So first I checked the BAS and it was tight. Then I checked the penetration of the firing pin. It protrudes out of the head .052 so that is good.
Then I removed the BAS and handle and this is what I found. The spring is in three pieces. What I don't know is if it was meant to be that way by Savage. The front of the spring almost looks like the little "ring" could have snapped off it and then pinched close to form the ring and not a coil. But the other end near the BAS shows no signs of ever being one piece. Both ends of the spring are ground flat..