Excessive headspace does not make anything better, factory or handloads... but at least with handloads you may neck size only and the brass at least fits the chamber.
However, you may have a more serious issue in that there may be lug set-back causing the hard boltlift.
The lugs sit in helical races inside the front ring. When shot too hot the lugs can deform the races causing a low spot. When the fired case expands to fill the chamber it pushes the bolt back into the low spot.
When you cycle the bolt the lugs have a small hill to climb which is why it is hard.
