I just received my Browning Safari bolt-action and have a question on the cycling of the action. The bolt seems to hit a rough spot when it it is pulled fully to the rear, almost like it catches something. The action cycles fine, but it just does not "feel" the same as my CRF Model 70s. Is this normal, or should I have a gunsmith take a look at it?

It may or may not be normal. Your rifle is just really a prettied up FN Mauser with all the Mauser faults, if it can be said that Mausers have faults. (I'm prejudiced.)
I've have several rifles built on commercial and military Mausers and some seem to hang up a bit at the back stroke and others don't. Some do it some of the time and someall of the time and I even have one that's never done it. Most likely it's just some sloppiness in the action, or just a rough spot that got missed, although seeing as these rifle have been around for a while, any roughness should have been gone by now unless it was a total safe queen.
It probably wouldn't hurt to have it checked out though. You never know.
Paul B.

Thanks, Paul. It looks like it was a safe queen, as it is in near perfect condition, so it may smooth out with use. My dad has an old 1954 or thereabouts Husqvarna, which has a Mauser action, and that cycles silky smooth, so I guess my expectation was that this FN would do the same. I will probably ask a gunsmith to check it out, though.

Remove the bolt and examine the extractor collar. Does it protrude above the milled extractor collar channel at any point, and thus exceed the diameter of the bolt body at that point?

AD

Allen, I'll do that when I get home tonight. Thanks.

Checked it out and all of the collar is inside the channel.

Mine had that when I first got it. It was unfired and after 20 years of use its what I would call slick. I would just wipe off as much oil as you can get out of the action and cycle it about 300 times and see if there isn't a vast improvment. But a FN will never be a Mark V action and some slop in the bolt is just the price we have to pay. I recently had a like new pre 64 win 70 and it was kinda rough. But I too feel that "tick" at the very end of the bolt travel. I've never minded it and thought it was just something to help eject the caseing. Seems to be the last 1/4" of bolt travel. So other than using it for 20 years I think you can just work the action lots and it will smooth up. Good Luck! Billy R

Remove the ejector box and check the blade for any defects.

Work the bolt while the box is removed. See if it still drags.

I'll do that. I took the rifle to a gunsmith this morning, and he thought it functioned just as it should.