Need some advice from you seasoned Minelab owners...

[Diggin-it]

I have never run any Minelab detector but am trying to decide which machine either the CTX-3030 or the Excal 2 would best suit my needs. First off I ONLY hunt freshwater beaches and lakes...I never do any inland hunting...ever. I currently run an AT-Pro and absolutely clean up with it...but it has limited depth...pretty much 8" is the limit. I was all set to buy an Excal 2 to get the much needed better depth in the water, and then the 3030 came on the scene. I had planned to still hunt the dry sand with the AT-Pro and run the Excal 2 in the water. Then when I started looking into the 3030 I started thinking that I would get better depth in the dry sand with it then the AT-Pro and its also waterproof so run it in the water also, instead of an Excal 2. My 2 questions I'm trying to figure out is one...is the 3030 going to get the depth in the water that the Excal 2 does and two, the numbering system confuses me...how hard is it to grasp it? My number one goal is the best possible depth in the water. I have asked many dealers this question and honestly its a coin toss, half have said get the Excal 2 and the other half recommend the 3030. I figured it best to get feedback from you guys, the actual end users.

 

[GKMan]

Hi, I have never used an Excalibur but, I used to help put them together here in Dutchess County New York and I part of my job was to do the pressure testing on the Excalibur housing down to what I recall was a simulated 200+ feet of water. I am not sure from your posting if you plan on diving at these freshwater beaches / lakes as you say but if so the CTX can "only" go to ten feet underwater... I believe that you probably already know this from the specs but, in case you don't.....

 

[pspr]

I've been out once with my CTX at a fresh water beach. It was stable as if I the water didn't exist. I was seeing targets as deep as 8" but that put them in the hard clay bottom here and out of reach at this particular beach. I didn't see any deeper than that but there is shale like rock there that probably keeps them from going lower.

I'm curoius what type of scoop you find works best for you in the water at the beach. I was unable to penetrate the clay bottom under the sand with the aluminum scoop I'm using. I'm thinking about ordering a sunspot stealth 6.5" to help me get deeper into the muck.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

No salt water beaches here in Oklahoma to test but would be interesting to see what happens. With the added stability of the Minelab CTX. I would assume only amazing things on a beach with it. It for sure more versatile as it works on land VERY VERY well. Really 2 machines in one unless your gonna dive with one.

Holler if you have questions. Love to help you!

 

[Joe of South Jersey]

Here is a post that will interest you.........It is a local hunter here in NJ.

I could give you my advice........But I sell the products,So I am a little bias(loving mine). Honesty comes from our customers, or users.

Find Mall Post

 

[Diggin-it]

Sorry I failed to mention that in the water I only wade...no diving, so the 3030 is rated properly for that application.

 

[Diggin-it]

I've been out once with my CTX at a fresh water beach. It was stable as if I the water didn't exist. I was seeing targets as deep as 8" but that put them in the hard clay bottom here and out of reach at this particular beach. I didn't see any deeper than that but there is shale like rock there that probably keeps them from going lower.

I'm curoius what type of scoop you find works best for you in the water at the beach. I was unable to penetrate the clay bottom under the sand with the aluminum scoop I'm using. I'm thinking about ordering a sunspot stealth 6.5" to help me get deeper into the muck.[/quote]

Its to bad the conditions of that lake bottom, would love to hear feedback from like a deep sand lake bottom. I have hunted a similar type lake here with my AT, the hard stuff is about 6-7" down and the targets lay right on it...easy to recover.

The scoop I use is this one: (Please to not post ads or links to non-sponsoring dealers or manufacturers. For a list of Findmall sponsors, see the sticky post near the top of this page. thanks)
It is built like a tank and the holes are perfect...stud earings do not sift thru the holes which is great!
Unfortunately the gentleman who builds them I am told has been pretty ill for awhile now and not been able to work at his shop, so I don't know if you can even get one anymore.

 

[unearth]

Diggin-it,
I had an Excal II and sold it, and sold an SE also to help pay for my CTX. I live in So. Cal and hunt in turf, sand and shallow water. The waves, at the beach, just knock me around too much and I don't dive. So the CTX was a good choice for me. Also, I got tired of digging EVERYTHING as you normally do with an Excal. With the CTX you have settings you can develop for your type of hunting, for your type of targets. You have a readout to help you decide to dig or not. All in all the CTX was a more helpful machine for me. Any deeper, I don't really know. I have a fairly large beach scoop and If I have to scoop two or three times to get the target, and don't find it, that's usually my limit. I just move on to the next target.
Hope this helps. But whatever you decide, be sure to have fun. That's what it's all about.
HH Gary

 

[pspr]

Thanks. I'm going to have to get one of the better scoops and see if it will break through the silt and clay for me.

 

[Diggin-it]

Diggin-it,
I had an Excal II and sold it, and sold an SE also to help pay for my CTX. I live in So. Cal and hunt in turf, sand and shallow water. The waves, at the beach, just knock me around too much and I don't dive. So the CTX was a good choice for me. Also, I got tired of digging EVERYTHING as you normally do with an Excal. With the CTX you have settings you can develop for your type of hunting, for your type of targets. You have a readout to help you decide to dig or not. All in all the CTX was a more helpful machine for me. Any deeper, I don't really know. I have a fairly large beach scoop and If I have to scoop two or three times to get the target, and don't find it, that's usually my limit. I just move on to the next target.
Hope this helps. But whatever you decide, be sure to have fun. That's what it's all about.
HH Gary

Thanks for the feedback. I'm hoping to hear from Excal users. Really I'm trying to compare it to an Excal performance wise no to an E-Trac. Hope more people respond, one of the 2 machines is gonna get ordered by Saturday...I have alot to learn no matter which one so I'm eager to get started.

 

[underwatermetalman]

I would suggest renting both,then decide for yourself. I have both and prefer my CTX due to its target I.D. and the ability to tune it to my liking. The Excal II is a great machine I have used it both for wading and Scuba. I am going to an old park and a lake that has been hunted heavily. Did not find much last year with my Excal at the beach, I will let you know how I do with the CTX at that same beach this weekend. As far as depth goes, I can say they are close. I have dug seem deep targets with both machines but I would give the CTX a slight edge.
It depends upon your budget, hunting preferences, and technical abilities. Questions to ask yourself...do I need the bells and whistles or do I want a proven machine that I know can do the job that may not be quite as deep for half the cost.

HH

Joe