Hello,

I bought a Savage Axis rifle a couple of months ago, chambered in .243 Winchester. I'll describe everything I've done to the rifle to see if that helps pinpoint the cause of the problem I've been having. I added a bipod, a rail, mounting rings, and a Bushnell Banner rifle scope (4-16x). I also used a small amount of CLP on the bolt and inside the chamber.

The bolt cycles fairly smoothly when unloaded, no ammunition in the magazine or the chamber. However, when there is a round in the chamber or rounds in the magazine, the bolt becomes incredibly difficult to cycle. The most pressure is required when moving the bolt handle up or down. Moving the bolt forward or rearward isn't nearly as difficult.

Here are my questions: Is this normal, should it be this difficult to cycle the bolt when ammunition is in the magazine or chamber? If not, what could be the cause of this issue? What can I do to remedy the problem?

Thank you.