Loved my BH Until...

[HeavyMetalDigger]

Hello all...new guy here. First off I really learned a lot from all the great people who post on this site.
I've only been detecting since this past December when I gave myself my BH Camouflage Sharp Shooter Ultra Mag for Christmas which I bought on sale from Cabela's. I felt like a little kid when it arrived that day via the big brown truck.
I read so many reviews before I chose this particular model and I knew I would upgrade one day but I never thought that it would be so soon now that spring is here.
Ok here is what happened, after a while of really getting to know my MD, I was having more and more luck with the not so old clad. I was working the tot lots and school yards and parks. I should say at this point, that this hobby was stirred up from finding out my sister has been MD-ing for a while and doing really well at it she has a Fisher F-75. Recently she invited me to hunt with her and her husband at a local school field. She brought her F-75 and he brought his Minelab Safari and me with my Bounty Hunter Sharp Shooter Ultra Mag. Well "I got owned", they showed me up without even trying.
While I was digging Nickels and penny's "Oh I mean pull tabs and bottle caps " no really... they were digging Colonial coins. I actually was given the chance to wave over their holes before they pulled the coin out of it, and my BH couldn't read the coins at 6-7 inches in a pre-dug hole...R U Kidding Me!
BTW I was using my optional 10" coil at the time because "I thought" it would give me more depth... well after that day and a few other humiliating hunts I came to the conclusion that I'm in the market for a better detector.
I have narrowed my choices down to two, the Technetics G2 or the Garrett AT Pro and will most likely be going with Big Boy Hobbies.
I live within a 1 1/2 hour from the Jersey beaches 'which I frequent" so I will need something that

 

[wasp]

That's the difference in a $200 detector and a $1000 detector. Nothing at all wrong with the Bounty Hunter Sharp Shooter....it has its place. Just don't expect it to do all the things the top of the line detectors will, including Bounty Hunter top of the line like the Platinum.....which is a very good and deep detector.

You "took a knife to a gun fight", so to speak. Next time you're invited to a "knife fight" you'll most likely do just fine in comparison. Light weight, easy to use, and great for tot lots and places where you don't expect coins to be much more than 4" deep.

Some of the high end detectors can have a steep learning curve and some can be very heavy to swing. Of the two detectors you mentioned the AT would probably be the better choice for an all purpose detector and it's waterproof. If you know anyone who has a Platinum you might give it a try as well before you make up your mind.

Good luck and Happy Hunting!

 

[AV64]

HMD, you said you were thinking of getting the Technetics G2 its a great unit but for hitting deep silver you mite look at somthing else, it will hit coins but it is mainley a relic hunting unit. good luck. Art......

 

[HeavyMetalDigger]

Thanks much guys!
Hope to make a decision soon,
I have a budget but tax check is coming soon!

 

[norbyx]

Look at the BH Platinum, it is a great detector for the price... and it stands up to more expensive detectors out there. I read a lot before I decided to go with the platinum.
If you go the other way Teknetics Omega is the one you would most likely like... more than the T2.
As for the AT-Pro I have read all good reviews on this one...
Prices of the ones I just posted...at Metaldetector dot com

BH Platinum $300 with a lot of goodies.

AT-Pro $595 with goodies...

Omega 8000 $599 with goodies...

 

[HeavyMetalDigger]

Thanks Much Guys!
I'm still on the fence and based on what you guys have recommended
I might be down to these two...
the Omega or the AT Pro
I need some advise on these models based on where I believe I will use these the most.
So after work I usually run out to the parks and tot-lots and on the a few days during a month I will make it down
the Jersey beaches for jewelery {this is why i originally picked the G2 running at 19 kHz}
I'm still new to what gets me excited about detecting because all of does now
but if I can get a MD that allows me to do well in the park and in beach sand (wet or dry)
If I can show the wife the rewards of the Hobie, who knows she my want to go with me, (OK I know it's a long shot
I see it like this ,she's not left by herself on a Saturday,
She could use my Sharp Shooter for starters...
, she may even find nice stuff. IE: Quality Time together...
It's a Win Win.
So I will be still checking out you-tube vids and reading forum's till I make this decision

 

[norbyx]

From what I know both md are great on dry sand. On wet sand it's another story, as I have read (not experienced) once you have salt water under the coil everything goes bananas. The only detectors that work fine are the pulse induction ones, and nether of the two options are PI. SO, having stated what I know, I will still opt for the Omega, But just for a personal taste... it is more or less asking if a Lamborghini is better or a Ferrari is better... both are more or less the same, it depends on your personal favorite.

 

[matthias]

You have proven to yourself you are a metal detectorist! Make your best decision possible for your next machine, learn it, and check your pros and cons. You may find this cycle of changing machines is quite common. Have you seen how many detectors some of these folks here have had over the years! I for one think its fun getting different machines and learning them. Unfortunately it does require funds. My advice to you is do the best you can with whatever detector you have and most importantly have fun! The great advice I have recieved on these forums boils down to one concept. Location is key. There is a lot of silver and other goodies no more than 6" under. I understand what you are going thru when you are up against your sister. Keep it fun and put your time in. Keep in touch on the forums here. HH. Matt

 

[Karl]

HMD - I have been on both sides of a dig like that , I have had digs where the high dollar machines were passing up all the good stuff and the cheap machines were finding and vice versa , the majority of the time it depends on the operator and settings and ground conditions. but hey it's your money and if this is how you want to justify purchasing a high dollar machine go for it. I just hate hearing people bad mouth the BH detectors, Most of all great finds were found with low priced detectors like Bounty Hunters etc. most good detectors I know Keep a tracker iv in the trunk of their car as a search it now ,detector, they are rugged and durable and good hard working machines.

and Yes before you or someone else says it. I have owned the $ 3000.00 machines the whites and the techs etc, after being injured I needed a good durable lightweight machine that could handle being fallen on etc, I broke my white machine with in a month and bent the heck out of the tech, I bought BH's and was surprised on group hunts I was finding as much or more , most of the time as the guys with machines that I use to have. I Believe it's more about how much you have practiced and learned about your machine than how much you spent on it.