Awesome, you guys were right about the bolt catch. I filed the top of it a little and it's definitely smoother than before.
But the cocking handle still feels like it has a bit of friction when it slides back forward. I cleaned off all the lube on it, put it back in and racked it a bunch of times and when I took it out, I noticed a lot of metal shavings on the top of the cocking handle at the very front (that little nub that sits slightly higher than the rest of it). Assuming that's where the main point of force that's being pushed up is going.
To me it still seems like the hammer is pushing up on the carrier too hard which pushes up on the cocking handle putting more friction on it than needed. (Unless that's just how these are built, then I guess there's nothing I can really do about it?)
Thanks for the help guys!