I watch the classifieds here and stop at quite a few gun-shops. With only a few minor exceptions, when I buy a "new to me" gun, I buy it at a price I know I can shoot it a bit then if it doesn't meet my needs or I tire of it, I can sell it for roughly my purchase price. My "cost of ownership" is whatever I might have to spend buying brass, projectiles, powder, and/or dies I don't already have.
In my case, the only real expense is whatever powder, primers, and projectiles I use. Brass and dies are re-usable and hold some residual value or get saved for the next whim.
