Well, I'm still stuck in the wrong forum here. I didn't realize this was vintage. Our issue was not vintage.
It's a newer model Savage.
They report that they got the thing open. They put some type of maybe WD40? And let it soak for an hour. Then banged it with a rubber mallet.
They found rust. In the chamber area, I guess that was hanging up the bolt. And used a wire brush to get rid of it. They also theorize that there may have been some expansion of the cartridge that was also contributing to the problem. I'm sure they were using surplus ammo. But if I'm correct, the truth is the commercial ammo should have a higher pressure than surplus.
At the time at least two other experienced shooters looked at the situation and couldn't offer any particular cause or solution.
Thanks Thomae
I have got to study up on 'primary extraction'.
dc