The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Firing from closed bolt vs. open bolt m16/m4

James H · December 22, 2010, 08:45 PM

For some reason I had this question pop into my head in a dream last night (I think about guns a lot). With a fully automatic capable M16/M4, do these rifles fire from the open bolt position when in fully automatic and then switch to closed bolt when in semi or 3-rd burst?

I've never even shot an AR15, so I have zero experience with the platform. Just wondering.

And by the way, I'm not looking for a run down on all the different models that are either 3-rd burst or fully automatic capable. That's easy enough to find on wikipedia. Just wondering about the fully automatic/bolt open question on the models that are full automatic capable.

December 22, 2010, 08:45 PM	#1
James H Junior member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: The high plains of Wyoming Posts: 164	Firing from closed bolt vs. open bolt m16/m4 For some reason I had this question pop into my head in a dream last night (I think about guns a lot). With a fully automatic capable M16/M4, do these rifles fire from the open bolt position when in fully automatic and then switch to closed bolt when in semi or 3-rd burst? I've never even shot an AR15, so I have zero experience with the platform. Just wondering. And by the way, I'm not looking for a run down on all the different models that are either 3-rd burst or fully automatic capable. That's easy enough to find on wikipedia. Just wondering about the fully automatic/bolt open question on the models that are full automatic capable.