Hey Boxtopp,
I use my MXT here on the southern Cal beaches periodically. It's great in dry sand, no problems at all, other than slight changes in VDI readings due to the salt. However, I've had very mixed results in more wet sand, going from fairly stable in moist sand to often unmanageable in saturated sand. It was for this reason that I added a Detectorpro Wader to my detecting arsenal--salt and minerals just aren't a problem at all. I still use the MXT at the beach, though, sometimes very successfully. I usually use salt mode and a discrimination of about 2, since I want to dig most targets. Sometimes the gain and threshold need to be toned down a bit to quiet it down in wetter sand. Also, you might try groundbalancing and locking for more stability in the wet sand. With a little experimentation, you can get the right balance for the particular stretch of beach you're on. Occasionally, you'll get overloads even in dry sand--it just means that there are pockets of black sand there, which usually disappear if you change your spot. Because I love beach hunting so much, it was worth it to me to get another machine specifically designed for this. But you can still accomplish much with the MXT there with a little practice, patience, and a willingness to accept its limitations in a heavy salt/mineral environment.
HH,
Dan
