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Help. narrowed my selection down to 3 detectors

B

banksda

New member
I have been reading up on all the different metal detectors and have narrowed my selection to 3:
I would like a multi-purpose machine but have been told by a few that for a newbie go for one or the other.

1. Mine lab Xterra 70..... was told it would be a long learning curve to set up for each of the coils.

2. Whites GXT... a gold machine not good for coins but easy to learn

3. Fisher Gold bug... easy, but also a gold only machine.

I have an opportunity to purchase a used Xterra 70 and would like any help to learn to setup in both the coin and gold modes.

I live in Southern California and plan to nugget hunt in AZ this Thanksgiving.

Thanks,
Don
 
Clearly whoever told you there is a long learning curve for the different coils, doesn't own an xterra. You would go through the same steps to set up no matter which coil is on the machine. Settings would mostly depend on the conditions you are hunting which would be true for most any machine in that price range. Ground balance, sensitivity, noise cancel. Not much more to it.
 
easy to learn! At least not easy to learn to set up for getting the best performance at a given site. Sure you can use the recommended presets but you will finds the presets are nowhere near ideal for the varying conditions you can encounter in the gold fields. The GMT may be a tad easier to learn than the earlier Goldmasters but still field instructions from a dealer that truly knows them is almost mandatory. If you want easy to use stick with the X70 or MXT. JMHO

Tom
 
There is only one multi purpose detector in your list. That's the Xterra 70. Best one out there.
 
I throw my vote behind what khouse said. I've tried the F75, MXT, F70, tesoros, and the X-terra 70. The X-terra has been the clear leader in a machine that has flexibility and real capability. I don't know who told you that the different coils would have a learning curve. That is simply not true. The detector has the normal learning curve, especially if its your first detector. I have not used mine for prospecting, yet, but because it has the ability to pick up such small metal I can see where it would work for that purpose real well.

Yesterday I went relic hunting and started off with my MXT because I lent my X-terra to my son (really wanted him to find something on his birthday). To make a long story short, I wasn't happy with the 12" coil on the MXT in a stubble field, was falsing a lot. So, I got my X-terra back from my son and everything was immediately better and I started finding stuff. I really think it matters a lot how well you and the machine fit and for me the X-terra fits perfectly.
 
The learning curve is not much of a curve at all. You'll also be finding stuff as you are learning. However, it will take sometime to feel completely comfortable with the X-70 as it will with any detector you purchase. I've had several detectors and the X-70, (for me) was the easiest to learn.
 
Thanks for all the input,
I am going to try and purchase the used one and hope to receive it next week.

I like the fast response from everyone and will update all when I receive the used one or when I purchase a new one.

Don
 
Don

I bought my x-Terra 70 this April and for someone how never had any experience with a Metal detector I took mine out of the box that night and went out in the back yard and started finding coins and old wrench's left behind in my yard from my kids that first night .Had no idea what I was doing But found alum foil and change that 1st day. This site help me learn this machine very fast. The FAQ FAQ on top of this site was so helpful to answer all my questions as a newbie. The other 2 MD may be okay but I feel like I made the right choice by buying X-Terra70. I looking forward to going to AZ this winter to look for gold also...
 
the machine is easy to use right out of the box, if you watch the DVD and read the FAQ, you'll be set! good luck!
 
I agree with everybody else. The X-Terra is a very easy to learn unit. When I got mine I had never really used a metal detector before. You will find yourself hunting in no time with it, Beale.
 
Order the used Xterra 70 today and should have it by Friday next week.

Going to purchase the 5"x10" coil and the new 6" DD coil.

Any suggestions? or go to Kellyco.

I thank everyone in helping me make a good decision in purchasing the Xterra 70.

Don
 
Simple as can be to get started. Turn it on, noise cancel, turn on ground tracking, set it in all metal, and off you go. You can fiddle with the fine tuning after you try that your first day. It's really not complicated at all. The learning is one of the fun parts.
 
Just used my new E-Trac today. Pretty complicated but found some stuff. Grabbed my X-Terra and was picking the same trash at about the same depth's (didnt measure). I must say...I like my X-Terra a lot. Only been out twice with it before today. Found coin both times. Neither had coin hits today though...probably picked over. Or... newby not deep enough yet. Little metal eyelet at about 4 or 5 inches today. Like an eye off a boot. Off to a new spot.
 
For just nugget hunting, the White's GMT will handily best the XTerra 70 and MXT when looking for small gold. The MXT hits harder on 2-3 grain gold than the XTerra70 and will handle bad ground better. The XTerra70 will see smaller gold than the MXT. The XTerra70 IMHO is a better coin hunter than the MXT. The disc. mode on the MXT, though, seems to be more sensitive than the disc. mode on the XTerra70.
Just got back from the Coquihalla river and, while up there, did some side by side in-ground and above ground tests using different sized gold nuggets with the XTerra70, MXT, and GB2. I had a GMT a couple of years ago and base my GMT comments on what I observed using that detector. Overall, as a multipurpose detector, I'd say that the MXT has it over the XT70 in bad ground when prospecting. In better ground the XT70 would get the nod. ..Willy.
 
Just to let you know you can buy a new X70 with the pro package around 800.00 and change I suggest you buy this X70 great customer service in Vegas and nice machine .Very light and you can use it all day,the only drawback is the vel cro on the arm rest keeps slipping out ,Much better buy than all those other ones If you do purchase Good luck
 
Purchased the used xterra 70 from ADMS and purchased the 5"x10" & 6" 18.75kHz coils from Kellyco.
I'll keep everyone informed on my first day of coin shooting.

Don
 
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