Well poopiesticks.
While my last coat of oil was drying on the stock, I went to put the action all together for the range later this week. I did a function and feed test. Wouldn't you know, the last round won't feed! Started troubleshooting part by part swapping with my original, perfect functioning, rifle. Started with the sideplate since it's common for the geometry to be off if bubba had been messing with it. Nope. Maybe the spring is worn? Nope. Now I'm worried. Did bubba mess with the receiver? Would be pretty sad after a years worth of work making all perfect. Nope.

So, the carrier/follower is sticky, and doesn't seem to pop across all the way and lift the round up. The original works fine in both rifles, this one which I bought on eBay for a deal fails in both. I ordered a new one. May try to play with this one. I'll get some pics of the good an bad one side by side. Maybe one of you can see what it is. The bad carrier is about 4 thousandths taller than the good one in the area right before the rear edge of the follower.