I need your opinion on my first MD purchase.

[wahama90]

I have been wanting to get into this hobby for some time now. I have recently come across the opportunity to purchase what I feel are 3 quality machines, but i only need 2 of them. I'll most likely get a CZ-21 in great condition for around $600. I live close to a saltwater bay and have 3-4 beaches within minutes so this seems like a good choice. I also want to hunt for Civil War relics, and coin shooting. My options for the land hunting are a Whites M6 for $400 and the AT Pro for $500. The M6 is used in really great shape and the AT Pro was opened but never used. It's really hard to tell from all of the sites out there which of these is the better buy for what I want to do with them. I'm asking for your input as most of you have been doing this for decades. Thanks for any input that you might have.

 

[widebody]

[size=large]get the ATP. you won't need the other two.jmho i own a mxt pro and the garrett at pro.

HH[/size]

 

[Monte]

I have been wanting to get into this hobby for some time now.

If you have never owned a detector or dabbled in this hobby, I strongly suggest you start out with an excellent 'basic' detector, learn it, then learn it well, and from there you can add to your personal detector arsenal.

I have recently come across the opportunity to purchase what I feel are 3 quality machines, but i only need 2 of them.

My bet is that you only need one of them.

I'll most likely get a CZ-21 in great condition for around $600. I live close to a saltwater bay and have 3-4 beaches within minutes so this seems like a good choice.

I would pass on the CZ-21. I am not a big-time water hunter, although I have put in some beach and surf time on the Oregon coast, worked Atlantic City NJ and a few Florida beaches in the late '80s, and have even more time hunting some rather challenging iron mineral ground with heavy salt component beaches worse than an ocean beach ... Utah's Great Salt Lake.

The Fisher CZ-5's I had worked better than the CZ-20 I worked with, and the CZ-21 is supposed to be an improvement. It needed it. Quite frankly, I have had some of my best beach hunting success using a White's Classic III SL and IDX Pro (both modified by 'Mr. Bill') and their XL Pro.

I also want to hunt for Civil War relics, and coin shooting. My options for the land hunting are a Whites M6 for $400 and the AT Pro for $500. The M6 is used in really great shape and the AT Pro was opened but never used. It's really hard to tell from all of the sites out there which of these is the better buy for what I want to do with them. I'm asking for your input as most of you have been doing this for decades.

I have worked with a few Garrett AT Pro's and while they do have a nice GB adjustment range and a full-range of Disc. mode acceptance, I don't care for the headphone connection or the search coil connection. I also don't like the dinky-sized VDI numbers and some other hard-to-read display info, especially on the grayish background. Yes, it is waterproof, but do you really want to get you and all of the detector in the water? If so, I'd opt for a specific model designed for water hunting.

Of the three models you mentioned, the White's M6 is sort of an easy-to-use MXT. Same general performance, Sensitivity Discrimination, Pinpointing, and Ground Balance/Tracking options, but it is a silent-search model. It does, however, let you chose to use a 7-Tone audio ID when times are right. I like it at times, but prefer the single-tone response.

It can also be worked in and near water, submersing the search coil, with performance similar to the AT Pro in that respect. Just my 4.7 decades of opinions.

Monte

 

[dirt doctor]

Personally ,I would snap up that M6 in a heartbeat .I've had one for several years now and I really like it . They are good solid performers and $400.00 is a great price .

 

[GoGoGopher]

If you plan on doing any kind of water hunting...Get the AT Pro...you can fully submerge it...and it works great on land and sand too...If your going underwater, just make sure to get the waterproof headphones for it.
Kellyco has one sweet deal running right now on a New AT Pro...

HH,

 

[widebody]

[size=large]you won't find better advice than Monte. although biased on whites machines he will give you the straight scoop on the others. and there's better sales on the garrett atp at Big Boys Hobbies.

HH[/size]

 

[joeyrsmith]

Well, since this a Whites brand forum. I have to only suggest Whites machines. Surfmaster for water. Prizm basic machine to start.

You will drive yourself nuts trying to learn 2 machines at once.

I spent a long time on the XLT, still nowhere close to mastering it like Monte.

I have now dedicated myself to a PI machine. Live here in the FL Keys. Whole different beast. Powerful and very diffucult to learn.

Then again I live in and around saltwater. Dimes and quarters down 16iinches in the water. Small gold rings -- I mean toe rings down 1+ foot.

Need to decide what will you do most.
Good luck

 

[Bill G]

The M6 or the AT Pro are great detectors. Monte is right about the M6 but he left out a few things on the AT Pro. The screen is not as hard to see as he suggest and he left out it has really good iron discrimination, the iron audio is a nice little feature and the Pro mode is really nice and a great choice after you get a little more experience, use the regular or standard mode until then. Also the At pro detector is as easy to set up and run oval all as the M6. Both are great little detectors and I would use either one.

Happy Hunting,
Bill G

 

[wahama90]

Thanks for all of the helpful input. There are not a lot of dealers close to me so I'm relying on these type of forums for some guidance and helpful info.

 

[wahama90]

I got one from the classifieds on here for $425 shipped. It has the upgrades and 21 months left on the warranty. Thank you all again for the helpful input from your posts.