270 Savage Axis bolts

No, it does not have to be cocked for the bolt to go back into the reciever.
I'm not sure what the problem right off hand could be, but a bit of jigglin' might get it back in?
And one thing two you might check, is to make sure....just twist the end of your bolt to make sure the both lugs are in proper line with each other as it only takes a bit for the bolt not to slide back in.

 

Is this a new Savage Axis?
And, Welcome to the forums!

 

Well all in all, the Axis has'nt been out all that long as they came out as the Savage Edge, so problably a lack of poor cleaning habits from the owner. Which is proabaly why the ejector is gunked up.

If you have'nt already, you might take you a container large enough, and soak the whole bolt in Hoppes #9 for a day or so and clean the heck out of it and lightly oil the ejector spring.

You gotta love the .270 Win. round....flat shooting caliber.
I hope you get it back up and running soon and post a range report!

 

It does have to be cocked to be put in and out of the rifle. If its uncocked the cocking piece wont line up with the bolt raceway.

To cock it just mash the forward edge of the cocking piece against the edge of the table and pull down and rotate the bolt counter clockwise until the cocking piece sits in its cocked notch. youre compressing a 30+ pound spring so dont poop yourself.

 

And if theres not a cartridge in the bolt head the extractor isnt going to line up with the edge. Itll be pushed inward toward the firing pin slightly. That is normal. no need to replace parts if they arent broken..

 

Very true Josh, and my bad!
I assumed that if he took it out, it would have already have been cocked with the cycle.

 

Youre assumtion is correct Dale. but he probably took the bolt apart to clean it.. He did mention changing something on the extractor.. And you have to decock the bolt to disassemble it. I caught that he said "the bolt only slide forward to the cocking lug at the top of the bolt" If the bolt is cocked the cocking piece is on the right side of the bolt when you place it back in the action, not the top.

 

I fit was decocked someone decocked it. They dont uncock themselves unless theres an issue with the bolt its self. Theres a little rest for the cocking piece to sit in when the bolt it out. and it has 30+ pounds of spring pressure holding it there and takes a bit of determination to decock one.