603]

Nice explanation, I like these short to the point style videos too.

[@littlerougue]

I guess i had figured most of this out in my head and already had the accuracy problem with an open bolt and never thought of cookoff being a reason to have an open bolt action.

[@Ps119]

Very good video. Good explanation and demonstration in the least time necessary. Well done.

[@balthy8139]

I saw that east Germany made bakelite furniture Ian, and I'm glad you had the opportunity to get your hands on it

[@tristanholland6445]

It's probably East German furniture on a parts rifle taking a guess

[@balthy8139]

@@tristanholland6445 well now I gotta figure why I typed west, while fully aware of the fact that is is east german

[@tristanholland6445]

I hadn't noticed the typo I took an educated guess based upon your avatar that you probably are an aficionado of Eastern Bloc stuff

[@balthy8139]

@@tristanholland6445 Welp the avatar is basically a joke with some friends so there's no real aficionado but there's still some knowledge about various things

[@Blustride]

Is this finally the "Ian shows us his collection in detail" series of videos?

[@szuhoj9969]

Ian this is gold! I don't need to explain this any more just link this video :)

[@skygrasper_47]

Short, clear, concise. Perfect. Next up: high tolerance vs low tolerance :D

[@windhelmguard5295]

yet back in school they would have given him a D- at best because it's not 15 minutes long.

[@jubb1984]

Can't say I didn't know all of this but it was Nice and concise, I like it. Well done! :)

[@tropicalfruit4571]

That's a cool video, I was wondering like a week ago why do people choose between closed and open bolts. The only thing I could come up with was the accuracy and price. It's good to get the full picture :)

[@raphlvlogs271]

A quick and comprehensive video.

[@zeerob9516]

Really clear explanation and great examples, thanks and would love to see more of these videos in this format.

[@malarauko]

I know there is going to be a ton of comments like this but: this video is brilliant. Some of these things I've kind of half known or guessed but this really clearly lays it all out. I had like a little aha moment when you said open bolt guns don't have a round sitting in the chamber and I was like "duh to prevent cook off, how did I never get that before"

[@FuzzyOtterButt]

I really enjoyed this video and I am looking foreword to more videos of this type in the future! You have a really enjoyable and thorough way of breaking concepts down and explaining them in very graspable ways for some one like myself who has very limited firearm knowledge.

[@2Ventiler78]

Thanks for explaining those facts! Now I can enjoy your videos even more.

[@fimbulvter]

Yes, more of this please.

[@edoardotesta7068]

Love this informative videos for people like myself who don't own guns! Please do more (one topic I'd like to learn more about is recoil Vs short/long gas action)

[@richardbell7678]

I have just had the epiphany that the Lahti is an attempt at a "best of both worlds" action. The Lahti 20mm anti-tank rifle has the bolt lock at the rear of its travel, so there is not a round waiting in the chamber. Only when a target has been located in the sight picture does the bolt get released to travel forward and chamber a round. Once everything has stopped bouncing* around after the bolt face has crashed into battery, the shooter fires from the closed bolt. I think that the Lahti designer would have made that decision so that the kick of the Lahti's recoil and the kick of the Lahti's bolt being slammed into battery happen further apart for less uncomfortable shooting. The Lahti is not as comfortable to shoot as the Solothurn, but the Lahti is more comfortable than it would be if the bolt returned to battery after each shot (I have shot neither weapon, but I remember Ian's comments after shooting each weapon) Of course, I have just assumed the the Lahti's trigger is disabled, until the bolt release handle has been fully released. This is a reasonable assumption, as that prevents the race condition of the bolt having to get into battery before the firing pin strikes the primer. The other thought that struck me as I am typing this is that (if striker fired) the Lahti's striker spring should be compressed as the bolt goes forward, like the Lee-Enfield bolt action, to absorb some of the energy of the bolt, as it moves forward. [aside] The down side of being very good at pattern recognition is that it is a necessary trait to 'screw up by the numbers', or do everything wrong, at the worst possible time, because what you perceived was incomplete and more data would have let you know that something else is actually going down. The up side of being very good at pattern recognition is that you can successfully learn new things by filling in the blank spaces between what you do know. Feel free to let me know which situation my comment has fallen under. * At high loads and/or high speeds, EVERYTHING deforms and is springy

[@connorrothbard9689]

Oh my god, yes! I love this idea. If you ever decide to make a series on theory like this, I would gladly pay for it!

[@simone.Lmo.639-2]

Just love this east german forniture. Nice thing about this video is that even if I knew those things before it didn't bore me at all because of all that examples variety

[@FiveTwoSevenTHR]

This video contained knowledge that I already knew about, still watched it.

[@ravenzetsu9979]

like this kind of content... hope there's more of this technicality on firearms...

[@venator5]

You forgott to mention two advantages for closed bolt systems. -accidental shooting is less likelly to occure. (For example You can shoot an open bolt if you charge it inproperly) You can seal the gun. Mud does not come in.

[@mikeb1841]

Another topic to add for sometime to say to me “how/why do you know that”??!! Not being a gun owner, I’ve never known this. Thank you for the great videos!!

[@loudlife7648]

Really awesome video. Extremely thorough and well-explained. I'll have to refer this to anyone who asks me the same question. Should've shown the FG42 in the end just as a little mind-blower ;) Very informative educational video nonetheless. Love your work Ian. Keep it up!

[@charlievane66]

Love the video, make more of this kind of videos about the operation of diferent kinds of firearms. Congratulations and keep up the good work

[@deeacosta2734]

Can you review roller delayed vs roller locked blowback again?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yup, definitely.

[@deeacosta2734]

@@ForgottenWeapons Thanks! Viewers and gun owners alike are thirsty for roller locks.

[@pathfinderLXXIV]

Love these How Does It Work videos!!

[@cadian122]

Another advantage of closed bolt guns is you can keep the chamber cleaner and clear of dirt and debris when not firing

[@jamocleasby7780]

Just good stuff 😎 keen to see the locked breach video!

[@Gladiator34B]

Very great video, clearly shows the concept. Nobody can beat Ian at firearm education :D

[@Hypastpist]

in the beginning i always thought the difference between the closed bolt and open bolt was negligible but the way ian describes it, though small it makes a REALLY big difference