Many folks seem to be confused these days about the difference between the two action jobs on a 700 action. The main difference is the uniform reaming of the action to an interior ID of .715 then installing four shims on the bolt body per kit instructions, then turning the bolt body shims to .7135 to .7145 OD to center the bolt in the action per this:
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...ueing-tools/bolt-body-shim-set-prod26021.aspx
The other truing and squaring work is the same and still must be done yet. Without the reaming of the action and the shims on the bolt body it is not a blueprinted action, know what you are paying for.
Is blueprinting necessary for a sporting rifle, no. It may well cause problems with debris or dirt in the field. For match rifles, it depends on how serious you are and where you are in competition, always near the top, it might give you that little bump you need. But it is not going to win a match for you, if you are in 20th place at every match. Plus unless you do all of the work yourself, in an equipped shop, the expense of having a 700 blueprinted can easily become more than a new premium action.
Ed
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...ueing-tools/bolt-body-shim-set-prod26021.aspx
The other truing and squaring work is the same and still must be done yet. Without the reaming of the action and the shims on the bolt body it is not a blueprinted action, know what you are paying for.
Is blueprinting necessary for a sporting rifle, no. It may well cause problems with debris or dirt in the field. For match rifles, it depends on how serious you are and where you are in competition, always near the top, it might give you that little bump you need. But it is not going to win a match for you, if you are in 20th place at every match. Plus unless you do all of the work yourself, in an equipped shop, the expense of having a 700 blueprinted can easily become more than a new premium action.
Ed