HELP! The bolt on my .308 is malfunctioning

[Doyle]

The Bitterness of poor quality will always outlast the Sweetness of low price !

While I agree with you 100%, the Stevens 200 is far from a poor quality firearm. It is the long-loved Savage 110/10 action with a cheap composite stock and no accutrigger. There isn't a shooter in the world that would call the Savage 110/10 poor quality.

 

[PawPaw]

I had that problem with a recent Savage and found that the problem wasn't on the front of the bolt, but the rear. I had trouble with a bolt refusing to lock and found that the bolt assembly screw was loose. It's part #3 on this schematic.

The drawing shows a flat slot on the screw, but the current version uses an allen-head machine screw. I tightened mine with a 1/4" allen wrench and the problem went away. Check the other end of that bolt and see if the bolt assembly screw is loose.

 

[handlerer2]

While your Savage may be less expensive than the SPS, I don't think it is any cheaper.

Neither of these rifles have what I consider old fashioned solidity and quality.

I believe that they are certainly as strong as they need to be, neither,along with the Tikka, and Browning have solid bolts and integral recoil lugs. Many changes to the old way of rifle building were done in 60's and 70's to cut corners both saving time and materials. All of these rifles have reputations for accuracy and reliability, and are as serviceable as need be.

I own shoot and reload for 340WBY, 300WBY and 280AI, right now. I want solid everything on a rifle firing carts as intense as these, So I own, Weatherby MKV, Vanguard, and Cooper, all solid, integral, and except for the Vanguard, expensive.

 

[Picher]

handlerer2 may have the solution.

If not, check the mount screws to see if one is protruding slightly into the bolt locking area, causing a "sometimes" situation. It's unlikely, but possible if the screw is not the correct one for that application.