The origin of the term "blueprinting" and what it means now as it relates to firearms is two different things. The origin is to make the thing, whether it's an engine or a firearm, match the design intent of the blueprint. Production variations mean that, although it may well be within tolerance, it can still be outside the design intent. MOST of the time drawings for firearms lack tolerances for things like concentrically and squareness. It's hard for something to be out of tolerance if there is no tolerance indicated.
What it means in practical terms, as it relates to firearms, is to to make the action true to the center of the bolt body. Some gunsmiths will ream the action and sleeve the bolt to help achieve that goal. So while they are actually taking the action further from the specs listed in the blueprint, the idea is to achieve design intent not design specifications.
That would depend on a couple factors wouldn't it? If you had the action and wanted to "make it better" a custom action wouldn't make so much sense. You know... Dad's old rifle that never shot worth a damn... Hard to get that out of a custom action
If you wanted to do the work yourself to have something you put your "mark" on... Can't get that from a custom action.
Now if you are starting from scratch and want someone else to do the work... Buy a custom action. By the time you get done paying someone to "blueprint" (NOT THE $200 "truing") an action you could have bought a custom action. If you start with a Remington 700, when you are all done poring cash into it you will have an action that will shot on par with any custom action... However, it will still be a Remington 700 and nothing more!
Actually it is nothing like that. The cost is so close to the same that it is negligible. And BR matches are still won from time to time with blueprinted mass produced action dispite the rarity of them being entered into competition any more. In terms of cost AND quality, there is just not that much difference. I have done a couple of my own rifles and if you can do the work your self it is dirt cheap... All it takes is time. Which, if you are paying for someone else, adds up to a basket of cash. In terms of tool wear and electricity I doubt I have $100 into blueprinting my 700 (probably close to $40 or $50). But like I said, it doesn't matter that I have shot groups in the high tees with it... It's still a F'ing 700 to anyone else.
