Which Detector to Get?

[DigDugNY]

As a few of you may know, I've been trying to trade my detector for another one, but that really isnt working so I came up with a new idea. Im getting financial aid money back from my college, and after I put some into my savings account and save some for next semester I will have enough to spend around $700 or $800 on a detector. I dont really want to try and save a little more for an E-Trac or a Vision because Im only 19 and I dont want to spend that kind of money. I was thinking about getting a Tesoro Cortes, but is that too old of a detector to buy now? Would buying like a used explorer II, or DFX, or MXT be a better decision? If anybody has some options for me that would be nice.

 

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[RPG]

Larry,
I in part agree with your last post. The problem with my fisher maybe that its operating frequency is set at 13 KHz give or take a few tenths for being able to shift the frequency to avoid EM interference (this shift is in reality negligible to detecting performance other than potentially avoiding EM). I just don't think that's the best frequency for what I want to do, find old silver coins or old coins in general. I think it's great for relic hunting. As I mentioned I could find a BB at 8 inch depth, but I wont find something coinsize any deeper than that. Also, the Frequency may not be as good for the soil conditions where I live. I think the FBS allows having that low frequency in the selected range of frequencies the minelab FBS's run at. For relic hunting I don't know. I do know the guys who have minelabs up here are finding deep silver coins, some guys up here are in the 400's, 300's mid 100's for silver coins this year from parks that have been -Heavily Hunted- for years. I haven't had my minelab for very long, but I have had it long enough to tell the difference over my fisher.
Besides frequency, I think having conductivity and inductivity (FE) numbers, verses just conductivity makes a huge difference as well. My fisher, any target lower that 7 inches would sound like iron and the TID gave iron values. With the minelab, on the deep targets the sound will be high if its highly conductive, since the inductivity values are measured separately. Or put in other words, TID, which is far less reliable than sounds, remain relatively unchanged at depth for conductivity values. What depth will do will mess with the FE (inductivity values). But If I know the target is deep, and is registering right for conductivity, and it has that nice high tone, then I will dig even if the FE value is raised. On my fisher it would just sound blah- iron and give me an Iron TID. That may have something to do with the characteristics of soils here, but the minelab does solve the problem.
I do agree with Rebel's assessment that the f75's are incredibly light, which is good, they get 40+ hours on 4AA which is incredible (minelab if you don't use the rechargeables -- 16 hours off of 8 AA's). And I am inclined to agree that it is superior for relic hunting. I guess it just depends on what you want to detect for. I'd rather dig coins.

Two things.... You hit the nail on the head about the Minelab's great sound ID at depth, it's what makes the detector. But giving the Fisher the edge on relic hunting... I don't think so. Relic hunting in some ways is like digging in a trashy park where you often have to make the best use of your time. Because of the great iron disc you don't waste time chasing those deep iron rusty targets. On top of that, I guarantee the Explorer is as deep, as sensitive, and will see through iron just as well as any Fisher. (I'd say better) Last year I got my bud with his F-75 to check a couple deep good hits I had... he did not get them, or hear them well enough to dig. They both ended up being small pieces of brass, a good diggable target as far as a relic hunter is concerned. That said, he only had one month on his unit for every year I have on mine so when this coming Spring rolls around and we hunt again I'll put him to the test on both deep and masked targets. I am very sure regardless of how much experience he gains my explorer will always come out ahead.... the only problem I have is he is a lucky %$#%# and seems to get something good no matter how few holes he digs! We don't live close, and don't hunt that often, so I never get to prove the law of averages for the number of targets dug, because he's gone with the goods before I know it. (he'll probably read this but that's ok, he knows he is getting a beating come Spring)

What it boils down to is the operater knowing his machinery. I'm going to get me one of them minelabs one day. And it's all Iron Patches fault.

Maybe I should have stayed a dealer.

You make that Explorer sound sweet. A true salesman. 8)

 

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[LuckyLarry]

All well said.

I too have discoverd that a cheap detector in the hands of a good hunter is always the best combo.

"Beware the man who uses only one gun, he knows how to use it".

That said it reminds me of the time I found a .75 rose gold signature ring (no initial yet) after following behind a friend with his new White's. I was using a cheap Bounty Hunter. In less than 2 minutes a noise caused me to turn around just in time to see him wrapping the White's around a live oak tree right behind me. Right now the ring would be worth around $1000. White's was very accomodating to him and offered him a different detector of his choice. He accepted. In the case of Nauties, nearly the same thing applies, an expert listens to pops and clicks and can often determine whether those sounds are deep brass or deep iron or even something else. It's all in the skill of the operator. Others would have just moved on and ignored a $200 belt buckle and never know it.

LL

 

[DigDugNY]

I think that I may try to get a used Explorer II

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Good choice
If you buy used make sure it's in good working order.
And Warranty may be voided.
Just some things to consider.
But, I think you have made the right choice in machines.

Mike

 

[Iron Patch]

Good choice
If you buy used make sure it's in good working order.
And Warranty may be voided.
Just some things to consider.
But, I think you have made the right choice in machines.

Mike

The warranty would be voided for sure, is on all Minelab used units.

Being in NY and shut down to the Spring there's lots of time to find a good solid deal.

 

[bazinga]

I think that I may try to get a used Explorer II

I would recommend an XS or an SE Pro if possible. For some reason, I am just not impressed with the II. I can get clear, obvious coin signals in ground that is unhuntable by the II for some odd reason. Of course, I've never used a II myself. This is just an observation I've noticed over the past couple of years. I could be way off, though.

But, to put my money where my mouth is, I have used an XS for around 4 years now I believe, and I just purchased a used XS to keep as a backup because I trust it that much.

 

[Iron Patch]

I think that I may try to get a used Explorer II

I would recommend an XS or an SE Pro if possible. For some reason, I am just not impressed with the II. I can get clear, obvious coin signals in ground that is unhuntable by the II for some odd reason. Of course, I've never used a II myself. This is just an observation I've noticed over the past couple of years. I could be way off, though.

But, to put my money where my mouth is, I have used an XS for around 4 years now I believe, and I just purchased a used XS to keep as a backup because I trust it that much.

Explorer XS and II have the same guts. I've used both back and forth for the past 9 years. I just prefer the II because of the few things they changed like the metal rest, and better quality plastic camlock.