Sounds like you speak from experience.

Never had a kaboom, although I have double charged cases that I caught on inspection, or had to redo just to be sure.  I have loaded squib loads too where there was no powder in the case..  That was when I was starting out.  Learned my lessons.

What should I start off reloading first pistol of rifle? Does it really matter. Obviously I won't start off with exotic rounds like .338 or any magnum rounds. I'm guessing start with what you shoot most of. Typically I shoot more pistol because its usually cheaper than rifle ammo but if I reload that's probably going to change. What do you guys think?

What calibers where you going to reload?

Reloading really comes down to time and how particular you are . Which becomes very time consuming. From weight of heads / shell /powder . I got a few RCBS charge masters which help cut down the time a lot . To me the more attention to detail you put it the better the out come . The first load you will ever do is the most nerve wrecking one

What calibers where you going to reload?

Well ideally whatever I shoot...
pistol                             rifle
9mm                             223/5.56
45acp                           308
38 special                     
357 magnum       

I've had my eye on several rifles but the cost of ammo just puts me off (7 rem mag, 300 win mag) So eventually I'd like to reload all of the above.

         

Other than saving money, I'm looking into reloading to help me get into other calibers which I would have passed on because of the cost of factory ammo. I'm not looking to geek out on custom loads. I'm sure I'll get there but just wanna be able to shoot more.

Here's a reloading excel spreadsheet
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/reloads/48165-reloading-cost-excel-spreadsheet.html

As a fellow reloading noob, the best advice that I can give is to do a lot of research! My first reloading setup for my 308 was a Lee classic loader, the one you use a plastic hammer to seat the primer and the bullet....   I've since "upgraded" to a Lee hand press and the task definitely became easier. As others have said, the initial investment will set you back a bit, not to mention the time it'll take to learn the entire reloading process, but once you get a system going, it definitely pays for itself!

Oh, and one last thing: get a GOOD reloading manual! Hope you decide to take the plunge, happy reloading! 

In a previous message, I estimated the cost of a basic single stage reloading setup. Other people have agreed on everything that I mentioned in the prior post.
However, I should warn you that there are other somewhat costly accesories that you should get...perhaps even prior to buying a reloading press.
Off the top of my head, herewith are a few items that you will really want to get:
1- Vibratory case tumbler ~ $50 to $100
2-calipers, analog or digital, 6 in size- approx. $20-$100
3-kinetic (hammer) bullet puller-$20-$30
4-Loading trays

I hope you are soaking this all in.

I agree with the additional needed items listed above and would like to add a chrono into the "extremely useful to have" list.  I would however, like to offer a differing opinion on absolutely having to start with a single stage press for safety's sake.  If start up cost is the primary limiting factor, then I do agree that a single stage may best be suited.  Good ammo can be produced for tremendous savings by reloading and a single stage is without a doubt cheaper than a progressive. 
However, although I initially spent a greater amount on my Dillon 550 and all the other necessary equipment, it quickly paid for itself.  As far as the safety aspect, I started reloading on the press one case at a time, essentially using the press as a turret type press.  I could have easily batch loaded, using the press almost like a single stage, but handling so many cases, so many times just seemed cumbersome.  When I became more comfortable with the reloading process, I progressed to using the press as was intended, as a progessive press.  With a good progressive press, I am biased to the Dillon as that is all I know, one can  always start slow and then go progessive with the same press when you're ready.  A single stage is always going to be a single stage.  I do not load for rifle, (way too much case prep for my tastes), so I don't know if the single stage is mechanically more suited to producing more accurate ammo than a progessive with its moving shell plate. 
I shoot at least 200 pistol rounds a week, usually more if my wife and I can make it to a match.  To be honest, I am not one who really enjoys reloading, I reload so that my wife and I can shoot for an affordable cost.  I am extremely careful every time I am reloading and pay very close attention to what I am doing however it seems this would be necessary whether using a progressive or single stage.
As far as a progessive being more complex to operate, I really like the fact that I can reload for multiple calibers and not have to readjust dies.  I just swap out tool head, the shell plate and if switching to .45 ACP, the primer slide bar and tube.  Seems simpler than having to change and adjust dies every time I change from belling to seating to crimping even in the same caliber.  I'm not knocking anything that's already been posted, just trying to offer a different view on starting with a progessive. 

Reloading is definitely cheaper, and the ammo you produce can be tailored to your guns, like everyone has said.  The biggest reason I reload, however, is for the sake of reloading.  If you're detail-oriented and enjoy mechanical stuff, it's an awesome hobby in its own right.  There's a real zen to the process, and it's just as enjoyable to me as going to the range, especially since it's in my house, never crowded, and nobody bitches at me if they don't like the way I'm doing something.  Your ammo will be something you're proud of, because you made it yourself.  And, if you're anything like me, you'll smirk to yourself every time you talk to someone who doesn't like guns, knowing you've got a tiny munitions plant right there in your apartment!   

Reloading is definitely cheaper, and the ammo you produce can be tailored to your guns, like everyone has said.  The biggest reason I reload, however, is for the sake of reloading.  If you're detail-oriented and enjoy mechanical stuff, it's an awesome hobby in its own right.

I haven't reloaded in a while, and it'll still be a while. I found that I was so afraid of losing brass to reload again, I stopped enjoying shooting. I enjoyed reloading more than I enjoyed shooting, but I'm slowly getting over it.

I haven't reloaded in a while, and it'll still be a while. I found that I was so afraid of losing brass to reload again, I stopped enjoying shooting. I enjoyed reloading more than I enjoyed shooting, but I'm slowly getting over it.

I've come to the conclusion that even if you bought new brass every time and never actually REloaded, it's still cheaper than buying factory, so I don't worry about it.  I set up my brass catcher, but I don't stress if I don't get every single piece of brass back. 

I've come to the conclusion that even if you bought new brass every time and never actually REloaded, it's still cheaper than buying factory, so I don't worry about it.  I set up my brass catcher, but I don't stress if I don't get every single piece of brass back.

I'm getting there. 

Reloading = 

Watching friends shoot my reloaded ammo in my guns = 

I'm getting there. 

Reloading = 

Watching friends shoot my reloaded ammo in my guns = 

I know that feeling.  I don't let anybody else shoot my reloads, in general, because A: I don't want the civil liability, and B: even if they never sued me, I'd feel pretty dang bad about it. 

I'm getting there. 

Reloading = 

Watching friends shoot my reloaded ammo in my guns = 

========================
True dat about friends shooting your hard earned ammo.
My rifle ammo is just too valuable due to the extra time involved in checking case length and trimming/ chamfering etc.

My pistol ammo is another story. Because I am geared towards mass producing pistol ammo, I enjoyed tossing out some ammo for friends, family and co-workers to shoot. I gave away a lot as Christmas presents. Given the price of centerfire pistol ammo, it was greatly appreciated. Personally, I shoot mostly 45acp medium power lead swc ammo. I cast my own bullets so the cost is spectacularly low. (<4.50/box). Ref the video in "Anybody Cast Bulletts?" thread.

+1 on not worrying too much about the brass that misses my catcher unless its .45 or .38 super.  If its 9mm, I'll definitely not use it unless I know its from my gun.  There's a couple of guys in particular who'll usually show up on the pistol side a couple of days before the bigger matches to practice.  The thing is, they shoot 9mm Major and will just leave the fired cases on the ground.  Not the safest brass to reuse unless its your own and you know exactly how many times its been reloaded and to what velocity they were loaded to.  Pretty inconsiderate if you ask me, but try to mention something to them and their response is typically something like:  "no worry pare, 9mm cheap, that's why we don't use .38 super anymore".  They don't seem to care that some unsuspecting person may think its just regular once fired 9mm brass and try to save it to reload.