We removed the barrel, pushed back on the barrel ...
question: did you take the barrel off the gun or not? the way i read the original post, the bolt and barrel were locked together because the empty was stuck. if the barrel is OFF the gun and the bolt won't retract then the problem has nothing to do with a stuck empty and a dowel won't do a thing.
if the bolt and barrel are locked together by the empty, they're not really that stuck. you just can't get enough leverage with your hand to pull the empty out. it might come unstuck just from the recoil spring tension alone if you take the f/e off and pull the bolt handle back as far as it will go so the bolt is disengaged from the barrel hood.
but the first thing to do is clarify exactly what you meant by the cited phrase.
roger
