Newbie needing help going to the beach... Which rig on a $500ish budget

[Noreaster]

Hello all and thanks in advance for any advice you can share.

I am new to the hobby and was ready to purchase an ACE 350 to take to the beach. Glad i did some reading first!

Looking for something that works in the dry and the wet, don't NEED to go into the surf, but that ability is nice.
The beaches off Massachusetts do have some of that black sand and the usual public beach junk.
I do want something that i can use around town in search of items from the 1600's, but the beach is primary use.
I do like the visual displays as i am better visually.
I do not want to exceed $600. The closer to $400 the better.

I am primarily looking at either an AT Pro or MX5.

Can anyone help with reasons to or not to get one of these?
The water resistance of the ATP is a big selling point for me, Also the amount of helpful info on setting and how to use it is impressive.
The MX5 seems to work nice on the beach from the reviews i have seen. However it lacks water resistance and i'm just having issues finding helpful setup info on them. Any other models i should consider?

Thanks again,
Jay

 

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[Auriemma]

The ATP is a great beach machine. Be sure to check your GB as you get closer to the water. I use mine in southern NJ, and it works fine when properly GB. Your mileage may vay. Depending where you are, the wet sand/saltwater, may cause you some grief in GB. If you are hunting in the sand, a good beach scoop is a must, so add that into your budget as well.

I cannot speak to the MX5 as I have never used one.

If you don't plan (PLAN being the operative word) on dunking the control box and your coil is waterproof, your options open up. There are many great used machines on CL.

Happy Hunting!

 

[Tom Slick]

After using many detectors at the beach over the last 35 years I've got what I think are the best Beach detectors. No single detector is the best on both wet and dry saltwater beach sand but for an all around beach detector in your budget I'd go with the Fisher Gold Bug DP. Super smooth, very good depth, hits hard on low conductors like gold jewelry, and is a pleasure to swing for hours. Used, you can pick up a really clean one for $400 - $500. It's my go to beach detector about 80 % of the time. My Wet sand detectors are the Minelab Sovereign GT, and the White's TDI SL with the 6" X 18" coil, but these two are way past your budget.

 

[GatorBoy]

It's very hard to pick 1 machine to do everything you want but if I were going to pick 1 machine and that would be the only 1 I had to do everything with it would be the ATpro.
Sometimes I'm a long way from any type of cover I can detect right through a pouring rain storm without any worries nevermind the accidental dunk I go snorkeling with mine.
Then I can dry off and go do some relic hunting without switching machines

 

[cudamark]

If the AT Pro would work good in wet salt water sand, I would agree it would be a great choice in that price range. Sadly, that is not the case so my pick would be a used Sovereign. You might even be able to find one with a meter if you just can't live without one. It's not waterproof so you shouldn't go out in the surf with it but it will work great on wet sand and ankle deep water if you put a tether on it so you won't accidentally splash it.

 

[GatorBoy]

That really depends on where you are mine works wonderfully in wet salt water sand here on the East Coast of Florida.. And I know many others who use theirs in other areas.
I can't imagine metal detecting close to the surf at the beach with a machine you could never get wet.. Better not get far from a pavilion or something either what if it started to rain?

 

[GatorBoy]

I've heard that so much and it must be true in some areas but I just feel like showing some of the things I have found in wet salt water sand with my Garrett at Pro.
I usually don't do commercials like this lol but I've seen so many people say just the opposite of what I've experienced I feel I should at least put my own input out there

 

[Noreaster]

All,
Thanks for the feedback. The AT Pro's ability to work on the beach seems to be relative to where you are and how good you know how to use your equipment. Between being waterproof, being available at a good price at a reseller, and a rig that holds its resale value well; I decided to just go with it. I'm going to see how IT/I do with this and take it from there. If i end up spending a LOT more time than i expect doing this ill upgrade to something better. Ill be on "the cape" (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) next week and will let you guys know how well i make out.

Thanks again for all the feedback!
Jay

 

[GatorBoy]

Lucky dog there's so much history there I would love to be in that area good luck

 

[Auriemma]

The AT Pro is a solid performer. As to saltwater, it really depends where you are. I haven't found the stuff others have, but that more location I think. You could find a used on out there on one of the forums, CL, or even daBay.

As for the Sovereign, I have one and like it. I just haven't had the opportunity to use it on the beach yet. I will say, it is VERY different than the Ace or ATP, in many respects.

 

[Boatlode]

I don't use an AT Pro, but I see quite a few of them on the beach. And Gator Boy finds a lot more good stuff than I do, so the AT Pro must work well.

 

[Frankn]

Well, if you want the best for the ocean or any other beach, you should get a Pulse Induction (PI) detector. They are the only ones that will reliability find fine gold chains. They will go down at least 10" for rings. Hay they will even go down 4' for boat anchors, lol. All the mentioned items have been found with a 14 year old Whites Surfmasted PI that I am currently using. You can probably pick up a used one for around your $400 figure.
This gold chain and cross were pulled from the footprints of the detectorist 20' in front of me on the beach. Frank...-

 

[cudamark]

He said he would also "hunt around town" and that PI would be miserable in that environment.

 

[GatorBoy]

You ain't kidding

 

[Frankn]

He said he would also "hunt around town" and that PI would be miserable in that environment.

True, but he said that the beach was his priority and there was a lot of black sand. My PI will pull coins and jewelry from black sand easily. A lot of VLF detectors can't find targets in black sand.
Sure a PI will pull all the junk in the park also, but it just might might find that oaktree at 10" also.
He only wants one detector, so he is bound to loose on one end. Let it be where he does the least detecting. He will eventually realize that one detector is not the best way. Just my reasoning.
Frank...-