You will get a lot of good advice from the many knowledgeable people on this site. The best and most common advice is going to be to go to local proshops and ask for their advice and input. Also use your buddies to help you (that was they way I learned - had a friend that was very knowledgeable and got me started on the right path and is still helpful). Go shooting with them, see what they do, ask questions, read magazines, and then read more magazines & ask more questions. You will get inundated with info, which you will have to sort through. This site is a goodplace to start and get questioned answered.