Need help from knowledgeble detector users.

[Prospector]

I am down to 3 choices for a primary detector. I have owned Fishers and Minelabs in the past and are trying to decide between the following. (A) Minelab X-Terra 50, (B) Minelab X-Terra 30, and (C) Fisher Coinstrike in no particular order. Can anyone tell me how these units perform as far as for depth, target I.D. etc. Avg. depth on penny, nickel, dime, and quarter and how they do at old home sites and jewerly.

 

[nugget71]

n/t

 

[Digger]

You've mentioned two models that represent Minelab's latest venture into the metal detecting arena. And one Fisher model that has been manufacturer discontinued. I'm not going to say anything bad about the CoinStrike. Fisher was a good company and made some darn good detectors. In the right hands, that C$ has been one heck of a coin finder. However, if First Texas believed the Coin Strike was going to remain competitive in today's marketplace, I'd have thought they would have continued making it. On the other hand, the X-Terra is Minelabs newest venture into the hobby detector marketplace. The sophistication of VFLEX, combined with the versatility of the three X-Terra models is making it one of the most popular detectors available today.

As to performance.....in air, all three models will test about the same on US coins. But as you know, we don't detect in the air. As such, consider the X-30 has a preset ground balance that was determined at the factory to be the best "all around" setting for land hunting. Although Minelab has not revealed what that preset level was, a few have mentioned that they believe it is similar to a setting of 6 on the X-50. That should provide adequate results for moderately mineralized areas. When I take my X-30, X-50 and X-70 to places that offer moderate soil conditions, I don't see any difference in depth of detection, using the same coil. I know that the Owner's manual says the X-30 has standard depth and the X-50 has enhanced depth, but I have to wonder if that doesn't have more to do with the manual GB, adjustable NC and the X-50 having twice as many volume and Sensitivity adjustments than the X-30??? (Note that the maximum and minimum Sensitivity and Volume are similar. But the X-50 offers twice as many settings in between the max and min.) The X-30 is only capable of using the 7.5 kHz coils. Again, the stock 7.5 kHz coil is an excellent choice for coinshooting around private yards and old homesites. However, I do think the 18.75 coil is more sensitive to small targets and lower conductive (jewelry) targets. And the abililty to use the higher frequency coils on the X-50 should be a consideration. By the X-50 having "narrower" notch segments than the X-30, you will determine target ID much more reliable with the X-50 than the X-30 and you will reject fewer "keepers" when setting a given notch to reject. In addition, the four tone audio response of the X-50, compared to the three tone response of the X-30, will provide one more tool when coin shooting.

If you are the type of hunter that always hunts in moderate soil, never takes off the stock coil and don't mind digging some trash, the X-30 will do just fine. You could always add that 6-inch concentric or the 10-5 inch DD later one. But if you have the budget to go those extra bucks, I think you will be glad you got the X50 instead. More features, more accurate tuning, more functionality and a choice of 7 coils in two different frequencies.


For a complete comparison of the X-30 and X-50 features, go to page 71 of the Owner's manual.

http://www.minelab.com/consumer/files/manuals/man_9.pdf


JMHO HH Randy

 

[Prospector]

Thanks to everyone for your help. Have placed an order for an X-Terra 50 with an extra coil (DD-Eliptical).

 

[Digger]

look forward to your comments. Don't hesitate to ask questions, if they should arise. Lots of knowlegeable folks on this forum to help you out! HH Randy

 

[nugget71]

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