Garret Gold AT or Minelab 705 Prospecting

[Storm180]

So I am really new to metal detectors, I had one when I was a kid and it was one of those cheap VLF ones for $100. However I have been prospecting as of late and I was looking for a good gold metal detector and for the price range of around $800 is my budget. I like the Garret Gold AT because I can take it in the water and since there is no oceans in Idaho I doubt I will be using it near any salt water or sandy salt water. I heard good things about the minelab also but wasn't sure of if it could go in the water.

I want to try to use this to detect good places to dredge so being able to go in the water is important. If anyone has any other detectors that might do the job please list them here and the pros and cons of them. I have been reading about the issues with hot rocks running in all metal mode and how to overcome them with the garret according to the manual. So any help would be appreciated and I probably won't be using this for anything but gold prospecting and maybe if I lose my keys. LOL.


Sean

 

[Metal Detecting Stuff]

Sean, the AT Gold would be a great choice for your needs. As long as you stay out of wet salt beaches, it will perform well.

The X-terra 705 is good also, but only the coil is waterproof. You don't want to drop the control box in the stream.

Wayne

www.metaldetectingstuff.com

 

[EmptyPockets]

I'm a new MDer and have the AT Gold. I've been really happy with it.
I've yet to try the "hot rock" feature because I am still trying to learn how to use it.

With that said, this is my first detector and I have no experience with what you plan on using it for.
Just wanted to say that I like the AT Gold.

-Joanne

 

[Storm180]

I appreciate everyone's input. I watched all the videos on the garrett gold and I was pretty impressed however I saw some people in one video who were searching tailing piles and the garrett was throwing off the sound of gold but once they got down to the object it was just a bottle cap but it was giving a high reading that it was not a bottle cap. Not sure if they had a setting that wasn't right or didn't use the discriminator to actually check for trash metal before digging. I doubt this detector will ever see wet salt sand or sea water but I really like it being submersible as sometimes the areas I plan on dredging can get a little deep.