I did manage to get to try out the F-4 under a few different scenarios, and it not such a bad unit after all. Now mind you, I never have used any Bounty Hunter units, so I had nothing to compare it to that way. I do have a new RS Discovery 3300 that was still in the box until I received the F-4. I do believe both units share the same basic circuitry, but things stop after that. Physically, there is no doubt there
Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
A Little Bit More Info. on the F-4
- Thread starter Mr.Bill
- Start date
BarnacleBill
New member
The latest offerings are in bold, many have S-rods which are common fare for detectors. The housing for the 3300 has been around since 2002, so it's a pretty dated housing. Of the newer detectors the T2 and M6 are the heavyweights, NOT the Fishers.
Fisher:
C$ 3.5 lbs
Edge 2.76 lbs
Excel 2.76 lbs
1212x 2.9 lbs
1225x 3.0 lbs
1236x2 3.0 lbs
1270 3.5 lbs
CZ-3D 3.7 lbs
Tesoro
Cibola 2.2 lbs
Vaquero 2.2 lbs
Tejon 2.9 lbs
Cortes 2.9 lbs
Lobo 3.5 lbs
White's:
M6 4.0 lbs
IDX Pro 4.0 lbs
DFX 4.0 lbs
XLT 4.0 lbs
Teknetics T2 3.5 lbs
BH Discovery 3300 2.3 lbs 8 inch concentric
HH
BarnacleBill
Fisher:
C$ 3.5 lbs
Edge 2.76 lbs
Excel 2.76 lbs
1212x 2.9 lbs
1225x 3.0 lbs
1236x2 3.0 lbs
1270 3.5 lbs
CZ-3D 3.7 lbs
Tesoro
Cibola 2.2 lbs
Vaquero 2.2 lbs
Tejon 2.9 lbs
Cortes 2.9 lbs
Lobo 3.5 lbs
White's:
M6 4.0 lbs
IDX Pro 4.0 lbs
DFX 4.0 lbs
XLT 4.0 lbs
Teknetics T2 3.5 lbs
BH Discovery 3300 2.3 lbs 8 inch concentric
HH
BarnacleBill
Granted the excell and edge have lower weight on paper, but thats not what I'm talking about.
Why is it I can swing a 6000di all day and it weighs almost 5lbs and get tired with a CZ5 after 1 hour. Its because Whites designers understood to put the majority of weight directly in front of your fist means your fighting gravity as its inclination is down. So they, and the T2 and Garrett put extremley little weight at this pivot point, and put the majority under your elbow, where it counterbalances the slight pulldown of the coil.
Why Fisher and other companies never understood this is amazing. It seems companies who didn't go with change (lighter, more balanced detectors) like Compass, Discovery, Fisher are either kaput or have been bought out, I'm not saying had they made those changes they still would be major companies, its just curious.
Why is it I can swing a 6000di all day and it weighs almost 5lbs and get tired with a CZ5 after 1 hour. Its because Whites designers understood to put the majority of weight directly in front of your fist means your fighting gravity as its inclination is down. So they, and the T2 and Garrett put extremley little weight at this pivot point, and put the majority under your elbow, where it counterbalances the slight pulldown of the coil.
Why Fisher and other companies never understood this is amazing. It seems companies who didn't go with change (lighter, more balanced detectors) like Compass, Discovery, Fisher are either kaput or have been bought out, I'm not saying had they made those changes they still would be major companies, its just curious.
Thanks for the information Bill. If that 8" coil from the 3300 worked on the F4 then the 4" gold nugget and 10" mag probably will too. That gives the new F4 a 4 coils selection right out of the starting gate.
Was wondering a couple others things also, when you go into to the pinpoint mode is there any ID or depth information given on the screen. Be nice if they designed it with that mod. And, hows the battery life so far.
I been using either a Titan 3000 or 3300 for the last 2-1/2 years and the battery life was terrible. The Titan was worse then the 3300 and got maybe 14 hours on a set of 9 volt batteries. It also seemed to eat up my rechargeables even faster. I would have to take 2 sets with me when the guys came to hunt an all dayer. In the cold (under 50) it is even worse. Let us know how the batteries how up and how often you have to replace them if you will.
Was wondering a couple others things also, when you go into to the pinpoint mode is there any ID or depth information given on the screen. Be nice if they designed it with that mod. And, hows the battery life so far.
I been using either a Titan 3000 or 3300 for the last 2-1/2 years and the battery life was terrible. The Titan was worse then the 3300 and got maybe 14 hours on a set of 9 volt batteries. It also seemed to eat up my rechargeables even faster. I would have to take 2 sets with me when the guys came to hunt an all dayer. In the cold (under 50) it is even worse. Let us know how the batteries how up and how often you have to replace them if you will.
Mike Hillis
Well-known member
n/t
The T2 is no heavyweight at all......NOTHING even close to the "big Box" Fishers I loved so much (and did permanent damage to my right shoulder with) 
The weight of the T2 is distributed perfectly....& in places it's supposed to be, under the arm cup, etc. No big square box, & not coil heavy. Balanced alot like the great 1266x that everyone like Tesoro attempted to make poor copies of. People at the DIV hunt all wanted to hold it, & I've been using the T2 so much switching to my Coinstrike feels very awkward now. The T2 feels like an extention of your arm, and I can swing it all day without wishing it could hipmount or something.......
The weight of the T2 is distributed perfectly....& in places it's supposed to be, under the arm cup, etc. No big square box, & not coil heavy. Balanced alot like the great 1266x that everyone like Tesoro attempted to make poor copies of. People at the DIV hunt all wanted to hold it, & I've been using the T2 so much switching to my Coinstrike feels very awkward now. The T2 feels like an extention of your arm, and I can swing it all day without wishing it could hipmount or something.......BarnacleBill
New member
I never have seen anyone complain about not being able to swing an Excel or Edge all day, which were the latest Fisher designs. Swinging a CZ-20(6 lbs.)shaft mounted all day is a different matter.
The under the arm cup weight distribution for the M6/T2 presents environmental problems. I know everyone is involved in different aspects of the hobby but the idea that you have a portion of the detector prone to moisture damage close to the ground is not particularly appealing. Wading on lake sides, river banks, and saltwater beaches makes this style of design a questionable choice. Detector stands are available, but when they reach the size to assure sufficient ground clearance they add weight and can become an impediment to swinging the coil. Trying to work the walls of a cellar hole and having a detector stand jab you in the leg gets old real fast, been there, done that.
Also, maybe I'm in a minority, but I do hunt in rain, sleet, snow and flying ocean mist, otherwise half the year is lost afield. Trying to waterproof those two designs looks iffy at best, whereas the single enclosure designs have very simple and easy solutions. I did give some consideration to the M6 when it was released as there were some indications it might be able to hunt saltwater beaches, but the under arm pod has given me pause.
Now if the under arm pod was for batteries only with a gasketed watertight cover and no headphone jack, then the F75 would be an improvement over the T2 design, but I don't see that happening realistically.
HH
(High Moisture Content)
BarnacleBill
The under the arm cup weight distribution for the M6/T2 presents environmental problems. I know everyone is involved in different aspects of the hobby but the idea that you have a portion of the detector prone to moisture damage close to the ground is not particularly appealing. Wading on lake sides, river banks, and saltwater beaches makes this style of design a questionable choice. Detector stands are available, but when they reach the size to assure sufficient ground clearance they add weight and can become an impediment to swinging the coil. Trying to work the walls of a cellar hole and having a detector stand jab you in the leg gets old real fast, been there, done that.
Also, maybe I'm in a minority, but I do hunt in rain, sleet, snow and flying ocean mist, otherwise half the year is lost afield. Trying to waterproof those two designs looks iffy at best, whereas the single enclosure designs have very simple and easy solutions. I did give some consideration to the M6 when it was released as there were some indications it might be able to hunt saltwater beaches, but the under arm pod has given me pause.
Now if the under arm pod was for batteries only with a gasketed watertight cover and no headphone jack, then the F75 would be an improvement over the T2 design, but I don't see that happening realistically.
HH
(High Moisture Content)
BarnacleBill
is the adoption of underarm pods and permanently mounted on-shaft control boxes. I do a lot of hunting in streams/lakes and during foul weather in the Pacific NW and the ability to remove the control box to where it's warm, comfy, and dry is a major benefit. That's one of the reasons I dumped the MXT.. hard to safely prospect in streams. ..Willy.
Old California
New member
Hello Bill,
Very good informative post with the actual weigh on the detectors, Even though the T-2 feels light in weight I can see how the T-2 appears to be heavier than the lighter detectors under three pounds with the T-2 coming in at 3.5 lbs.
One must consider the T-2 coil, It is slightly longer than the lighter version detectors under three pounds and does weigh a few ounces more. But the T-2 is well balanced and doesn't give you that top heavy hand feel some Fisher models do, The weight of the T-2 is spread out well and feels just as light as the detectors coming in under 3 pounds even though it is not.
The batteries mounted to the rear accounts for one reason for the well balanced feel, Plus less weight above the handle.
The T-2 is a better balanced detector over the Fishers weighting less, So the F-75 should appear just as or lighter than the Edge and Excel even though it will weigh 6-8 ounces more. Better balanced and less weight above the handle go a long ways out in the field.
If you ever want to borrow my T-2 for a few weeks, You're welcome to use it.
HH, Paul (Ca)
Very good informative post with the actual weigh on the detectors, Even though the T-2 feels light in weight I can see how the T-2 appears to be heavier than the lighter detectors under three pounds with the T-2 coming in at 3.5 lbs.
One must consider the T-2 coil, It is slightly longer than the lighter version detectors under three pounds and does weigh a few ounces more. But the T-2 is well balanced and doesn't give you that top heavy hand feel some Fisher models do, The weight of the T-2 is spread out well and feels just as light as the detectors coming in under 3 pounds even though it is not.
The batteries mounted to the rear accounts for one reason for the well balanced feel, Plus less weight above the handle.
The T-2 is a better balanced detector over the Fishers weighting less, So the F-75 should appear just as or lighter than the Edge and Excel even though it will weigh 6-8 ounces more. Better balanced and less weight above the handle go a long ways out in the field.
If you ever want to borrow my T-2 for a few weeks, You're welcome to use it.
HH, Paul (Ca)
If I'm not mistaken Dave Johnson designed the 1260, and I could never understand why Fisher never exploited this design more fully. I would have made all future detectors either in the 1260 configuration, or at least smaller lighter detachable boxes for the wading guys.
Detectors should be designed around the actual physical experience of detecting, something you can swing comfortably all day, with complete access to all controls instantly, and a high restance to the elements inherent in the product.
Sometime I wonder if Tesoro has a patent on Micro circuit boards? There is a natural progression towards them. This is the future of all electronic components: smaller, more effecient boards etc.
Detectors should be designed around the actual physical experience of detecting, something you can swing comfortably all day, with complete access to all controls instantly, and a high restance to the elements inherent in the product.
Sometime I wonder if Tesoro has a patent on Micro circuit boards? There is a natural progression towards them. This is the future of all electronic components: smaller, more effecient boards etc.
Weight and balance are two very underdiscussed aspect of detecting. I wonder how may detectors are sitting in closets gathering dust because the owner struggled with a poorly balanced unit.
My friend had a Sovereign mounted under his arm on a straight rod with a 5" coil. He was having a heck of a time the back weight was pulling up the smaller weight in the front of the rod. He was constantly struggling to push down the coil which caused him to constantly flex his bicep muscle, after half hour he was tired. He then figured the rod is like a teetor totter with the pivot point being your fist. So he lengthened the lower rod to the point where more weight was in front, and the coil was in balance with the weight at the other end, and now even though the rig weighs 5 pounds he can control it comfortably as long as he wants. Mike T
My friend had a Sovereign mounted under his arm on a straight rod with a 5" coil. He was having a heck of a time the back weight was pulling up the smaller weight in the front of the rod. He was constantly struggling to push down the coil which caused him to constantly flex his bicep muscle, after half hour he was tired. He then figured the rod is like a teetor totter with the pivot point being your fist. So he lengthened the lower rod to the point where more weight was in front, and the coil was in balance with the weight at the other end, and now even though the rig weighs 5 pounds he can control it comfortably as long as he wants. Mike T
Jackpine Savage
Active member
the same setup as the Edge/1236 it only lost about 4 oz in weight but felt a whole lot lighter and better balanced to me. I wish I had kept that rod setup around when I sold the C$. :sad:
Tom
Tom
jackintexas
New member
I too think the CZs are not very well balanced. A super machine but too much forward weight. I have owend 2 CZ 5-1 CZ 6-1 CZ 70- 1CZ 20. I do not own any CZs now. I thought all were too heavy to hunt with. I really liked the machines. I just wished they were better balanced. The DFX- MXT- Xlt all are as heavy as the CZs but do not feel like it because the way they are mounted.
Edge and I cured that I made a Pin pointer out of mine. Give me a brake guys. I am almost 63 and I hunt all the time and I hunt for long hours at a time. Surely you know the machines will hip mount or chest mount. I even have my CZ20 mounted on a straight shaft. You guys are cracking me up 
: : 
Later Jerry aka Tinfoil
: : Later Jerry aka Tinfoil