New guns, or guns with little use typically have the top lever come to a position right of center when they are closed and bolted. As the bolting surfaces gradually wear, the position of the top lever moves to the center, or even eventually moves left of center. This is not always a terrible thing, so long as the gun is not worn to the point where the bolting becomes loose. When it reaches that point, the loose bolting permits additional pounding, and the wear accelerates.This is why buyers like to see a top lever that is right of center when the gun is closed. There are some guns that always return exactly to center by design, such as the pivot lever Lefever guns.
If your top lever is not snapping quickly back to the bolted position, this could indicate a weak or cracked top lever return spring. Some guys worry about a top lever that snaps home briskly, and will even use their thumb to prevent that while closing the gun. But that is a mistake because it may prevent proper bolting. A totally broken return spring will never return the lever to closed position. Or it may simply be seriously gunked up internally with old congealed lube. Yes, it's time for a trip to a qualified double gunsmith. Please let us know what he finds out.
