Buying Decision (Need Opinions) Taking a Poll.

[Prospector]

I have saved up about $500.00 to buy a detector or detectors with. I primarily hunt parks and fresh water beaches for coins and jewelry and old home sites for deeper coins. I may also try some Civil War skirmish sites here in North Alabama. I am considering the following options and am taking an informal poll to help with my decision. Please give your honest opinions. Thanks!

A. Shoot the whole wad on a Vaquero
B. Buy a Cibola and a Compadre
C. Buy a Silver Umax and a Compadre
D. Open to suggestions

 

[Tinfoil]

n/t

 

[BarberBill]

Either the Vaq or the Silver umax and Compadre. The Vaq has the advantage of manual ground balance which could be important in some locations. The Sumax and Compadre are a lot of bang for bucks. My two bits.
HH
BB

 

[dahut]

I like the Golden, good choice. It is basically a hot uMax circuit with notch and tone filtering on the DISC. If it had GB it would be near perfect.

I see little point in the Compadre and the Vaquero together. I'd go with one or the other.

You didn't say if you hunt IN the water. If you do, then get a used Silver Sabre uMax, Eldorado, Bandido uMax - and a used Tiger Shark.
If this requires more money, then get it together.
Nothing will do as well IN the water as a detector designed for that environment.
Nothing is as exasperating as stopping thigh deep in your hunt because your detector can't go further.

 

[rmptr]

From info you've given, Vaquero.
HH
rmptr

 

[tabdog]

Hi Prospector,

I think a lot of David's opinion (dahut).

But I have to disagree about the Compadre and the Vaquero not being a good combo.

The Compadre is a truly wonderful metal detector that can be had for around $100 used.

It is a great back-up for any primary machine and out performs most of them.

You can get a really nice used Vaquero for $350. I got mine for $315. That leaves $50 or so.
That's what I charge for advise. lol

I have little experience with the Golden, but I have yet to be disappointed with any of the
seven used Tesoro's I have purchased. They have each one been a really good metal detector.

HH,

 

[nick hunter]

Hi !

As long as a compadre is involved in your final choice, with another tesoro, you can't be wrong.

Tha was my two (euro)cents.

Hh

Nick the Belgian

 

[Corteser]

Good used Cortes is the way to go. Just about as deep as any of the above and with TID if you want it. Just want to "beep and dig"? Just don't look at the screen.

 

[Mike Hillis]

Reason I'm asking is all of them will probably work ok for you. If you are only going to be about to get out a couple of hours a week then you'll want something to help maximize your time and give a better treasure to trash ratio. I'd recommend a Golden if that is your situation. Cortes would do ok as a second choice.

If you've got lots of time to detect then you'll find that you've got more time to put into a site and something like the Vaquero will suit you just fine.

Good luck with your choice

Mike