I ordered my first bolt action rifle about 6 months ago (although this isn't my first experience with a bolt rifle), a Savage Model 11 Trophy Hunter XP in .308. No matter what ammo I use, or how well I clean and lube it up, the bolt is incredibly difficult to pull up after firing. This happens with all ammo I've tried, and I've gone through a couple hundred rounds by now.

Now I know it's going to be more difficult to lift the bolt after you fire it due to the pressure and the fact that it has to cock again, but this feels like it definitely requires more effort than it should. After you get the bolt handle up, it slides back smoothly though, and extracts fine. When dry firing it's not nearly as difficult, and I can actually keep it to my shoulder and cycle the bolt then.

Any ideas what could be happening?