R700 bolt won't open

[swift]

Today I was cleaning my Remington 700. After cleaning it, I installed the bolt and worked it back and forth several times (and dry-fired it). For no apparent reason, the bolt stopped opening. Now I can move the bolt handle up and down and I can pull it back perhaps 0.25", but I cannot pull it back further using a reasonable amount of force.

The rifle was sitting in a rifle rest the entire time, so it is not like it was dropped and something was changed. There is no cartridge or empty case in the chamber.

Any ideas on what might have happened and/or how to try to fix this?

Potentially useful information: the bolt did catch once and then open when I retried it, then worked fine a few times, then stuck.

[mitchsti]

Can you remove the trigger group? Maybe hanging up on this somehow.
When you move the bolt to the up position and pull back are the lugs clearing the chamber?

[swift]

I do not know how to remove the trigger.
When I pull up on the bolt and pull back, I cannot see any part of the bolt head.

[2nd Shot]

Check your safety lever? You don't have one of those old 700's with the safety that locks the bolt, do you?

Worst case scenario, you might have to remove the bolts on the bottom of the stock, to take the action out of the stock, and drive the pins out to remove the trigger group if you can't make it work - pay careful attention to how the trigger group is installed first.

[swift]

This is an old (1970's R700) made into a custom single shot. The guy who sold it to me 10 y ago said it has no safety.

[ar15barrels]

Remove any scope that might be on it.
Post a picture of the gun from above, showing only the rear half of the receiver back to the bolt handle with the bolt unlocked and retracted as far as possible.

[wpage]

Break it down clean it. Lube it...

Work it.

https://www.remington.com

[Hoagiem]

The rear trigger guard screw can be just up far enough to catch the firing pin lug.

[ar15barrels]

the firing pin lug.

That piece on the end of the firing pin is called the cocking piece.

[swift]

Thanks for your suggestions. I removed the trigger guard and the scope screws and the bolt was still stuck, so I took it to a gunsmith.

He removed more screws and the trigger. Still stuck. I'll give you an update on the fix after I get it back.

[Hoagiem]

That piece on the end of the firing pin is called the cocking piece.

Ever have one of those moments when you are typing but cannot for the life of you spit out the correct word or it just plain eludes you. I knew what I meant just couldn't get it out.

700's are not that complex, I fought a tiny round sheared section of a primer from an overpressure 22 br like this. It has to be something simple and weird.

[ar15barrels]

Ever have one of those moments when you are typing but cannot for the life of you spit out the correct word or it just plain eludes you.

All the time!