Starting over need your thoughts

Stay steady and good luck for the future. A Remington 870 HD or Mossberg 500 shotgun may make a fine addition.

You have 3 guns in similar calibers, 30-06 and .308. My personal choice would be to sell one or more and buy something different.

I see no .22's, and you have a permit for a pistol. The funds from the sale of one or two of the rifles might buy one of those and an AR without having to dip into your auto purchase savings at this point.

I'm sure you don't want to hear this-but start with reliable transportation first. Only then, consider more/different firearms.

With the plethora of decent quality, inexpensive AR's available, its hard NOT to recommend one.

I'd go with reliable transportation first, you aren't really starving for guns. If anything sell or trade the 06 you don't use for a pistol since you have a ccw

While you save for transportation, start shopping for what kind of hand gun suits your situation. Don't be in a hurry, but you could sell a couple rifles for the hand gun funds.

Unless those are family heirlooms I would sell 2-3 of the rifles to help finance reliable transportation.

Cheap and reliable transportation
Emergency fund
Pay off debt
Save for retirement
THEN toys.

I got those out of order early in life and it took years to get my finances straightened out.

A Rock Island or Citadel M1911.

Very reasonably priced and outstanding quality.

Sell one of the similar caliber guns. Get a 9mm pistol. Cheap ammo, works for ccw.

Don't worry about the AR. That's $1000+ that can go towards a car.

I'm in my mid-30s, but I know I sound like an old man...

horsemen61

Reliable transportation first then contingency fund. Anything left over from these can go towards your gun fund. Would probably go with the following:

1) AR-plus allow for funds to stock up on ammo and mags.
2) 9mm. pistol-plus allow for funds to stock up on ammo and mags.

Somewhere down the road I would look for a used 12 gauge pump action shotgun and a decent .22LR rifle.

Good luck whatever you do.

An inexpenive 9 mm for carry and an M&P or Oly AR should round out your needs for now.

It appears based on what you listed on your original post that you are a rifleman and you have little interest in a handgun.

It is very hard to improve on a revolver for carry when hunting. A revolver gives a wide variety if loads and bullet types. It is handy for coup de gras for wounded big game. A .357 magnum revolver will fill the bill well.

As for rifles what have you had in the past you liked well. As commented you will never find a better time than now to buy AR carbines and rifles. Although I don't have a need for AR's it's basic platform make it a extremely versatile rile. I can foresee how easy it would be to have several AR in different barrel lengths, calibers and sights.

Maybe buy an inexpesive handgun for home defense/carry, other than that I'd mostly work torward financial security, and getting your transportation addressed before worrying about your next gun purchase. And like another poster said your guns tend to be similar if theres not a sentiment attached maybe further consolidate.

Ok guys so over the last couple of years I've hit some financial pitfalls and most of the guns are now gone .

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A common tale but true. When people fall on hard times the guns are frequently among the first things to go. There is a Colt SP-1 and a Colt Python in my safe which formerly were my brothers.

So now that happier days have returned what to buy? I haven't a clue what your taste is but I would suggest looking back at those guns you regret parting with the most and think about replacing them.

Ron

1. Scope for your Tikka
2. 9mm handgun of your choice (for me it would be a G19)
3. General use .22 rifle (for me it would be a 10/22)
4. AR or shotgun

This just relates to guns as you said you'd work out transportation first.

I would keep one "deer rifle" and get rid of the others unless you supply guns to others. I would satisfy the vehicle need first.

I'd buy either a 9mm or 40 S&W Glock 19 or 23.

I'd get a 12 ga shotgun (pump 870 probably for hunting IF you hunt) or police model if you don't.

I'd get a 22 rifle; probably semi-auto Marlin M60.

Lastly, I'd get either an AR or Mini-14 in 223/5.56.

Congratulations. Pretty serious accomplishment to dig yourself out.
I'd deal with the wheels first too. Guy can't go play if he can't get there. Another truck though. With 4 wheel drive and a standard transmission.
Then maybe look into building an AR. However, what you want to do with any firearm is the important part.
You could use the scope on the Marlin on one of the others. I'd lean towards the Tikka. A .35 Rem Marlin will be dandy with irons.

I went through a similar culling of firearms in financial times so I know where you are coming from. It really helps sort out priorities and can be for the better. For example I have a few less rifles, but still have one to put food on the table. I have far less handguns but still one to carry in daily life. Right now I am building an AR that I never would have been able to do before.

In your case I would sell the 770 at the very least. Even before financial hardship I didn't like that rifle and bought one for the low dollar signs, thinking it would be malleable like the 700. Nope. After about 20 rounds through it, it was out the door at a large loss. I would also sell the 721 and keep either the Marlin or Tikka as a hunting arm. After getting a reliable car, a carry 9mm would make a good choice as others have stated.

Since you won't sell any of them...I'd be happy with what I had, and throw every penny I could save into my contingency fund. It's great that you got out of debt...that's not a fun spot to be in. Next I'd just build up a big cash cushion that I could use against the next future shock.

Once you have enough cash saved up that you could go 6 to 12 months without income and still pay all the bills...THEN I'd look at adding another gun. Money is freedom.

Until then I'd just be happy with the ones I have, and be even happier that I'm putting my money into my savings account rather than a few guns.

If you buy an AR, you will never get out of debt. They cost too much to feed. Buy a vehicle and save your money to get what you want when you can afford it.

witchhunter said:

If you buy an AR, you will never get out of debt. They cost too much to feed. Buy a vehicle and save your money to get what you want when you can afford it.

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Too much to feed and clothe. And just when you aren't looking they multiply.

If it was me, I'd make sure of transportation first, then thin the herd of thirty calibers. There's nothing the .35 does that the .308 or -"06 can't do better. Pick your favorite one, maybe two, between the .308 and -"06, sell the others to finance a handgun and a .22 rimfire.

I like the AR and it's a buyers market right now. When in doubt, KISS is the way to go. But it's not a "must have" rifle for everyone. Do you need or want one, or is it simply a "everybody else has one" impulse?

My priorities, which may indeed differ from yours, would be in this order: Car, handgun, optics for rifles you keep (possibly move from one rifle to another?), rimfire, AR, upgrade shotgun.