Eureka!
After searching the internet to no avail for an answer to my M95's sticky bolt problem, I've found the answer: my striker spring was screwed in too tight.
Didn't matter if I was dry firing or at the range shooting live, the problem was the same: initial extraction (the first centimeter of movement rearward was very difficult, unless I cocked the striker first).
After searching far and wide and trying different methods of cycling the bolt, looking for burs in the metal, built up cosmo, I'm surprised the solution was so simple.
Have a look at the rear of your striker and cocking piece with the rifle assembled.
If the rear of the striker (it's labeled as a firing pin in the picture) is flush with the cocking piece, it is likely too tight.
Follow the instructions here to the 4th picture:
steyr-m95-bolt-disassembly-reassembly
Turn it counter clockwise like you're about to unscrew the cocking piece off the striker, but only do one complete turn. Put the bolt back in the rifle after you've extended the bolt head again, and try cycling it again from the fired position. If it is still sticky, do the process again and unscrew the cocking piece and add another rotation.
After two complete turns, the rear of the striker is now recessed about 4mm into the the cocking piece.
Primary extraction is a breeze, the trigger pull is lighter, and the rifle functions as it should. An added bonus is that the bolt head can be re-extended by hand after reassembly, good news for those of you with weak extractor tails!
I hope this helps anyone with a tricky/sticky bolt.
My M95 is an accurate (if powerful) carbine and I can't wait to get it out to the range again after trying this.
After searching the internet to no avail for an answer to my M95's sticky bolt problem, I've found the answer: my striker spring was screwed in too tight.
Didn't matter if I was dry firing or at the range shooting live, the problem was the same: initial extraction (the first centimeter of movement rearward was very difficult, unless I cocked the striker first).
After searching far and wide and trying different methods of cycling the bolt, looking for burs in the metal, built up cosmo, I'm surprised the solution was so simple.
Have a look at the rear of your striker and cocking piece with the rifle assembled.
If the rear of the striker (it's labeled as a firing pin in the picture) is flush with the cocking piece, it is likely too tight.
Follow the instructions here to the 4th picture:
steyr-m95-bolt-disassembly-reassembly
Turn it counter clockwise like you're about to unscrew the cocking piece off the striker, but only do one complete turn. Put the bolt back in the rifle after you've extended the bolt head again, and try cycling it again from the fired position. If it is still sticky, do the process again and unscrew the cocking piece and add another rotation.
After two complete turns, the rear of the striker is now recessed about 4mm into the the cocking piece.
Primary extraction is a breeze, the trigger pull is lighter, and the rifle functions as it should. An added bonus is that the bolt head can be re-extended by hand after reassembly, good news for those of you with weak extractor tails!
I hope this helps anyone with a tricky/sticky bolt.
My M95 is an accurate (if powerful) carbine and I can't wait to get it out to the range again after trying this.
