Metal Detector Advice

[mike_n_nc]

Hello Everyone,
I need you advice and suggestions. I am considering pruchasing a new metal detector. I am a complete newbie having only owned a White's Classic 2.
I will mainly be detecting on the beach both wet and dry sand but, no diving or anything like that. Probably only ever about knee deep or so. But, I also like to occaisionally go to local parks etc. So, is there a machine that can do both? For no more than I go out(only a few times a year) it would be nice to just have one machine. So what do all of you think?

Thanks,

Mike

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Treasure_Hunter]

Mike what is your budget? Remember if your knee deep you still need waterproof detector or understand one slip and you have an expensive paper weight..

For a little under $600 you can get a Nokta Fors CoRe... It is not waterproof, but it has a saltwater program and it performs exceptionally well on wet salt beaches and shallow water. It is a really good land detector that has a saltwater program. It has both automatic and manual ground balance..

 

[adamBomb]

Hello Everyone,
I need you advice and suggestions. I am considering pruchasing a new metal detector. I am a complete newbie having only owned a White's Classic 2.
I will mainly be detecting on the beach both wet and dry sand but, no diving or anything like that. Probably only ever about knee deep or so. But, I also like to occaisionally go to local parks etc. So, is there a machine that can do both? For no more than I go out(only a few times a year) it would be nice to just have one machine. So what do all of you think?

Thanks,

Mike

your budget will help a lot...there are some expensive machines that do it but if I were just going a few times a year and I would probably get a minelab sovereign or fisher cz3d. Each can be found used for like $400-$500 and they are awesome. New the CZ3D is around $800. They are not water proof though.

 

[airscapes]

Another NON Water proof machine would be a Used Whites DFX.. I know you said new but the DFX is still a solid machine and works perfectly on wet or dry and you can go back and forth between them with no issues.. Also they are selling under $500 on the forums.. think that last one went for $350 Loving both of mine and both were used.

 

[Fletch88]

Minelab Sovereign, Explorer SE Pro, Etrac, CTX, several Fisher CZ's would work in both locations.

 

[mike_n_nc]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Now, let me change the question a bit. Let's say I did want a simple to use, beach/saltwater machine exclusively and I had a budget of under $1000 new or used. What would you chose?

Mike

 

[flgliderpilot]

Garrett AT Pro, great for parks, great for dry sand, and not bad for water hunting (it's waterproof to 10 feet).

I picked mine up used, in good shape for well under $400. New they are around $500 or $600 with scoop and digger, bag and pouch...

 

[Fletch88]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Now, let me change the question a bit. Let's say I did want a simple to use, beach/saltwater machine exclusively and I had a budget of under $1000 new or used. What would you chose?

Mike

Used: Excalibur, CZ-21
New: Sand Shark , Dual Field, Seahujter MKll

 

[s.c.shooter]

I read an article today on the Whites dual field and think it might be a good choice based on the criteria you have set forth.

 

[adamBomb]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Now, let me change the question a bit. Let's say I did want a simple to use, beach/saltwater machine exclusively and I had a budget of under $1000 new or used. What would you chose?

Mike

Used fisher CZ21 is what I would get. I would say Excal too but the CZ21 is more simple compared to the excal and you dont appear to be looking for a device that has a steeper learning curve and ability to modify and such but if you are, then I would get Excal (this is really a ford vs chevy thing when comparing these two). But as far as performance they are top notch/the best. If you can find one lightly used (Excal or CZ21) for 900-$1000 I would take it.

If you get new you could get the whites BHID300 for under $1000, which is comparable to the CZ/excal but not really in the same league. Then there are PI machines, which are awesome too (sandshark, Garret SH2, Whites DF) but they require you to dig everything and given that you are in NC I would not get one as my only/first machine.

Additionally, as I recommended earlier, the fisher CZ3D, works on both land and the beach. It works on the beach as well as the CZ21/Excal. Its not waterproof though. The advantage is that it will outperform them in parks and such because its not locked in salt mode as the excal/cz21 are. It can be found new for like $750-800.

 

[DiggerinVA]

A multi-frequency Minelab machine can do it all that you speak of but are not waterproof (other than ctx)....so you can go with one of those....you can get a used explorer or safari for good prices. Or you could go with two machines if you want to hunt the water. A Tesoro Sand Shark is the cheapest machine that is truly a "in the water beach machine".....Be warned: some machines have "beach modes" but they still suck on the beach! If it is not a multi-freq. machine or a PI machine it will have very limited performance in the wet sand and much less the salt water.
I would personally recommend looking at the Minelabs used on some of the forums.....look at the Safari and the various Explorer models....hope this helps.

 

[locater]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Now, let me change the question a bit. Let's say I did want a simple to use, beach/saltwater machine exclusively and I had a budget of under $1000 new or used. What would you chose?

Hello mike n nc,

I think DiggerinVA gave some great advice!

Multi frequency Minelab machines work great in the wet sand/beach areas. The Sovereign (recently out of production) has an excellent reputation for depth on the beach! They can be bought used, well under your pricepoint. The Safari still in production, is priced right at a grand new, much cheaper used. The sovereign is a tone only machine, the Safari tone and VID. Both have great discrimination and ID ability. Once again, both NOT waterproof.

If you plan on getting in the water, above ankle/calf depth a Tesoro Sand Shark is a good reasonably priced option in a dedicated water machine. It's pulse induction, so, you pretty much dig all signals. PI machines go deep.

Good Luck in your choice!

 

[Metal Detecting Stuff]

Based on your criteria, a used Excalibur II might be in your range. It's multi-frequency, waterproof, and can discriminate out those pesky nails and bobby pins and still find gold. Next would be a Fisher CZ21. A PI would also give you good depth, but no discrimination. For an affordable PI, I like the Garrett SeaHunter Mark II. You can get by in the salt with a Garrett AT Pro, but black sand will make it chatter and lose some depth.

Wayne

Metal Detector Sales Rental | Treasure Hunting | Metal Detecting Stuff

 

[cudamark]

Based on your criteria, a used Excalibur II might be in your range. It's multi-frequency, waterproof, and can discriminate out those pesky nails and bobby pins and still find gold. Next would be a Fisher CZ21. A PI would also give you good depth, but no discrimination. For an affordable PI, I like the Garrett SeaHunter Mark II. You can get by in the salt with a Garrett AT Pro, but black sand will make it chatter and lose some depth.

Wayne

Metal Detector Sales Rental | Treasure Hunting | Metal Detecting Stuff

Ditto......

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

If your going knee deep you need fully waterproof detector like the excal, dig no iron...