No clue on 50 BMG, but I would imagine the initial outlay to be a bit expensive as you require extra large everything (press, dies, tools, etc)....but this is what my cost is for 338 LM.
Needless to say, I don't keep much brass on hand...just a couple hundred.
The chart on the left isn't a true representation because it doesn't include shipping. Even though I do my best to order in quantity for bullets, primers, and powder, I still lose money every time I make a purchase online with the hazmat and all. I included it because that's what I feel it costs me
most of the time... Occasionally, when I place an order for components, I just imagine throwing another buck or two at every shot. On the positive side, I don't think I've ever shot more than 50 shots per range trip. I usually take one plastic ammo container and usually come home with 5-15 rounds.
The chart on the right shows the same powder price and bullet price. The primer price was adjusted to include the price of shipping from Powder Valley (estimated at $32), and purchasing 100 new to me once fired pieces of brass.
Keep in mind, I'm way conservative on my load too...and I only get 84 loads to a pound of propellant.
Personally, I don't see the point in shooting cheap ammo when I'm trying my best to hit stuff far, far away. I do everything possible to load match quality ammo.
Load is Lapua brass (neck sized), H1000, Hornady BTHP 285, and Fed Match primers.
If you want to compare apples to apples, Hornady sells almost the same load for $89.99/20 rounds or $4.49 per shot (not including shipping to your house). Well, not quite apples to apples as the Lapua brass I load is almost certainly a higher quality than theirs or whoever they're using.
And to really make you think twice, Midway is selling new Lapua brass for $279/100 pieces.
Lastly, you need quality dies and other equipment ($$$) to really wring out the cartridges potential.
So, sure I save money over buying factory, and I wouldn't be able to own that gun if I didn't handload for it, but
I think it's worth it and that's all that matters to me. But you're going to have to decide how much time and money you want to throw at it.
Pros? It's awesome fun putting bullets on steel at 1500 yards 20 min after sunset.
Cons? Expensive...dude, I'm not joking. Guns are expensive, optics are crazy expensive, ammo is expensive, it's all expensive.
IMHO, there is no point in spending the kind of money required to get this large of a gun to put a crappy scope on it. Seriously, spend the 1.5-3k (Hensoldt, S&B, USO, Premier, NF, etc) and do it right.
Difficult to find places long enough to shoot it.