Best Detector(s) with this criteria

[Canewrap]

I'm looking for a lightweight machine (up to and including 4lbs) that has fast recovery (great seperation), is $800 or less, has different coils (such as an 8"DD) and at least tone ID or the single tone is sharp enough to distinguish iron from non iron.

 

[Mike Hillis]

n/t

 

[silversmith]

If you'll take used, find your self a good working Big Bud Pro Select 220-D. You'll never let go? Used maybe 200-300 clams. GL

 

[khouse]

I think you need to tell us where and what your hunting. Really you could put pictures of all the major brands $800 machines on the wall. Then throw a dart and that detector would do what you asked.

 

[Canewrap]

Ok, that's fair. I'm a relic hunter and I'm really considering going back to the Tesoro Tejon (never really gave the one I had a chance). What I need is great seperation and reasonably good depth. Most of the CW stuff we have around here lies between 8 and 10 inches in depth, unless you're in a plowed field and all bets are off. However, if in a plowed field you usually have to hold your coil off the ground a bit in places because of the irregularity. When you do find a camp its frequently littered with iron and if your machine is even a little slow it can be tough, even in all metal, to tell if a good target is under the iron somewhere. I know a few guys that use different machines for different parts of the process, but to me that makes it really tough to ever get an intimate knowledge of your machine. I tried the MXT for a while, but after swinging that beast for 4 to 5 hours at a time I wore out my shoulders. I tried the swingy thing, but it just gets in the way when I got down to dig. I have considered trying to redesign that if it turns out I can't get a light enough machine. Guess I'm looking for the holy grail of relic machines, something that can lock on ID (or tone) down to 8 or 9 inches (doesn't call everything iron, just lets you know its nonferrous), is less than 4 lbs, can withstand a little abuse and doesn't cost more than my first car.

 

[TomB]

Check out the X-Terra-705............you want be sorry. TomB

 

[khouse]

You had to go and say your a relic hunter! Not sure what to tell you? But I do know through reading that the Tejon is used a lot in relic hunting. Also Nautilus wins a lot of contests. There have been success stories with the DD coils on Xterra's too. I have to say that I've had an Xterra 30, 50 and 70. All are very deep. Plus weighing just under 3 pounds is sweet. I'm sure the Nautilus weighs 4 pounds or more too. So like Tom said. I too would say an Xterra with the 10.5 DD coil at 18.75 kHz. All but the 30 because it doesn't have a ground balance or low or high freq coil choices.

 

[Neil]

you will get excellent seperation and depth and to keep it light feeling take the coil cover off it. thats a great combination for hunting right there.

 

[dahut]

- - is a good first choice for your "criteria". A good bet for the place position is an F70 with 11" DD coil.

A Tesoro Vaquero is a decent show choice. As it is a single mode Tejon, essentially, you are already in the running with your Badger.

 

[sqwaby]

Tesoro Vaquero; light weight, great target separation, gets deep. Single tone, but very descriptive on how it reacts to different metals, target size and depth.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

Give the Tek Omega some thought. IMO it has quite a few plusses over some of the others mentioned here.

Lightweight and equipped with the 11" DD coil the balance is still quite good.

Quite sweep speed tolerant which is nice when going from cleaner areas to working slow in iron.

Target seperation and recovery is very good in all of the tone modes.

At high sensitivity/threshold settings (just one knob does it by the way) it does not take on the love for iron like others when supertuned. Some but not much!

Of the newer digital machines I have used it has very descriptive audio in both the 1 or 2 tone VCO modes or the more normal 3 or 4 tone modes.

TID is better and more stable than the MXT at depth. No contest!

Has plenty of oomph to make up for some coil height in stubble.

Set at small iron reject it is one of if not the quietest machines I have used.

The 7.8 Khz freq allows good performance in both plowed and fallow fields.

You can set the audio freq/pitch in all metal to your preference and the setting also carries over to the P/P mode. nice!

Minuses
Perhaps not as important to coin hunters but for relic hunting an all metal toggle would have been nice. It is a slight pain to have to turn the disc knob to all metal to get a better feel on those iffy targets and then switch back to your preferred disc setting.

The screen plastic needs a protective overlayer to prevent scratches.

Can you tell I am impressed?

Did I say it's quiet in iron?

HH Tom

 

[GRAY GHOST]

n/t

 

[amcjavelin]

if not the tejon get the vaquero it's a hair lighter and not only will get those relics but stand better to get those coins as well found me some sweet largies with this and IH's and run 14.3 khz for some reason or another had great success with this freq

 

[silversmith]

Do you really own an AmcJavelin ?

 

[go-rebels]

I'd seriously consider a used T2 or F75 with extra 5" DD coil. That set is available in the $500-$600 range.