spending $500 or $600 - what metal detector to buy for beach (not in the water)?

[EMTFlorida]

Alright, so I've gone back and forth for months and what I want to get and what I plan on doing. I'm in St augustine so hunting in the water is a no no.

I'm looking to spend $500 or $600. Maybe $700. I considered the Deus detector but it's at $800...not sure if that's necessary.

I'll be hunting on the beach, not in the water. Mostly looking for coins and jewelry. What detector would you recommend? I want to make the purchase today so I can finally get out there (been dreaming about this for MONTHS)

Any help is greatly appreciated.

quick edit: I'd prefer not digging up a ton of trash, so I'm guessing the $200-$300 are not a good idea. Will the $600 models still be giving me aluminum tabs and other trash?

is the garrett 350 ok for beach? decent detector?

another edit: I might be steering away form this and just shelling out the cash to get something that goes DEEP. Depth is important to me

 

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[RustyGold]

It's not necessarily how much you spend on that detector but whether or not it's design/functions well for the beach.
I've gone round and round with purchasing detectors that weren't really made for beach detecting and ended up back where I started, with a Minelab Sovereign GT. Buy one used and get what I believe to be the best beach detector ever made. IMHO of course.
Best of luck in your search.

 

[EMTFlorida]

It's not necessarily how much you spend on that detector but whether or not it's design/functions well for the beach.
I've gone round and round with purchasing detectors that weren't really made for beach detecting and ended up back where I started, with a Minelab Sovereign GT. Buy one used and get what I believe to be the best beach detector ever made. IMHO of course.
Best of luck in your search.

Thank you. I've been reading more about depth ,and I do want something that finds things pretty deep. So I was now considering an XP Deus. How about that, with an 11" coil?

Looking into the Minelab now

 

[MrMikeJackie]

It's not necessarily how much you spend on that detector but whether or not it's design/functions well for the beach.
I've gone round and round with purchasing detectors that weren't really made for beach detecting and ended up back where I started, with a Minelab Sovereign GT. Buy one used and get what I believe to be the best beach detector ever made. IMHO of course.
Best of luck in your search.

What he said.

 

[EMTFlorida]

Minelab Sovereign GT.

Can't seem to find anything; only ONE on ebay. Anything you would recommend for the beach, under $1k, that I can snag new on Amazon (...I'm itching to get out so the prime shipping is nice)

 

[EMTFlorida]

What about the White's Beachhunter 300 ?

 

[RustyGold]

Thank you. I've been reading more about depth ,and I do want something that finds things pretty deep. So I was now considering an XP Deus. How about that, with an 11" coil?

Looking into the Minelab now

Single frequency detectors don't do as well in high salt content say like in the wet sand or heavy mineralization.
The Minelab Sovereign GT detects as deep if not deeper than most and has no problems detecting in the wet.
The tones of the different metals are clear and very easy to separate from the trash.
From shallow water to the dry sand it does it perfectly.
If considering a Sovereign a later GT used with a straight shaft is perfect.
No experience with the Whites. Maybe someone will chime in on it.

 

[Terry Soloman]

On the DRY SAND, get yourself a Tesoro Silver uMax, with the 11" x 8" widescan coil. Be SURE to get a long handled, dry sand scoop! The Discrimination oo the Silver uMax is fantastic, it's LIGHT as a feather, and it is as DEEP in the dry sand as that $800.00 XP Deus, or Minelab Sov. - Good Luck!

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Just to throw this in and rattle a cage here! Last year I gave my cousin my Ace 250. He lives on the coast, and doesn't often go out detecting. But in the past year he's found 6 pieces of gold jewelry. I'm still waiting myself.

 

[EMTFlorida]

alright guys. I pulled the trigger on a White's Surfmaster DF. Will be hunting in wet sand, salt-water. I know it's PI and I'm going to be DIGGING, but I like that it goes DEEP

 

[RustyGold]

I like the DF had one. Great little PI detector and lightweight but you will be digging trash, that's cool though.
Let us see the pics of your stellar finds.
Best of luck out there!
Rusty

 

[Terry Soloman]

You just made a lot of Tesoro Sand Shark owners smile! Don't be surprised to see one following you in the water.

Good luck and Big gold with your new machine!

 

[DeepseekerADS]

You just made a lot of Tesoro Sand Shark owners smile! Don't be surprised to see one following you in the water.

Ah Terry you may have gotten the last laugh

 

[EMTFlorida]

You just made a lot of Tesoro Sand Shark owners smile! Don't be surprised to see one following you in the water.

Good luck and Big gold with your new machine!

Is what I got just as good as the sand shark? I considered that model. Hope I made an OK purchase lol

 

[Terry Soloman]

Is what I got just as good as the sand shark? I considered that model. Hope I made an OK purchase lol

You're Good! It is a "Chevy vs Ford" thing. Although, for what you spent on the DF, you could have bought a Sand Shark AND a Compadre!

 

[EMTFlorida]

You're Good! It is a "Chevy vs Ford" thing. Although, for what you spent on the DF, you could have bought a Sand Shark AND a Compadre!

Okay *wipes sweat from forehead* lol I've been researching detectors for so many months that, when you said that, I thought, OH SHOOT NOO!!

I'm considering buying a second detector actually for my wife - for out of the wet sand but regular sand. Figured she could search that area while I search the wet area. Would you recommend that compadre for dry sand? Or is that more for land? WISH I could hunt on land here, unfortunately it's banned and deemed illegal. which stinks because I can only imagine the amount of treasure troves that are still hidden here in St augustine.

 

[Sandman]

The Compadre is great for dry sand and quite deep deep too. Simple to operate, light weight. Wouldn't be surprised if she out hunts you.

 

[EMTFlorida]

The Compadre is great for dry sand and quite deep deep too. Simple to operate, light weight. Wouldn't be surprised if she out hunts you.

Really!? Wow, maybe I shouldn't have bought the DF lol. I figured I'd find more in the wet sand, though; things that have possibly been there for years and years. I'm mostly hunting for old spanish coins.

 

[Fletch88]

I've hunted in the water there many times and the wet sand. The Sand Shark or Dual Field are about the cheapest route if you want to submerge the unit. A Safari, Explorer or Sovereign are all great machines up on the wet sand(which is quite wide in your area). Good luck with the old Spanish coins! I've been looking for one for several years now!

 

[EMTFlorida]

I've hunted in the water there many times and the wet sand. The Sand Shark or Dual Field are about the cheapest route if you want to submerge the unit. A Safari, Explorer or Sovereign are all great machines up on the wet sand(which is quite wide in your area). Good luck with the old Spanish coins! I've been looking for one for several years now!

Thanks. St Augustine law is "no hunting in the water." So I won't be submerging it, just hunting on the wet sand. Did I spend too much? You think I'd be better off with one of the others?