need help in deciding about new detector to buy.

[dobbie]

got about 500 to spend on a new detector I am ready to retire my detector and i am ready for a step up. please help for I dont know which would be the best buy for my budget. i do basic detecting as you may all know. i dont hunt anything in particular i just hunt a little of everything. i usually hit parks, schools, yards..but i want to try my hand at beach, older sites, maybe some prospecting. any advice would be much apprciated. thanks in advance.

 

[Beale]

Are you looking for VID or just tones? If just tones the Tesoro Vaquro is a great detector. Manual GB, lot of coils and a deep unit.They have several others without screens in your price range. If you want a VID You have a bunch of choises. The Tesoro Deleon is a nice unit. The Minelab X-Terra 50 is a very sweet unit and gives you a manual GB. The Garrett GTP 1350 is a nice unit also. It is a bit higher than your range, but still worth a look. Good luck to you with your choice, Beale.

 

[coinnut]

Hi Dobbie. I don't think you will get any machine to do a great job in all of those areas, especially the beach and prospecting areas. The rest can be covered by one machine. Many brands are good and you will probably get answers from everyone depending on what units they use. I use a DFX and love it. A bit more than your price range. But a used XLT or even a good condition Eagle spectrum would save you lots of money and would be excellent. You could even grow with them as you learn more. Also the MXT gets good reviews as a new machine. But there are Tesoros, Minelabs, etc... I do strongly recommend that you get the most expensive unit you can get for your money, even if it is used. If you are faint hearted, then buy a more user friendly machine. But I usually want to be able to get the maximum out of my machines, so I buy top of the line. I figure I can catch up to the machine when I get more acquainted with it. Also the resale value tends to stay with the higher priced machines. Just look at any E bay auction for a DFX or Minelab SE. What ever detector you choose, get a small coil as an extra if you are ever considering doing any foundations or standing houses. It can sneak out more targets amongst trash than the standard coil. Can't wait to see the other opinions. This is a hot topic you know. Good luck and HH.

 

[GRAY GHOST]

n/t

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[zeekeys]

Dobbie I have not put my 2 cents in on purpose because I really don't have much experience with that many different kinds of manufactures detectors. I only decided to put my 2 cents in when you want to try beach detecting. I do most of my hunting on the beach. A lot of detectors will not work on the whole beach. Ok on dry sand? but not good on wet sand or near the water line. Some don't work in different sand conditions.(I call pocked marked sand) Wet sand from the rain. If you are going to do a beach once and awhile on a sunny day. Go with the flow of the advice, but if you want to spend a lot of time on the beach and different beaches it is a different story. The xlt did a good job on the beach. It is too heavy for an old, fat, out of shape, retired guy like me to swing for hours. Thanks for reading...Z

 

[coinhog]

So for the occasional trip to the beach,, the old XLT will get the job done in wet or dry sand?,,, just use the beach mode?

 

[zeekeys]

Yes indeed Coinhog. It did right nicely on the beaches. I could cover the whole beach or beaches with a little or no noise in the beach mode. (fresh water) I usually hit 6 beaches during the summer. It is a good all around detector. Have no complaints with the xlt. Z

 

[Gold Buddy]

Look at this post.

http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/cgi-bin/garrett/garrett_config.pl?read=52278

HH Gold Buddy

 

[dobbie]

n/t

 

[dl_mooney]

How about a Bounty Hunter Time Ranger??. dl_mooney

 

[jim tn]

dobbie, as has been mentioned, no one detector will do it all, but some actually will come close. For around $500.00 and less, I would seriously look at the Fisher F series detectors. They are extremely light weight, terrific in trash (which is where most of the remaining goodies are) and prices start as low as $200.00. Good luck with your decision and HH jim tn

 

[dobbie]

(dobbie, as has been mentioned, no one detector will do it all, but some actually will come close. For around $500.00 and less, I would seriously look at the Fisher F series detectors. They are extremely light weight, terrific in trash (which is where most of the remaining goodies are) and prices start as low as $200.00. Good luck with your decision and HH jim tn) Yes Jim I was actually looking into the Fisher F2. I have heard many good things about it. I will be less likely to hit the beaches unless it is fresh water. thanks for the heads up