Cobra or Viper??????

[Gator-Flea]

Does anyone know much about these detectors , I am interested in a hybrid.

 

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[erikk]

I would voice my opinion but I will let the expert advise U, maybe even make U a scoop 2 go with it

seriously, save your money

 

[Sandman]

Cobra or Viper?? You gotta be kidding. This is Chinese stuff and you know what they ship here.

Your much better off buying a detector from a Major brand like Garrett, Minelab, Tesoro or White's. You might pay a couple dollars more, but the quality and depth are there not counting the Warranty.

 

[mlayers]

I agree you need to put you money towards something else. For a couple hundred more you can get a better machine.. I have two white and I had a viper I sold the viper and I looking for Tesoro now....Matt

 

[TreasurdiggrNY]

When I was looking around for my first machine I too wanted a good all around unit. I got the Fisher 1280X with the 8 inch coil. It's a beast, very underrated I think. It is built to last, very deep, easy to use, waterproof to 200ft., turn-on-and go, batteries last 4-ever and you can chest mount it and swing all day long. I'm just saying

 

[Baja Vinnie]

Cobra or Viper?? You gotta be kidding. This is Chinese stuff and you know what they ship here.

Your much better off buying a detector from a Major brand like Garrett, Minelab, Tesoro or White's. You might pay a couple dollars more, but the quality and depth are there not counting the Warranty.

Well said

BV

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Like Sandman says, get a Garrett, Minelab, Tesoro or White's, don't waste your money on Cobra or Viper, besides being junk, they have no resale value.... Personally I wouldn't give $20 for one at a garage sale....................Cobra or Viper are like the plastic shovels you can buy for kids, you can dig a hole with one, but do you really want to build a fence with one....

 

[John (Ma)]

If your looking to spend little money, get the Tesoro Silver Umax, you cannot go wrong.

 

[Sundancer]

I chose a Cobra Beach Magnet as my $1 additional machine when I bought my DFX a couple of years ago from KellyCo. Well, it works okay but like the other guys suggested, spend a bit more $$ and buy quality.

~Mike

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

I have also had the pleasure to hold the Beach Magnet in the same way through a deal with Kellyco.
I have this opinion of the unit. The operation portion is that of the same 1280x made by Fisher,
( I believe it is made by Fisher in Malaysia where Fisher has move all there operations now)I came to this because I have used a 1280x for 18 years.The sound, tuning,rejection, battery seals and looks is all but the same. That's where it stops the building of the machine is very poor my first one ship fell apart out of the box. The components internally have to be cheaper as well. The second one came together out of the box. The handle rod portion of the detector would have lasted me a week if I used it. I switch entire assembly for a use S shaft and sold it to another guy. He likes the units as I built it. He has found many good finds over the last year.
I believe the cost is around 449.99 that's way too much to spend on this machine. You could do way better buying a good used name brand detector for less money.
steve

 

[DaChief]

Neither, neither and neither.

I haven't read the other replies because my time is short today but I can tell you what I know is being said.

Cheap Chinese junk. I am surprised that some reliable dealers are even offering them. I am really disappointed in one wholesale distributor.

That all being said. Get busy doing your research on good used units from name brands like Garrett, Minelab, Fisher, Tesoro and Whites. You can pick up a solid used detector from a name brand company at the same price that will give you reliable years of service and much more productivity.

Look on Craigslist and EBAY and you will surely find something of value at a reasonable price. I would bet you will eventually find a good used name brand detector for near 400 dollars. That can't be much more than what you are looking at that and those Chinese machines will maybe last you a few uses if you are lucky. If you already have either the VIPER or COBRA, I would be very cautious in getting them wet. The seals are not good. And even if you manage to keep them dry, the performance is lacking.

Cobra was at one time a very good land detector. Back in the day, the late 1980s and early 1990s, I even explored being a distributor for them. They had a good product and you can find one of those every now and then on EBAY that is used and in good condition. They were a U.S. company. I don't know the story of what happened but they sold out and the products became mass produced in China.

Look at what the successful hunters on this forum are using. You won't see a Viper or Cobra in the bunch.

Take Care and good luck. Be patient and you will find a good detector at a reasonable price. I got my Garrett Infinium with lots of extras for 700 bucks. At the time the detector and the extras would have cost me 1400 plus new. The deals are out there. Spend some time searching, bid what you can afford and if you don't get that one do the same thing over and over and you will eventually win a great detector at a very reasonable price.

I pulled my Minelab Soverign Elite off Craigslist a couple of years ago for around 300 bucks. It is a perfect beach and wet sand machine. I just pulled a mint condition White's relic machine off Craigslist for 350 bucks. The "Lawyer" who initially bought it was a Civil War buff who thought you could stroll into the woods and pick up artifacts like Christmas morning under the tree. He quickly found that there was research and hard work involved and that you may find something every third trip out if you are lucky. He dumped it on Craigslist and I happen to be looking when it was listed. He had used it twice. It has no marks or scratches on it. I could sell it today on EBAY easily for 450 to 550. It is not the latest but it is billed by most websites to still be one of the most sought after used White's machines and also billed as one of the best that Whites has ever produced.

Keep lookin!

DaChief

 

[Gator-Flea]

Thanks to everyone for your input, I'm not in any Rush to buy and don't mine to spend up to a $1000.00 for a good detector. I have used a Bounty Hunter 505 for the last 5 years. Now I'm retired and may have more time I would like a better machine.

Thanks Gator-Flea

 

[Sandman]

Bounty Hunter 505 huh? You'd do very well to get a Ace 250 for about $212.00 new. There are many others from Tesoro, White's, Garrett and Minelab that are better than your 505. But so long as you are having fun, go at it.

 

[DigDugNY]

Gator...I had one of those Cobra beach magnets when I was like 15, im 20 now. I dont know why i bought it, it wasnt worth it. Just saying from experience, the thing wasnt horrible, but theres a lot of better options out there in reasonable price ranges.

 

[guzz1]

Bought one , Sold it the minute I put it together . I was real lucky ,,I sold it on ebay for what I paid for it,, Stick with the name Brands Minelab, whites , Garret , tesoro,,,Fisher so on..... Good luck my friend ...Guzz1

 

[Montauk3]

Hi Gary.

 

[seeker41]

WOW!! fisher is now located in Malaysia really!!!! call fisher and ask them if there operations are now located in Malaysia!!! ask this same question anywhere else!!!!!!!!!
ok.....maybe you know something new that i dont? could you please provide proof that fishers operations are now based in Malaysia?? i have read that minelab is now having there detectors made in malaysia(i read it on some of the minelab forums) is that what you were thinking about when you said fisher??

now..... i wrote alot more but i deleated it!! could we please refrain from making someone feel like crap because of the detector they use?? he uses a bountyhunter505, he has for 5 years and could probably hunt just as well as some of you if not better!!

the chinese hybrids may be poor detectors but bountyhunters are not!!

i would advise you to buy a fisher cz21, minelab excal , either new or used if you want a waterproof detector for saltwater use.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

seeker41,

Why are you going off, nothing bad was said about the Bounty Hunter, he was advised he could upgrade to an Ace 250 or one of the Tesoro, White's, Garrett or Minelabs....

Thanks to everyone for your input, I'm not in any Rush to buy and don't mine to spend up to a $1000.00 for a good detector. I have used a Bounty Hunter 505 for the last 5 years. Now I'm retired and may have more time I would like a better machine.

Thanks Gator-Flea

He said he is ready to upgrade to a better machine.....

 

[seeker41]

i don't know.....i guess I'm getting tired of fisher badmouthing especially when its completely false! and Ive always hated the bountyhunter bashing!!!
I'm also sick and tired of all the snow and cold temps!!!! i usually just bite my tongue and blow off the posts that i replied to last night but..........
goin out now to shovel snow again!!!!!!! shoulda bit my tongue last night i guess.

 

[Gator-Flea]

i don't know.....i guess I'm getting tired of fisher badmouthing especially when its completely false! and Ive always hated the bountyhunter bashing!!!
I'm also sick and tired of all the snow and cold temps!!!! i usually just bite my tongue and blow off the posts that i replied to last night but..........
goin out now to shovel snow again!!!!!!! shoulda bit my tongue last night i guess.

You are wright on the money, I've enjoyed my 505 for five years and will more than likely enjoy it another five. But I make a couple of trips a year to Florida to hit the beaches and was interested in a hybrid that I could use in or out of the water.

Thanks Gator-Flea