New detector for beach AND land, up to $500 or so?

[kgilbert]

Hi everyone,

I've had a White's Classic SL for about 7 years now. I got it when I was 10. I searched mostly through the small strip of woods behind our house and a schoolyard in Michigan. I used it a lot the first few months, then only occasionally throughout the next couple of years.

Now my family just moved to Orange, CA and I'm interested in maybe getting a better detector. I'd like to get one that:

- works on the beach (& wet sand) AND on land
- has a computer-like screen that shows what kind of find it is. (Don't know what it's called)
- light weight
- easy to start using

I was looking at the White's XLT (that was my dream metal detector when I was 10), but I read in several reviews it doesn't work well at all on the beach. I know my Classic SL might not have - I used it on the beach on vacation once and didn't find a thing. The Minelab Explorer II looks like what I want, but is a little too expensive for what I want. The White's M6 looks good too, but there are none on eBay.

So does anybody have any suggestions of a metal detector for me? I'm willing to spend up to $500 or so. I may end up selling it again before I go to college.

NOTE: I'm talking in eBay/used prices here, not retail.

 

[vw242]

Good for you. It sounds like you know what you are looking for. Most folks haven't a clue. I am going to take a wild swing and suggest the Fisher Coinstrike. I had the best luck at the beach and on inland parks. Sure some will go deeper, but with a 10.5 inch coil you can cover alot of beach. The stock 8 inch isn't bad either. If you take the time to learn the machine and follow the 525 rule that Bill Ladd laid down when the C$ first came out, you will be dialed. Maybe, it was beginners luck but if you do a search on my finds for 2005 after the hurricanes in Fl you will be a believer. Time and again its C$

 

[dfxmatt]

You could probably find a used 1280x for 2 to 3 hundred if ya shop around. Look around for the lifetime warranty one though I chose the whites bhid cause i just didn't like how small the stock coil was on the fisher. by the way....i got bhid for 700.......$800 retail.

 

[vw242]

How well does the bhid target id and what kind of response time/ recovery do you get? C$ likes a fast swing and target id is quick!

 

[dfxmatt]

u got 3 colors *led lights* that light up....blue is coins or silver....gold and the usual gold signals *aluminum for example* are a yellow led....and anything mixed with red led is junk.

If you run bhid in all metal mode.....it can go just as deep as any water detector.

 

[Bling]

in that price range id go with the 1280X!

 

[diggindirt]

You could snag a nice used one for around $450. to $550! First off, you can go into the water with the BHID and grab jewelry in those areas. Next it has 3 audio tone ID along with 3 color LEDs that are very accurate in deciding what to dig. Another thing is it's balanced and not too heavy so you can hunt at high speed without fatigue. You said a fast recovery speed is what you're looking for, well the BHID has about the quickest recovery of any water machine I've used! The last thing is hunt in all metal for depth AND STILL have the ID lights working to help in target id! So good luck with whatever unit you choose and HH!

 

[DavHut]

Tesoro Tiger Shark is another option that could work for you.

 

[kgilbert]

... the Fisher CZ-7A based on the recommendation of RandyNorthridgeca, who PM'd me. I'll see how it works here in CA.