Anyone have any advice for extremely heavy bolt lift? I have a Tikka in 223 that I am setting up as a trainer. I have a Sterk bolt handle and shroud, PVA barrel, KRG Bravo etc.
The bolt lift is ABSURDLY heavy compared to another tikka I shot in .308. It's absolutely impossible to keep the gun on target while cycling the bolt, even with the added leverage of the really nice Sterk bolt handle. I just thought this was a Tikka thing until I shot my friends rifle.
I dont see any galling on the lugs, and the lift is the same with or without bolt shroud. I have greased all the cocking surfaces etc and it still takes one hell of a lot of effort on cocking bolt lift. On non-cocking lift the damned bolt feels like its spring loaded upward, but on cocking (even empty chamber) I basically have to hold the rifle with my off hand on the action/scope and really muscle the bolt handle.
Anything I can try would be appreciated. Finding things like spare bolts/springs etc looks to be more than the damned rifle even cost.