CBM,
It sounds like your going into this blind.
I don't know enough to buy a descent rifle.......much less re-load !!
Mostly just a whitetail rifle !
I have spent the past month anda half researching every aspect of purchasing a rifle from recoil tables to rifle styles. I have a notebook that I have created compiling all of the articles that I have found dealing with various rifle and cartridge comparisons and I am still learing new things every day. I will give you 3 pieces of advice.
1) Educate yourself with various aspects of cartridges and their balistics.
2) Educate yourself with various types of rifle (shortvs. long actions) (stainless vs. blued) (synthetic vs. wood) (is the bolt made from bar stock?) (does the rifle use heavy washers instead of integral recoil lugs?) If you have a question about any of the things I just put up in () then you Do Not need to purchase a rifle yet.
3) Feel and use (if possible) as many rifles as you can find to decide your taste.
Two great resources on the web are
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifles_index_reviews.htmand
http://www.findarticles.com/p/advanced?tb=art
Do your home work and you will be well rewarded. Good luck.