At range the other day I fired a round no problem, the second, third rounds all duds. Bad primers? Got it home and decided to take the bolt apart to give it a good cleaning. Removed the BAS, bolt handle....but I couldn't remove the cocking piece pin, the cocking piece sleeve acted as though it was welded fast to the cocking piece. I had to use a small diamond wheel to the cut the head off the cocking piece pin to get the firing pin assembly out. It was then I noticed the firing spring was inside the cocking piece sleeve a good inch or so, the cocking piece lock washer was in three or four pieces!
I've been working on Savages for at least twenty or more years but its first time I've seen a cocking piece lock washer break!
Numrich to the rescue!