hard to close bolt on model 70 Winchester 222 cal.

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I have a model 70 Win.in 222 rem.the bolt is hard to close to lock position , as if it over centers some what like my reloading press when using a full length die. Chamber is empty or round in it does not matter.Why is the bolt so hard to lock and unlock?
 
Bolt and screw contact - probably. Back off guard screws and scope screws a turn or two ... any difference?

If not ...

Without ammo, hold the trigger in the fired position and close the bolt ... any difference?

If not ...

Remove the firing pin assembly and close the bolt ... any difference?
 
With the trigger held back bolt closed easily, still hard to open. I have cleaned the chamber and look at it with a bore light. I cleaned the bolt with lighter fuel till clean and oiled it with a hops gun oil. Helps a little , going to look again. Thanks
 
Go back to guntech's suggestion - you inspected the chamber, now inspect the recesses where the bolt lugs go - either an action screw protruding up from the bottom or a scope base screw protruding down from the top can be rubbing against the outside face of your bolt lugs to produce the "over-camming" symptom that you describe. Might even see marks on the outside faces of your bolt lugs.
 
Is this a recent development? Has it always been like that? New gun or old? Push feed or CRF? Have you cleaned it thoroughly, specifically the locking area? What position is the safety in? Does it respond differently when the safety is in different positions?
 
With the trigger held back bolt closed easily, still hard to open.

Dry rusty threads on the bolt shroud? Dry lugs? Take it apart... close the bolt leaving the rifle cocked, engage the safety to the first engagement, remove the bolt from the rifle, push the little indent to allow the shroud to be unscrewed, unscrew, inspect and clean the firing pin assembly, lubricate the threads with light grease.

Don't bother with ammo or chamber until the bolt is working better...
 
My Winchester 670A has three screws holding the action/barrel to the wooden stock. If any of these screws are a bit too tight, the bolt is very hard to work. Maybe check the stock bolts? Try to back them out 1/2 turn each (in turn) to see if it makes any difference.
 
Thanks to all for your info, I had not though to look there for problems. I will be checking for screw recess now. I haven"t been putting oil in my bolt, the cocking mechanism was so dry it was stiff. Works great now.
 
Thanks to all for your info, I had not though to look there for problems. I will be checking for screw recess now. I haven"t been putting oil in my bolt, the cocking mechanism was so dry it was stiff. Works great now.

If the bolt closed easily when the trigger was in the fired position, the action screws or scope mount screws are not interfering with the bolt. Did you take the bolt apart?
 
I took the rifle apart and gave it a cleaning, with the screws out it was still tight, so I put it back together and used a pick and a bore light to check to see if the screws interfered with the bolt closing. They were recessed in the threads of the action. I don't know how to get the bolt apart yet, need some youtube time. The safety is still stuck in the fire position, so yes the bolt has to be cleaned inside and I will do that. I can see how to long a screw in the scope mount would interfere with the bolt closing. Thanks guntech you have been very helpful.
 
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