Gents,

I've got a M70 Classic 'Super Express' chambered in 375H&H which seems to have a problem.

When lifting the bolt handle, it seems to hang up a bit during the last 10-15 degrees of motion. This appears to happen whether the safety is in the 'fire' position, or the middle position. Could be more in the 'fire' mode though, I'd need to check again.

I've got two other rifles just like it, except their not 'magnum' length actions (I know, they're all really the same action.) Neither of those two rifles seems to have this 'hitch' in the bolt lift though.

Could be that it just hasn't been cycled nearly as many times as the other two, as I'm just starting to work with this rifle.

I was just wondering if this is indicative of a possible problem inside the bolt, or other part of the action. I'd hate to be wearing something out by forcing the bolt all the way up.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks...

BW---

Take the rifle completely apart and try the bolt. Does it stick? Add parts and try it at every stage. When it starts to stick you know the last part you installed is the problem.

Gunsmith investigation 101.

Jack,

I was hoping you'd comment on this problem.

Okay, I'll give it a try. But be forewarned, if you get a box of rifle parts in the mail, it's because I was following your advice, and couldn't get it back together!

Thanks.

BW---

Never fear. I can talk you through it with no problem. Just don't turn loose of the firing pin spring retainer clip too early!

Disassemble the firing pin spring retainers with the tip of the firing pin against the bench. That way anything that gets loose don't get lost.

Brian,

Does it hang up every time you lift the bolt handle, or only after dry firing?

George

Try loosing the front action screw a couple of turns and see if it does it then. I had one once where the wood compressed enough to let the action screw stick up enough to hit the locking lug when the bolt was operated. The screw hole on the bottom of the action is located right under the locking lugs and an overly long screw can touch the lugs during operation. A couple of licks on the screw with a file solved my problem.

I recently had a scope base mounting hole recess drilled too deep and it caused the same problem only the one screw just kept the bolt from being installed all together. A file fixed it up easily enough. That was on a Rem700 though.