The Mag Life discusses "Open-Bolt vs Closed-Bolt: What's the Difference?" as well as the pros and cons to each. If you don't know, the short answer is that in an open bolt system, the bolt is locked back and open at the moment of firing. Once the trigger is pulled, the bolt will release and move forward catching and feeding the cartridge into the chamber and firing, after which the bolt (either by recoil or gas) is forced to return to the rear position. These were at one time popular for automatic weapons like machine guns and submachine guns because they were simple designs and cheap to build.
The closed bolt system fires from a bolt that is closed and locked in some manner (e.g., bolt lugs) at the moment of firing. The trigger releases a striker or hammer that strikes a firing pin, setting off the cartridge, and then whether by recoil or gas, the bolt is forced to open and cycle a new cartridge before closing and locking again.
As I said, there are advantages and disadvantages to each system depending on your application. But certain open bolt designs are prohibited because they are too easily converted to full auto and, therefore, considered automatic weapons by the ATF. The article discusses this. The video below also discusses open bolt systems and the legality of such weapons.
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