What detectors have you used ??? Which ones have you liked the most.

[SoArk]

Elton, I started out with a Garrett Freedom II Coin Commander back in 1984. Dad had a Fisher 1260X that he'd gotten and after using it a few times and going with him, I had to have my own! Getting into relic hunting in 1990 and still using the Freedom II, in 1995 I got a Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX III. In 2001 or 2002, I bought a Troy Shadow X-5. Now that is one fine machine...... super sensitive and nice depth. I found a ton of stuff with it..... still have it. Then two years ago, my relic hunting partner got a Detector Pro Pirate..... to hunt the CW river crossings and old country swimming holes. Dang him ........ I had to get one of those machines too! We've found Civil War relics in the streams and creeks as well as a bunch of coins, rings and other jewelry pieces, and close to a ton of lead sinkers and .22 lead and casings.... and other various shell casings and lead/copper jacketed stuff ( to help clean the environment). A couple of months ago, I bought my newest..... the F75. Now I'm navigating my way through the learning curve on this machine. It can be used as a "turn on and go" machine, but it has too much to offer for me to be satisfied with that aspect. To answer your question as to which is my favorite......... until I master the F75, I'd have to say that the Shadow X-5 has been my favorite. It was pretty dang decent on target separation in junky areas..... and it would sniff out the smallest lead and brass..... percussion caps at 6 inches or better...... buck shot at about the same. I got so familiar with the smallest tonal changes, that I could "call" what I was about to dig.

Nice post, Elton....... find tons of stuff this weekend!

 

[Elton]

very informative, and I always wanted to try a"Troy"..just never got around to it.Would love to see some of your finds pictured.

 

[Elton]

I must admit Sir, I am not familiar with the Metrotech.

 

[Hombre]

Hi Elton

As always, you have started an excellent thread here, and it really does not prove which detector is right for a particular person unless they have actually used it. That is a universal problem for a new detectorist just starting out in the hobby,and who do you trust to give unbiased advice on detector brand and model. What works well with some people, other people dislike, so it is just like the Ford Vs Chevy debate. It is fun to read about, and..........sometimes it is something I learn from. Keep up the great threads!

 

[AUDuke]

I must admit Sir, I am not familiar with the Metrotech.

Metrotech was made in the 1960's. and was made for several years. I don't remember when they went out of business, some time in the early 70s , I think. It was a TR detector and was very light for its time. I believe it was mfg by a former Fisher engineer.

 

[Elton]

Thought it would bring back memories, and good times.....In my opinion someone somewhere likes, or did like every detector thats been made.
Someone somewhere got the max out of their choice in detector/s purchased. Myself I would like to revisit the Eagle SL90.5 I loved that detector.

 

[Critterhunter]

I've owned, used, and went head to head with most of the machines on the market. After owning several Explorers I've gone back to the QXT Pro. The way I set up and work the machine it's depth IMHO on silver and copper coins is just as good in ground that isn't highly mineralized. In mineralized ground or on other metals the Explorer will go much deeper, though. I'm confident the QXT is getting me the depth at most of my sites. Recently, though, an E-Trac had a good 2" depth advantage on two undug silver dimes. Very impressive, but remember it's also got a 2 to 2.5" size advantage in coil size. If I could find out that somebody has used a 12" Hot Shot coil on a Quantum I'd go that route and probably gain another 2 or 3" depth wise. I tried two of these coils brand new years back on a different QXT Pro and they got unstable after about ten minutes. Not sure if it was the coils or the machine. I suspect it might have been the coil as winded coil positions inside the coil case are very critical. A slight rise in temperture can move them ever so slightly and cause falsing. However, I've read of many XLT and 6000 owners who have great things to say about the Hot Shot, so I'm not sure if it was the coil, that QXT, or something specific to the QXT line that it doesn't like.

The Explorer took much of the fun out of my hunts with it's weight and the fact that you have to mentaly stay on top of it at all times in order to keep it working at peak performance. One thing I didn't care for was the ID float. What don't I like about the QXT? It lacks a numerical VDI number for targets. I wish some chip hack would re-code the software to display one. Other than that it's recovery speed, audio harmonics, sizing display, and depth are winners in my book.

The most important thing to remember is that the user makes up 80% of the machine's performance. It's how you analyze with your brain what the machine is trying to tell you that makes the difference. For that reason one person might get more depth with brand x while another guy gets more depth with brand y. They both can be right, because one machine might be better suited to one guy and the other machine to the other.

 

[gmanlight]

1 F75
2 CZ 70 If thy had DD coils it would equal F 75 love that its rain proof and no EMI
3 Silver U Great tot lot hunter
4 Sov GT / E Trac M/L are not for me

2 water machines PI pro / BHID

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Elton]

A good point about one machine may suit one person but not another..

 

[dahut]

I've used or tried too many to list, and I risk boring everybody with a laundry list of the past 20+ years.

But, which ones have I liked the most? Upon close examination, it's the ones that combine ease of use with hi-tech.
This list is short, in the modern day:

1. The Hot List

- White's MXT or XLT.
Some argue the XLT isn't easy to use, but it CAN be if you let it. Both are so versatile as to be almost ubiquitous.
- Fisher F70
Possibly the best all around detector on the market today.
- Garrett GTP 1350
Possibly the other best detector on the market.
- X-Terra 50/70
Not a ton of experience with these, but I like what I've seen and feel they are solid.

I also have a soft spot for turn on and go detectors:

2. The Standby's

- Tesoro Vaquero and all the uMax models (Bandido's, Sabre's, Golden's, etc.)
I started on a Tesoro, and feel the uMax has been the most significant development in the the business, ever.
- Whites Classic ID series
Classic is the right word for these. Excellent all-arounders, smooth and "pet-rock" reliable.
- Fisher 1236X2/1266-X
Still one of my favorites. I use the 1236X2 almost weekly.

Wanna know how I feel about these? I usually have at least one of those on the first list... I ALWAYS have one of these.

In the fresh water it is the Tiger Shark, from Tesoro and the Fisher 1280-X.
At the sea shore, I would choose the Fisher CZ-21 or Garrett Infinium.

If I could only have one land detector, which is what this ultimately boils down to, it would be the Fisher F75 and a coil assortment.
There are many notables vying for that position, like the DFX or Minelabs, but that one gets the nod from me.

 

[jim tn]

I go all the way back to 1972 when I started my swinging with a $24.95 Jetco detector. Although it only got 3" max. depth, it was enough for me to realize I was going to love this hobby...and have ever since. My next detector was a White's Coinmaster, then a Garretts Master Hunter 7, which was followed by a Fisher cz6 and a Tesoro Golden Sabre ll, then a cz3d and lastly, am currently swinging a F 75 and a T 2. Although the F 75 hands down is my favorite to this point, I really enjoyed and liked all the detectors I have owned. Learn what ever detector one is swinging and it will become a favorite over time. HH jim tn