That I will agree to. I'm not saying rifle cannot be reloaded cheaper than buying it, especially when it comes to plinking ammo. However when it comes to making quality hunting ammo I find the reason for reloading is to get the most out of the ammo that it can offer for your rifle and you spend a lot of time and money working that load up so that cuts into any savings over buying commercial ammo but you have the advantage of ammo that your rifle will work the best with by reloading.
Plus, unless you got a fantastic deal on the equipment or was given it by someone you still have to factor in the cost of all of that which adds up fast. Press/scales/powder measure/Powder/primers/case trimmer/debur tool/dies/furnace/molds/tumbler/media/bullet sizing dies/bullet lube/brass etc, etc. I'm fortunate in the fact I can go to the dessert where everyone just leaves their brass so that saves me on that cost.
If he feels he can save over commercial ammo that is fine, I just did not appreciate being called ignorant because I factor in other costs which add to the price of the ammo and don't see it being cheaper in the end, only better quality ammo and this is felt by just about anyone that I know or know of on any of the reloading forums.
Many years ago, I got a pre-64 M70 06. It did not like factory ammo. 1970s
I got all the things to reload. Quality, ohas scale, RCBS dies, some Lee.
It/gunt wanted a Nosler partion 180 gr,. IMR 4530, 54gr , a 55gr load waa max, CCI 200 primer, RP casses full sized, tumbeled and primer poctket reamed/turned.
.
It cost me <$1 a laod <1" groups. Much more quality than I could buy
Yes I had to buy tools. Cheaper in the long run.
I have a .222 rem that does < 1/2 "groups, , cost is <0.50 cents/Rd Much more quality than I can buy. Shoot a woodchuck in either eye at 200 yds.
So the cost of equipment has long overrun cost of ammo.
Plus I don't have an idiot to go purchase ammo from. I buy primers, powder, in bulk.