where to start for a beginner reloader

[BlackRidge]

Also, dont feel like you've got to have everything match either.  Just because you get an RCBS press, you can still use lee dies, a forster case trimmer, a brand X scale, etc...  Lee dies are a lot less than RCBS, and work the same.

no kidding!? I had no clue the two were interchangeable

I picked up the Lee anniversary press last year and love it for the larger cal rounds. Gives you a lot of control in the process. It kills me for .223 rounds though (turret-style would have been nice for those). But for around $100 (+$25 per set of dies), its a great starter kit

[Jekemi]

Here's a great site for the beginner or expert handloader. Gavin Gear, founder of The Ultimate Reloader is a very smart guy and his site is real informative. www.ultimatereloader.com. I asked about good reloading manuals awhile back. I tallied up the recommendations and the Sierra manual edged out the others. That's the one I'm buying.

[Huntbear]

Buy as many manuals as you can.  You can also find a lot of the powder company manuals online.  The more reference material you have, the more informed you are, and the better reloader you will become.

[MDGrand]

I JUST started reloading myself. I bought the RCBS kit Wholesale sports. They sell another one at Cabelas, you can see it here:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Reloading/Presses-Dies%7C/pc/104792580/c/104761080/sc/104516280/RCBS-RC-Supreme-Master-Reloading-Kit/728426.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-reloading-presses-dies%2F_%2FN-1100195%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104516280%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%3BMMcat104792580%3Bcat104761080&WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104761080;cat104516280

The Speer manual is great because it specifically talks about how to adjust the RCBS equipment. If you have not done a walkthrough with someone else that reloads, I would highly suggest that too.. you will get a feel for how the case is resized, the bullet seats, etc.

As far as reloading manuals.. the speer manual is great that comes with this kit. Other than that, I get all the load data from whatever bullet manufacturer I choose right off the internet. I reload mostly Barnes and Berger bullets and both companies will email you loading info or you can even call. Barnes is very friendly and will give you all the info you want right over the phone.