Ok, i just took apart the bolt on the 1916 Lithgowthat has a high Bolt lift when dry firing, when re-installing the firing pin i would have applied a small amount of torque to the spring that would force the bolt down, i inserted the bolt while holding the trigger down & then closed the bolt down, this of cause will apply torque opposite to the installing the firing pin but as there has been no change in the pressure on the spring they would most likely count each other out, i then pulled back the cocking piece back only, no cycling of the bolt & dry fired a few times while holding the handle down to undo any torque there maybe left in the spring, i then proceded to test dry firing as earlier, still only pulling back the cocking piece by hand.
Results of new test for lift:
There was no change in the amount of bolt lift with the bolt down hard, it jumped just as high but when i left a gap, bolt lift was near gone.
Same results as before.
My sign off on this subject:
I now understand more of the mechanics/magic behind bolt lift & my course of action will be to carry on as before.
I think the only way to eliminate bolt lift would be to remove metal to insure no contact between handle & receiver this however would cause considerably more stress where the bolt handle meets the bolt body resulting in them eventually going their own separate ways, so best to just leave alone or as Ed has recommended, replace the springs, this may well help keep lift down to a minimum.