Newbie - Question on which detector ??? HELP !!

[BGS_Tactical]

Hello everyone...Got the MD bug, so new to the forum and the hobby...

I am having a hard time determining what I need for a good beginning hobby detector. Really want something that will do coins AND relics ..things like bullets, vintage jewelry, etc.

Ive been looking at the Garrett GTI 1500 and the Minelab Xterra-70, but wonder if I should be looking at another model as well. I have a technology degree, so I dont necessarily need simple...I learn electronic things very easily.

Would like comparisons on overall depth ability, as well as overall range of use. I travel some(mineral mining) and would like a detector that will work well in various soil conditions, though my primary searching will be in clay & chunk rock areas (Southern MO, Arkansas).

Looking to spend $700 or less.

Thanks for the help !!
Brad

 

[Bill G]

The Whites MXT hands down for the needs described in your post. Do some research and I think you will find that the MXT will cover everything you want with great depth and performance, a great ground balancing system, a nice selection of accessory coils, a gold and prospecting mode, coin and jewelry mode, as well as a relic mode that has a lot of advantages for not only relic hunting but coins and jewelry hunting as well. I love mine and find it very user friendly, if you get one I recommend getting the book the MXT edge as it will help big time with the learning curve and understanding the modes as well as how they over lap like when using the relic mode to coin hunt. There are some real big advantages here when hunting for coins in a lot of situations using the mixed mode multi tones of the relic mode along with some other benefits that come along with using this mode to coin hunt, like when in iron trash infested areas.

This is just my opinion,:clsoedeyes: and there will be many others, do your research.

Good Luck,
Bill G

 

[DavHut]

MXT is a great choice. I would favor it for your uses.
I am considering one for next year. Personally I wished it had something like 4 tone ID - but that is the only gripe I have, and its my own. Its a great unit.

I also like the Garretts and the 1500 would do nicely. It has a nice blend of technology and user ease. It is a good instrument to get your feet wet with in the hobby. Many do well with it and I always have at least one Garrett.

Tesoro makes some nice detectors, too, and they are very light; this is nothing to sneeze at. They blend analog and digital technology seamlessly, IMHO. They are not a technogeek's delight, though, and if you crave that, you may want to looke back to the Whites or Garrett. I tend to put them more in the beep-dig category, which suits me. This in itself can be a good thing.

I would like to recommend the new Fishers, but with the changes made to the line since Fisher was absorbed by 1st Texas/Bounty Hunter - I cannot.
A friend of mine, who is a long time Fisher devotee, just traded off his F75 for a used CoinStrike. His reasons? "Piece of junk," in his words.

 

[Gunnar of bradford MN]

get an M-6 because its simple to use takes a variety of coils and will relic hunt reall good and it gets great depth also its lite the garetts are a bit heavy the mine lab is a good detector but a bugger to set up my best advice is the m-6 but you will ultimatley deside may your councel be blessed

 

[Gunnar of bradford MN]

i would agree whith bill if you can aford it the mxt is a great machine i know a dealer who is even thinking of buying one for himself in fackt if i had the cash i would have got the mxt

 

[Bill G]

[quote Gunnar Rasmussen]get an M-6 because its simple to use takes a variety of coils and will relic hunt reall good and it gets great depth also its lite the garetts are a bit heavy the mine lab is a good detector but a bugger to set up my best advice is the m-6 but you will ultimatley deside may your councel be blessed[/quote]

I second that, the M6 is everything Gunnar Rasmussen says it is, same circuitry as the MXT with no threshold option, its a silent search detector and it does not have the relic or prospecting mode. It will hunt relics with no problems with the disk turned down.

Not a big Minelab fan, but thats only my personal opinion, not meant to offend. Garrett's are a little heavy and I do not care for the meters as well, they do not have VDI numbers, I like and prefer VDI numbers like the upper end Whites detectors have. The Whites M6 and MXT are balanced well, very well made, great coil options, top notch ID meters and there rechargeable battery packs are by far the best out there compared to other brand units. Also the M6 and MXT ground tracking system is fast and state of the art over many others.

Both the M6 and MXT are great choices if one can afford it the MXT has more to offer, just depends on the features a guy wants and how he plans on hunting.

Take Care and HH
Bill G

 

[liwop]

Hi everyone. I'm thinking of getting started with metal detecting. Never done it before so not too sure if I will like it. Still don't even know where to start my searches yet. Anyway, As a novice, I don't want to go out and buy a Cadillac. I have been looking at the " Bounty Hunter Sharp Shooter II. Also got a line on a used 4 year old Tesero Cortes.
Any opinions on either machine?
Thanks
Frank

 

[Bill G]

Out of the two detectors you mentioned, I personally think the Tesoro Cortes would be the better detector for the money. The Cortes is a pretty decent little detector over all and does pretty well.

Take Care and HH,
Bill G