Sticky Bolt

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SouthernWake

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Charleston, SC
I have a Savage 110 .270, after a shot or two the bolt becomes very difficult to open. I can turn it up but not pull it back to eject the case. At first I thought it may be heat related but I am taking a break between shots and the barrel is hot however I can put my hand on it. Hopefully this isn't something really simple I'm doing wrong, but ideas on what may be causing this?
 
Has it always done this or is this something new?
Are you using factory ammo or re-loads?
Does the case eject easily after it cools for a few seconds?
Is the chamber clean / smooth?
 
Are you shooting reloads? Could be a sign of high pressure.

Have you tried cleaning the chamber? Maybe some residue in there.

I seems there would be more leverage in lifting the bolt, than in sliding it back. I would try scrubbing out the chamber first. Check for a burr?

Also, can you tell us more about this gun? Has it been rebarreled? Is it new? What ammo are you shooting when you notice this?
 
This has been occuring for awhile now and is not new. I am using factory Rmington Core-Lokts, or Federal Power Shoks. I feel that some of the time if it cools it helps but still is very difficult to open. The chamber is smooth and clean along with the entire action. It also seems to open easier with a sharp pop instead of a pull type of pressure afterwards.

How would I check for a burr(probably an obvious answer ha). I purchased the gun used in January and it is about 10 years old, the individual who used it before me used it only as a deer rifle and i doubt but am not positive that anything has been done to it as far as rebarreling. Additionally I did notice when I purchased it that the gun was not regularly cleaned by the previous owner but also doubt it was shot but a few times each season.

Thank you for the reponses so far
 
I would take the end piece from one of those alum cleaning rods, attach a .38 cal or so brush to one end and a drill to the other. Wrap OOOO steel wool around the brush and apply a little Flitz to it. Polish the chamber a little and see if that fixes it. Don't polish into the neck area and make sure you get all of the steel wool / flitz out of the barrel, bolt lug recesses, .... before firing.
 
to look for a burr, run your funger in the chamber and over the outside all over the bolt with it removed. Wipe it clean with patches. Clean the inside of the chamber with a big 45 or 50 cal bore brush and maybe take the body apart (look for diagrams) and clean it all up with a solvent. (brake cleaner, mineral spirits, etc...)
 
For some unknown reason I keep my old brass even though I don't reload and noticed a slightly darker band on the back 1/4 in or so of it. This seemed to be on all the brass and more noticable on 150 gr brass. Also I have had issues with it extracting like this with an unfired round and a cold barrell. I really appreciate all the advice
 
clean it thoroughly and let us know how it turns out.

BTW, it's good to keep your brass. it not only has scrap value, but who knows... you may make a friend that reloads or reload yourself someday.
 
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SouthernWake

When I clean a chamber I use a shotgun cleaning mop, J&B bore paste, Kroil and a short piece of cleaning rod attached to a battery powered drill to spin the mop.

It sure sounds like something is in the chamber or you have an out of round chamber. Someone may have been in the chamber before your were and did some damage.

I would also use foam bore cleaner, making sure the chamber was full of foam also before doing anything else and then reinspect the chamber and throat area. (if you have young eyes and can see this area) You could possibly have carbon buildup or something small embedded in the chamber.
 
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