If it were me, I'd try to be as caught up as I could be on the five to eight thousand dollar market. I'd try to be patient and not give a second thought to missed opportunities, but be ready to pull the trigger when a good one gets your attention and shows up in the three to six thousand dollar range.

I wouldn't be too interested in new myself, it's just a preference. Too many forgettable guns in that price range in my mind. Completely uninteresting guns at one price, can become just right at another price.