What to buy

[all iron]

Hey there folks, i was just wondering what metal detector to buy if i guy could buy whatever he wanted to.
I live in Indiana and i hunt parks for coins and fields and woods for relics and would like to wade around in the water a bit also.
A machine that cant find beaver tails and pull tabs would be nice
I have no experience with multiple brands, the only detectors ever used has been the Teknetics brands.

So what do you think?
What would you buy if you could buy whatever you wanted?
Thanks

 

[Tom_in_CA]

The Explorer II with sunray probe is extremely versatile. I'd buy it no matter WHAT budget I had. It's also ok to "wade" in the water a bit, .... depending on what you meant by "wade". If you just meant submerging the coil at the water's edge? But if you meant dunking underwater entirely, then no, it's not waterproof. Only the coil and rod (up to the probe-box) is submersible.

 

[Diggin-it]

That is the one question you are sure to never get a absolute answer for. There are to many brands and models out there...and many people are brand loyal so they will always be bias. In just under 3 years of detecting I haved owned (2) White's V3i's...still have 1, a Minelab CTX-3030...sold it, a Fisher CZ-21...sold it, a XP Deus...still have it, (2) Fisher F2's...still have 1, a Excalibur (original)...currently broken, and (6) Garrett AT-Pro's...still have 3. My favorite out of all the machines and the one I would chose if I could only own one is the AT-Pro. This is based on the hunting I do which is mostly water and beach...and when I hunt inland I also take the XP Deus and sometimes the V3i. If you have a MD club that is within driving distance I would recommend going to a meeting. You will usually see every make and model imaginable.

 

[okyfisherman]

I WOULD VOTE FOR A WHITES V3I OR DFX

 

[Ron from Michigan]

All Iron, if money wasn't an issue,at least two detectors one for the land another for the water.You'll get a lot of answers,but no substitute for someone using different detectors in the field.Good Luck HH Ron

 

[GoVidGo]

I have a very hott Etrac but still go to my AT Pro for some fun and great detecting... especially if there is a chance of rain...

 

[Robert2300]

Frankly I'd go with the Ace 250. It's really a $350 to $450 machine
but Garrett decided to make a low cost machine that would in-
corprate some features of the more expensive machines and
grab a bigger share of the Sales out there. The idea worked. Even
the AT Pro and AT Gold is slightly inder priced. Great machines!

The Ace 250 has 5 modees you can switch to and has VCO
pin pointing many machines do not have. Easy notching in or out
capabilities. AND YOU CAN USE the 250 coils on the new Ace 350.

The other manufactures out there have tried to put out a low cost
machine and they HAVE but not nearly as good as the Ace 250 in my
opinion. This is a good buy at $212.

I'm not berating any other machine but for the money and what you get
Garrett can't be touched!

Robert2300

 

[rglyons]

IMHO I would check out the Garrett AT Pro. It's waterproff to 10 ft. The name implies it's "All Terrain".

I went with the Ace 250 about four years ago and it's been good. If the AT had been out then, I probably would have went for it.

 

[GunnarMN]

If money was no Issue i would get a Vista Gold, and whites TDI SL, a Garrett AT gold, and Tesoro Vaquero, and for coils on that vaquero i would get a clean sweep and a 8.5 widscan , i also would kike to get a 705 xterra with the 6" 3 khz coil for coins shooting and the 18khz coil and the 7.5khz coil all 6" coils but you cant alway get what you want -

 

["Dr.Tones"]

CTX 3030

 

[redly846]

Garrett AT PRO