It gets uglier/more confusing. If I hold the safety lever back firmly, it works as it should. I continued the checkout and discovered that it doesn't headspace - the chamber is a bit short; a GO gauge will not close up all the way. A dummy cartridge with new Winchester .308 brass will, but one with new Germanicon 7.62x51 brass will not. Starting to feel like more of a bolt problem than a strictly safety lever problem. This is rapidly approaching the limit of my comfort zone!

If this were a Mauser or a Springfield I would be much more at ease; I understand them, but the whole SMLE action I find scary