HIGHLY mineralized sand advice please.

[AnnieF]

I've been off TN for a few months and I sure have missed all of you! What a smart, wonderful bunch! Good to be back.

I've been a addicted for a couple of years now and have reached a point where, for health and other reasons, I need to narrow down the scope of my hunting activities; specifically, to salt-water beach hunting only.

Certainly the Minelab Excal II is HIGHLY regarded, but I wondered if anyone would care to offer me their opinion on another pulse machine? I'm 99% certain pulse is what I want, though I know it can chatter, but the VLF on the rocky beaches of New England where I live is a non-starter. I saw one pulse machine that allowed you to adjust sensitivity but in my couple of years here I haven't seen this machine mentioned much, if at all (so rarely, in fact, I'm unable to recall it's name right now! It's that one with the sort of tennis ball can shaped thing on the shaft.)

The point is: I won't be doing any relic hunting anymore. I just can't dig in the hard ground and around the roots and whatnot. I'm just going to confine my digging to the salty beaches of NE so I don't need a recommendation for a multi-purpose machine, just one that's really b*tchin' on the beach.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

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[OBN]

I'm 99% certain pulse is what I want

DF or SS...but I have to say look at what others are using in your area, Whydah, CTX, Xcal, very close to 100 rings for the year, I just repaired a Gentlemen's Xcal in Milton I believe, About a month ago and he had 111 Gold rings, Xcaliburs. I think his 80 year hunting partner had 46 gold for the year. Surf n Turf his best year ever, Xcalibur..............................Pluses require lots of digging, if you don't like digging around roots, you won't like digging real deep in the rocks. But keep us informed, Some times you have to go for the Gusto. Good Luck

 

[AnnieF]

DF or SS...but I have to say look at what others are using in your area, Whydah, CTX, Xcal, very close to 100 rings for the year, I just repaired a Gentlemen's Xcal in Milton I believe, About a month ago and he had 111 Gold rings, Xcaliburs. I think his 80 year hunting partner had 46 gold for the year. Surf n Turf his best year ever, Xcalibur..............................Pluses require lots of digging, if you don't like digging around roots, you won't like digging real deep in the rocks. But keep us informed, Some times you have to go for the Gusto. Good Luck

Uh-oh... I may have oversold how "wicked smaht" I am by saying I've been hunting for 2 years and think I want pulse... What's "DF"/"SS"? And dang... Whydah! He could use a twig and find treasure I swear! But from your post the Xcal seems to be your winner, yes?

 

[tiderider]

Maybe the sea hunter mk2 ,

 

[DewGuru]

Uh-oh... I may have oversold how "wicked smaht" I am by saying I've been hunting for 2 years and think I want pulse... What's "DF"/"SS"? And dang... Whydah! He could use a twig and find treasure I swear! But from your post the Xcal seems to be your winner, yes?

Tesoro Sand Shark (SS)
Whites Dual Field (DF)

 

[DnD]

Keep in mind, the pulse induction technology is so great that the difference in performance between PI machines is marginal at best.

For me, I searched nationwide and waited 6 months for a backordered SS, then cancelled the order and bought a Garrett Sea Hunter (SH). That was 5-years ago and a blessing in disguise. Since then, the SH has proven its quality construction and nearly infallible performance in high mineralization. In a comparison to other PI machines (under $1k), the only one I like more is the Infinium (also made by Garrett). The Infinium has two extra features to enhance its performance in super-concentrated mineralization and offer (2) types of signals for targets. Sea Hunters sell new (with 2 coils) for around $700, and recent ebay auctions sold as low as $320. I've also seen some almost-never-used-looking Infiniums sell for $550.

Either Garrett machine can...

• swap coils
• swap headphones (SS are hardwired)
• be used with rechargeable double-A batteries
• be reconfigured to use the factory supplied waist/chest mount to hold the control box
• easily be modified to use a straight shaft

-David

 

[OBN]

But from your post the Xcal seems to be your winner, yes?

"For me", that is the secret. Find the best machine for your area, then learn it to your best, I have a few PI's myself Infinium, Sea Hunter 8, and a Dual Field. I think they are great machines, but less versatile for my area. Craig in Conn hunts with a DF, near you, he has mastered it to the point he digs deep treasure others miss with the Xcaliburs, So really you can use any machine and do well but the treasure is Site depended. I will never forget this Quota

For some detectorists in some locations it will prove to be invaluable. But at the end of the day never forget that metal detecting is very site dependent and so what works well in one location will be lackluster in another. Use what works!

Steve Herschbach

 

[OBN]

OR Being New I would give this a shot after a year or so, Very Similar to the Excalibur N CZ21

New from Detector Pro, Makers of the Gray Ghost HeadPhones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYZ5HPsBhtI&feature=youtu.be

 

[bigscoop]

I think if you look around, the Excal is used with good success just about everywhere, coast to coast, north to south. It is a very versatile machine.

 

[RustyGold]

The Excalibur and the Garrett Sea Hunter can be attached to a chest or hip harness if weight is a consideration!
Good luck with your search!

 

[Beach Papa]

I own a Tesoro Tiger Shark (VLF, DD and mono coils), Whites dual Field (PI) and CTX 3030 (multi frequency, DD coil, VLF). There are areas of the beach where I mostly hunt that are completely black with mineralized sand. In those areas, the Tiger shark with a round mono coil is worthless, but with a DD coil it is smooth and quiet. The Dual Field chatters a lot, but is not completely worthless, however, I know I loose depth by having to turn down the gain. The CTX 3030 doesn't seem to be any different in this mineralized sand than other areas of the beach where there is no black sand. It appears to me that using a DD coil on a VLF makes a huge difference. Perhaps the multi frequency of the CTX also helps in mineralized soil. With all that said, I would not use the Tiger Shark in the surf, only wet salt sand, because in the water the Tiger gets chatty. You decide.... Beach Papa

 

[dewcon4414]

A lot depends on how you want to hunt. If you patience and want to grid small areas and are physically able to dig a couple hundred targets get a PI for the depth. In minerals there may be significant difference up there. Not so much here in Fl. The amount of targets in an area also would limit how much area you could cover. Here in Fl many of us use the Xcal because the beaches are long, its easy to use with good depth and we can cover a LOT of beach disc iron. They are great for summer hunting for recent drops. They are more expensive..... and you get a MUCH shorter warranty. There can be quite a difference in price as well..... but personally i dont think that comes into play for water hunters nearly as much for dirt digger since you make it up much faster.

Dew

 

[R.Danneskjold]

I'm new but hit it hard and fast at the start!

I have an Excal 2 and a Sandshark. Love em both for sure. I have dug hundreds of holes with the shark and love it but the ratio of good targets to trash is much higher with the Excal. Like I said.....love em both but I'd go for the excal. I have side by side comparisons where I'm very close to tuning the Excal to the same depth as the shark......yet I can switch over to the descrim and once you learn those tones.......your off and runnin! Just my 2 tones!

 

[AnnieF]

WOW. LOTS of info new to me. THANK YOU. I will digest.