all of a sudden bolt is VERY tight- what happened?

Stevens 200 .243, took this gun to the range last week, shot great no problems. Put the gun in its case, took it home. Haven't touched it since, no bumps jostles etc.

Today when I went to shoot it the bolt opened fine, and slid back fine until the bolt heads (?) are about to slide back into the rear of the action. Then it got VERY stiff/tight.

I assumed something was in there so I went to pull the bolt out and it was all I could do to get it out.

There are no signs of debris, no scratches or scuffs.

Went to put the bolt back in and again very thight until the bolt heads cleared the rear of the action then smooth as silk.

Any ideas?

Dis you tighten the rear action screw ? Sometimes they can bind the bolt if they go in to far.

Nope hadn't touched a thing. Did try loosening the action screws though to see if they had somehow budged. Didn't change at all.

Ya know, this is one of those things that is a only a WAG whats going on, especially since it just "happened", not torn apart and etc. It could be as simple as a piece of something found it's way in the bolt guide groove. If the bolt moved rearward and got tight prior to the sear contacting the baffle, there just isn't too much else left to restrict it's operation except something in the lug races or guide.

Bill

I'll bet you have one of the new center feed blind magazines. If so then whats happening is the feed lips at the top towards the rear of the magazine are rubbing on the bottom of the bolt. Had several guns that have done this. Cure is relative simple. Sometimes removing and reseating the blind magazine will do it while other times (change stock) some inleting is required. Basically what your doing is seating the rear of the blind magazine a little deeper in the well.

I had the mag on 2 different centerfeeds that will pop up just a little.Just open the bolt and push down on the mag and see if the bolt frees up.

Bazinga, sounds about right to me. :o

The way you described it this is probably not the case, but sometimes the screws from the scope bases can go through far enough to cause binding as well.

Thanks for the replies.

Scope has been on there for a while and the screws weren't binding before but I will check. There are no rub marks on the top of the mag but will check that as well.

Going to tear it down, clean everything really well give it a little oil and see what happens.

Check your bolt/extractor, had one on my FP10 do the same thing, the extractor got pushed off the ball and spring jambed up it.

Tell him what he's won folks.

Thanks 5spd.