It is most likely the sleave lock in this case. The screw coming loose may be the problem, but most likely there is a bind taking place in the sleave lock pocket. This is a very tricky part to get right and function smoothly. If there is any tolerance stack at all between the sleave lock and the pocket that is on the face of the shroud, these items will bind under the spring tension that is behind the sleave lock.
The fix is to remove the firing pin assembly from the bolt, use a 1/16" allen wrench and remove the screw that retains the sleave lock. Be careful because this part is under some fairly good spring tension. Once you've removed the sleave lock, inspect it for any obvious burrs, and or any of the same inside the sleave lock pocket. If there isn't anything there that would resemble and obvious burr that's causing the hangup, reassemble the sleave lock and contact MRC for a replacement. This isn't an easy fix if there are tolerance problems with this part, and replacement of the sleave lock and or bolt shroud may be the ultimate solution.
Good luck with your project.

If you are in the States, get MRC to fix it for you. Call them (e.g. Jeff), they'll be happy to help.

Montana Rifleman
2593A Hwy 2 East
Kalispell, MT 59901
PHONE: (406) 755-4867
FAX: (406) 755-9449

- mike

I have a 1999 long action that has a "catch" when closing the bolt. Not when working it to and fro but when closing with the safety in the middle position or in the fire postion. Has nothing to do with the extractor as I have pulled it off. When I pull the firing pin assembly out of the bolt it closes without the hitch. So it has something to with the cocking piece and or safety. I need guidence in pulling the assembly apart. I've led a sheltered life, what can I say?? Pulled Remingtons apart many times but this whole set up is different..
Sooo, any advice on how to dismantle the firing pin assembly so I can troubleshoot this problem?
Thanks,
Pat

Contact MRC and/or send it back to them. They should be willing/able to help you or fix the problem entirely.

Pat,
It may be that the sear is sitting just a little high. The catch you describe may be the tongue on the cocking piece riding over the sear. The cure in this case would be to either;
(a) remove a very small amount of material from the top of the sear or
(b) remove a small amount from the bottom of the tongue of the cocking piece.
You should be able to see if the sear is rubbing on the bottom of the bolt body. If it is not, the problem could be with the tongue of the cocking piece. Looked at from the side, the tomgue of the cocking piece should be below the level of the bolt body. In other words, if you place a straight edge on the bottom of the bolt, it should not contact the tongue. If the sear is rubbing the bolt body, you have to decide if the engagement hump at the rear of the sear is too tall or if the sear is simply being lifted up much higher than necessary. In the former case, the cure is removal of some material. If the latter scenario is the case, the cause is either a sear which is improperly shaped or the cut in the receiver is too deep.
What you will want to do is to remove the bolt then have a look at how far the trigger engagement notch is above the mating surface of the trigger when the bolt is open. If it is a lot, you can experiment with a bit of shim stock in between the sear and the bottom of the cut in the receiver to see what height the sear needs to be at to function properly.
I have to say the problem as I have outlined it does not exist in any of the four actions I have here so the problem might lie elsewhere. The only other likely possibility is the bolt sleeve itself. It may be a little large. It may be indexing a little off when the bolt is open and therfor rubbing on the receiver on one side or the other.
Finally, and maybe more likely than any other cause, the little bolt sleeve lock plunger may just be hanging up in it's hole a little. Because it's such a short little piece, it's not very well guided by it's bore.
If you start by removing the bolt sleeve lock plunger you will either prove or disprove it as the problem. If, with the plunger removed the catch is still there, you should move on to the sear. If you remove the trigger and sear and the catch is gone, you will know the problem is one of thepreviously mentioned cases.
The sear that sits too high is a fairly common problem on many of the new M70s but, as I said, is not evident on any of the 1999s I have here. Hope this helps. Regards, Bill.

Bill, what can I say besides thank you... You are a wealth of knowledge and so willing to share.

Not having been out to the shop yet this morning I don't know for sure but I'm betting that the cocking piece tounge is the problem. Yesterday I noticed one edge of it has a small lip where the metal has been upset somehow. I bet a fix is just a stone away.

I sure appreciate your generosity.

Best,
Pat