Bolt hard to open and close when chambering on 340D

Can anyone tell me why my bolt my my 340D is hard to cycle only when a round is being chambered opening and closing

Also it's a 222

I'd start with cleaning the chamber. If reloads, the shoulder may need shoulder bumped back on the brass.

I had a 340 in .22 Hornet that wouldn't extract one brand of factory ammo. I can't remember which one, but it shot other brands just fine. Is it difficult with other brands and are you using new ammo or reloads?

It ejects the rounds fine it's just the bolt is really hard to open and close when chambering a round

I'll second cleaning the chamber, make sure there's no pits!

I did clean the chamber good

Odd that this should happen with a 340. Hardly ever does anybody swap barrels on one, so the headspace should be as from the factory. Dittos on cleaning the chamber, then look to the ammo. Is it factory or reloads? If it won't chamber a factory round easily, beg, borrow, rent or steal some headspace gages and reset it.

After looking the above responses & those don't help, look at the gas shield key #3325-541. This is a pivoted part in the front of the gas shield (bolt guide to many). It is supposed to lock the gas shield into the bolt body to keep it from rotating during the retraction. If it gets worn on the front or rear, it usually will not unlock from it's mating notch in the top of the bolt body without putting a lot of force on the bolt handle.

To check it, just temporarily remove it & see if that helps.

The machinest nailed it!!! My 340e problem was addressed by his information and fixed.

Larry