At what position does the M240 operate in terms of bolt status?

The M240 machine gun operates in an open bolt configuration. This means that when the weapon is not in the firing process, the bolt is held in the rear position, allowing for cooling and preventing a round from being chambered until the trigger is pulled. When the trigger is actuated, the bolt moves forward, chambering a round and firing it.

This design has several advantages, such as reducing the risk of an unintentional discharge due to the round being chambered while the weapon is at rest. Additionally, in an open bolt system, the bolt remains back after the last round is fired, which helps indicate to the operator that the ammunition has been exhausted. The open bolt position also permits better cooling of the chamber, which is important during sustained fire to prevent overheating.

In contrast, other bolt positions like closed bolt or locked positions do not accurately describe the operational status of the M240, as those involve different configurations typically found in other types of weapon systems.