to jacksmack, put your key in the lock, and put a finger on the shackle, turn the key and let us know if the shackle moves immediatly at the first degree of keyturn,
also, see if the shackle has any back and forth looseness in it when locked, if it has some looseness, push the shackle toward the direction of opening, and then do the thing in the first line again.
This will give some answers in re: fit and tolerances in the lock.