[John Sabato]

The slight step in the chamber is normal, but I can't tell you why it is there. Polish the chamber, and make sure your extractor is not worn. with the toggle removed from the gun and the firing pin assembly removed from the toggle, you should be able to put a cartridge case on the face of the bolt held in place by the extractor and the hold should provide reasonably good resistance to plucking the round straight off the bolt face. If you can easily remove the case, then perhaps your extractor is too worn to function properly...