What to buy for around 600 bucks

[TN-detector]

After christmas i will be buying a detector in the 600 dollar range.I will be relic hunting for civil war relics checking out old home and church sites and we go to Florida every year.Ive been looking at the Garrett AT Pro,Minelab and Tesoro and wonder which will be best in Smokey Mountain soil? What are some of your opinions that hunt with these brands of machines? Thanks

 

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[ps249]

I say go with the AT Pro. It has an automatic and manual ground balancing feature

 

[lonewolfe]

You have too many types of soil and too wide a range of hunting styles (mountain area soil, salt beach/sand, relics, coins, gold/jewelry, etc.) to have just "1" machine to hunt with especially for the $$ you're willing to spend. You'd need at least 2 different detectors in that price range just to be fairly successful hunting for all you're wanting to find in all of the areas/grounds. They don't make a go everywhere/do all hunting in all types of ground/conditions machine in the $600 range or else everyone would own one and never buy a top of the line machine in the $1700 to 2000+ range (and even then - they too have their advantages in/of themselves) to where one does better at certain types of hunting in certain types of ground/under certain conditions and in finding certain targets better than the other & vise/versa.

I'd say a good place to start is with a machine you'll be using in a specific area of the country 90% of the time or more - buy one that is made for finding the type/s of items you're most wanting to find most of the time and geared for the type of soil you'll be hunting most of the time. After that you can decide if you'd like to pursue the hobby further and buy another machine for a different style of hunting or even upgrade to one of the top of the line machines that have a wider variety of hunting capabilities :-)

The AT Pro is a good machine for the $$ and for gen purpose hunting (in and out of water) which is hard to beat for the $$. I'm sure on salt beaches or in salt water though it won't do so good - I have one and hunt fresh water and it does really good but I know the guys on ocean beaches mostly use the cz20/21 or ex-cal's due to the mineralized salt water/sand & black sand. I also use a cz21 for water hunting (had a cz20 for 10 yrs too).

 

[Longhair]

You have too many types of soil and too wide a range of hunting styles (mountain area soil, salt beach/sand, relics, coins, gold/jewelry, etc.) to have just "1" machine to hunt with especially for the $$ you're willing to spend.

An Xterra 505 or a used 705 would be the best all-around machine for all but going swimming. It can be set up to hunt anywhere but actually IN the water, and wouldn't be near as limited as an ATP anywhere else.

 

[fella]

If it were my money, I'd be looking at a Tesoro Vaquero with a 12x10dd coil. You'd be very hard pressed to find a deeper machine. That plus its excellent discrimination and lifetime warranty how can you beat it.

 

[liftloop]

try the out law from tesoro

 

[dirtscratcher]

$600 will buy a heck of a good used detector.

 

[LuckyLarry]

Don't EVER buy a detector just because someone "recommends" it on here. Buy one that works in your area, your soil, and in your weather. One detector never does fit every need or in every part of the USA or Europe, it's just not possible. Contact the local detector clubs and see what most of them prefer for your searching areas, that is what will likely work the best for you. Look above at the three different suggestions, they can't ALL be the best, can they? Have fun making the decision, it's half the battle..

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

In that range I ALWAYS recommend the Garrett AT Pro. Best machine for the $ in that price range in my opinion. Holler if you have questions or looking for a good deal!

 

[Sovereignelite]

I have a used Minelab Elite with 180 meter , straight shaft and new Ultimate 13".

 

[ProspectorBill]

I've read nothing but good reviews of the AT Pro for coins, jewelry and relics. They do say it won't work on wet salt beaches though. It is waterproof. Regards, Bill.

PS: I decided to get a used MXT. It has a relic, coins, and prospecting mode, and it has a salt ground trac setting.

 

[dougofpa]

I would recommend the AT PRO...excellent machine for the money

 

[Tnmountains]

AT-Pro or a Tesoro. Tesoro is the easiest to use and will last forever(lifetime warranty) Gazillion opinions. I started with a tesoro though and do not hesitate to use it anytime unless it is real wet hence the at-pro. One day I will master the f-75.

 

[Jersey Hunter]

I would recommend either the AT Pro (which I have used on NJ Salt Water/Black Sand Beaches with no problems), Tesoro Vaquero/Tejon, or Teknetics G2 (a very underrated machine).

 

[treasurehound]

I live near the Smoky's as well and mainly relic hunt and I also would recommend the AT PRO or the MXT PRO. The reason I say that is that a friend of mine that I hunt with has the AT PRO and I have the MXT PRO. Both are great at finding relics. I also hunt the DIV hunts in Virginia where the soil is very hot and a lot of machines will not work there but the MXT does very well there. The T2 is another great machine. All are in your price range and all with work fine for you. Which ever machine you get take time to learn it and what it is telling you. Also you have to swing much slower to find those deep targets. Good luck and let us know which one you get.