Hard to lift bolt on Savage 110

[Roger Davis]

I bought an older Savage 110 to hunt and plink with. The bolt is very hard to lift to cock the gun. I have to lift my head from the scope and actually use the scope for leverage to lift the bolt handle. My remingtons are way easy compared to this gun. This is my first Savage and just wondering if this is normal for the 110. The trigger is smooth and the rifle shoots great except for the heavy lift on the bolt.

Thanks,

Roger.

 

[hogpatrol]

Is this after a round is fired or all the time, even empty?

 

[Roger Davis]

It is like this after each shot. If i cock it dry, it is hard, but as long as i dont pull the trigger, it is easy to lift and cycle, but if i dry fire it, it is hard to lift again. Roger.

 

[BoydAllen]

Have you disassembled the bolt, cleaned it, lubed the backs of the locking lugs, and the cocking cam with a little grease? You might want to do some research on reducing the cocking effort of a Savage. https://www.google.com/search?q=savage+cocking+effort+reduction&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&channel=sb

 

[gotcha]

Roger, Look into the bolt lift kit ($7.50) offered by Kevin Rayhill @ Stockade stocks. Polishing the cocking ramp in the bolt assy. will also help. I polished ALL the mating surfaces of my bolt assy, also used 600 grit lapping compound on lugs and cycled the action about 100 times. All of these "mods" improve bolt lift and the action continues to improve as it "beds in". A longer bolt handle will also increase leverage over the stubby factory handle. Some Savages cycle smoothly out of the box others not so much. Luck of the draw when you buy a Savage 10/110. JMHO

 

[Roger Davis]

Guys, im in the process of putting all these recommendations to work to get this thing operating smooth. Thanks for all the help so far.

Roger.

 

[jonbearman]

I would look into the kiff -lambeth bolt lift kit that ptg sells.

 

[Rustystud]

Hard bolt lift on Savages is due a combination of several issues. 1. Over cocking, 2. Burr left during machining at juncture of cocking ramp and cocking shelf, 3. burrs on firing pin where rear locking washer slides up and down firing pin during cocking. 4. friction between cocking piece sleeve and main screw. 5. rough surfaces where sear and trigger housing contact each other. 6. Over cocking due to being out of timing. 7. Primary extraction not adjusted properly.

If one addresses these issues cocking can be reduced 50-60%.

Nat Lambeth