Mine is also hard to close
My Savage ML2 is also hard to close with OR without primers. Bolt seems to hang up on just a fraction of the receiver portion, just enough to make it difficult to close.
And yes, I've checked the breech plug......that's not the issue. With the breech plug fully cranked in as tight as you can make it (and without a primer) the bolt is hard to close.
For comparison purposes, my Savage 7mm takes no effort to close the bolt., and there is no binding between the bolt and the receiver.
So, should the bolt on my ML2 be as easy to close as the bolt on my 7mm.