Detector decisions-AT Pro or a Nautilus for a Beep n Dig kinda guy:help:

[Darkflight]

I know you get these Q's all the time. But without laying my hands on a machine & doing an extended test drive-it is tough deciding.

For me especially I guess. I crave fast response time & feedback-but the right kind of feedback.I use tesoro's for the most part & have a Troy X2 with a 10 x 12 coil & a ground balance mod. It really suits my detecting style. So much so I just sold a nice TID machine I had very good luck with results wise. But I trusted the feedback on the Troy & the other machine would just not do it for my style of detecting.

I dig most "solid" targets. I have used a technique mentioned in the Troy website that I now call the "Tesoro shake". Any machine with very fast response time can be used in such manner to weed out less desireable targets. If the machine I use does not have fast response & a VCO type feedback to the target I'm out. And it has to hit gold/nickles hard....

I have a river rat machine-a waterboxed Tesoro Silver so I really don't need a water machine-But it couldn't hurt. So I was thinking with my hunting style I may prefer a Nautalis with all metal in one ear & the disc in another. I often run the silver in A/M & switch to disc to check the target. It seems like a super tesoro-or king of the beep /n/ digs...I do have a few spots where deep-shovel deep-would be nice. The Tesoro's I already have would be for the parks etc..

But then there is the late in the day lazy mode-I try not to do it & crank up the disc-or notch-But sometimes-C'mon man there are too many tabs. Also the customizeable program on the AT pro does sound tempting.


So-I can't try iether machine...

But would a beep & dig die hard be happy with the AT Pro in pro mode?.If so that would seal the deal for my next detector.

 

[digginrebel]

Just my humble opinion - but no "beep and dig" machine can beat the Nauty! Nothing!!! It isn't the easiest to use, but sounds like you know what you are doing and what you will be up against regarding a learning curve. Haven't used the AT Pro, but they are getting good reviews. Howerver, I have used the Nauty and WOW! Deep and informative, if you can learn your tones and separate them. Good luck

 

[Woodchuck]

Beep and dig Nauty, AT Pro got TID not a true bbep and dig in sense of word

 

[Darkflight]

I just got back from some water hunting & the silver works as well as I can manage in the water. I don't hit the beaches if at all but we do have lakes & rivers here. The silver goes as deep as I want to wade & 3 hours without a drop inside my homeade waterbox so it is a good unit for that.

The way I like to search I can best describe as "reverse painting" of the ground to get a mental image of what lays down there. I'm looking for solid signals like I said but I want a good "voice" to the machine so I can pick out the subtle tone changes that can help me ID deep iron vs a on edge coin at depth. The TID machine I had required multiple sweeps for me to decide wether it was a solid (dig) target. The Troy took 2 swipes for me to get a decent "sniff" on a potential target. I'll then do the shake on it & if it passes that size it in VCO all metal. But I still get fooled by square nails & farm implements if I have the troy cranked up for depth. From what I've read the Nauti should shine there.

But does anyone have both the AT Pro & a Nautilus?


Thanks for the input,
Carl.

 

[Jerry-Wi]

......... AT Pro got TID not a true beep and dig in sense of word

Probably not but with three tones and proportionate audio you can get a very good idea of what the target is and how deep it is. TID is not needed unless you want to be choosy about the targets you dig like cherry picking nothing but quarters for example.

Jerry

 

[digginrebel]

Have you considered a Minelab Sov or Excal? Both good machines.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I have owned both an AT Pro and a Nautilus llBa neither are a turn and go.The Nautilus is a specialty unit for relic hunting and has a learning curve it requires a commitment from the user.The AT Pro in stock form is more of a wader than a true water unit.Older CZs and Sovereigns will delivery better performance.As a serious water unit its light years from being a CZ 21 or Excal.I'm confused on your choices,which reminds me of a nephew I asked want he wanted to do when he grew up his answer either a State Trooper or a Comic book collector.My suggestions for a cheap water wader or beach any old CZ in a bag with a binocular strap,Fisher 1270 would make a good trade off between these two detectors.Both the AT Pro and Nautilus are good units but there could better options for your type of hunting.Good Luck Run

 

[Darkflight]

I'll try & be more specific-I do tend to wander in my posts.

But since you have both- wich machine would you grab for a large search area with deep targets-past 10"?...Lotta iron in the mix of course.Looking for coins not relics.

I am primarily looking for a machine that will give me good feedback as to what is in the ground.I am used to the language of a Tesoro & had a hard time relating to the my TID machine. It worked fine for most areas but would frustrate me in trashy areas with too much info. The Tesoro allows me to hunt at a fast pace & slow down when a suspect target is found. I need rapid response & info I can use...Mostly is there a non ferrous solid small piece of metal in the vicinity of the coil.


I don't care for "tones" but if I had a choice 2 tones would be plenty-one for iron & the rest another.I find if I have a multi tone machine I instinctively give high tone targets priority.

Also TID will promote cherry picking on my part-so I try not to rely on TID to make my dig/no dig decision.

And water hunting is not an issue-I have a competent machine for what I do. But it is an option with the AT pro so I brought it up.

I had heard good reports on the AT pro as to depth & it likes gold. Good things right?. A few have complained it is a "chatty" machine in pro-mode. Thats fine with me as long as I can learn to trust what it tells me.

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I've got the 1st 8" of soil around here pretty well covered with my current machines. Water would be nice but I have a decent wader unit I can change coils on easy.

I'm looking for e-trac performance in the lower price range-without a flute band perhaps. Who knows I may learn to love it but I really prefer the style of hunting I do now. I'm not brand concious & the 1270 may be exactly what I'm looking for. Like I said I wish there was a place to try them all without sales pressure.

 

[amcjavelin]

i've owned the 1270 and is a deep machine i think if you could get your hands on a deep tech rg 1000 you would be very happy 2 tone all metal one in disc and it works great plus is a deep machine awesome audio!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

It would probably surprise you how many detectors some people on this forum have used.One thing about detectors what works for me may not for you.Example the Minelab Sovereign is one of my favorite units,but most people hate this detector.All right you want a detector that will perform in the category of an Etrac or get you close at half the cost.These are some of my pick's for Detector Average Joe.These are all used metal detector and will get you in your price range,note all of these at a decent price can get a quick resale to get your money back you spent if you are disappointed. Explorer SE,ll,or 2000 XS,Teknetics T2 or Fisher F75 and LTD models if found for at your price range,Whites V3i is great but out of your price range used,Minelab Sovereign GT with a S-1 probe and meter these add ons put you in contention.TDI lets you evaluate and profile your targets this gives you better odds a discipline hunter doesn't cherry pick they evaluate a target and make a better choice.The ones mentioned are tried successes and bench marks for depth and performance.Good Luck Ron