Remington Speedmaster fail to go to battery

[Furncliff]

New to me 552 (c1982). I have thoroughly cleaned and lubed this rifle, but it still will not feed, If I load up the magazine and pull the charging handle, on the forward stroke it picks up the first round but stops about three quarters of the way to full battery. The charging handle can not be forced forward to close.

If I hand load a single round the bolt goes full closed and the rifle will fire. If I load a single round put the safety on and load the magazine (not my idea of safe) the rifle will fire, and load and fire the rest of the magazine .

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

Tom

 

[Red Cent]

My first question would be "Are you allowing the bolt go to battery by it self from the rearmost position?"
Obviously the first round is not seating properly within the bolt face. Extractor? Firing pin? Ejector?
Curiously, why does the rifle fire the remainder of the magazine? Try one less round in the magazine.