Minelab detectors

[Brian NH]

Shown some interest in Minelab Safari or 705 as 1st detector.
How would a used Minelab SE Pro compare to Safari or 705 as a 1st detector. I found some used ones for $600 to $700.
I am open to suggestions. After all you guys have the experience I don't.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[gerryk]

I have a minelab 705 that i got about ten months ago. I got on here and have had lots of help from longhair. I would suggest going into minelab a web site and downloading the manual and Randy's e book. The parks near me suck as far as having much in them, but others who detect withh me in hose parks usually does slightly better but not always. The reason for that is i need the coiltek digger coil becuase of all the trash so i can separate the targets better.

The way it was explained to me is the 705 is the top of the line entry machine but because it is digital and the capabilities of it, many people use it as their regular machine and have other specialty machines. Some people will bash it, others will say just upgrade to the next up minelab but the people who know it and use it and have used other minelab machines say dont waste your money on a higher minelab machine unless you are interested in the CTX.

Something everyone has told me about the 705 is to slow the swing down, take about 2.5 seconds per swing and in trashy areas i have slowed down more and it helps. I have used it on freshwater beaches and sand volleyball courts with no problem.

Hope his helps, but i would suggest talking to longhair.

Gerry

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Personally I don't see Minelabs as being what they are for $3,200-$6,000. I know a few diggers who have had them and some of them ended up selling them, one of my best buddies hunts with a Minelab and he is still learning the machine more of less, it gets lot of interference from dog fences/powerlines, I have out dug Minelab hunters with my Fisher 1266x vs Minelab and also I have seen Nautilus/Whites out dig Minelabs before.. I was hunting yesterday with my friend who had a Minelab and we had to end up stop hunting a-little early because his machine was getting to wet near the coil... I am sure they are awesome machines but I personally have not seen any difference.. If you can score one for $600-$1,000 it may be worth it - but I would never pay $3,200+ for a machine unless it has GPR or can talk to me and tell me where the relics are...

The only time i heard Minelabs were doing awesome was at a DIV hunt where some Minelab diggers said they were digging cw bullets 16-20+ inches in the ground.

 

[dholland02]

Personally I don't see Minelabs as being what they are for $3,200-$6,000. I know a few diggers who have had them and some of them ended up selling them, one of my best buddies hunts with a Minelab and he is still learning the machine more of less, it gets lot of interference from dog fences/powerlines, I have out dug Minelab hunters with my Fisher 1266x vs Minelab and also I have seen Nautilus/Whites out dig Minelabs before.. I was hunting yesterday with my friend who had a Minelab and we had to end up stop hunting a-little early because his machine was getting to wet near the coil... I am sure they are awesome machines but I personally have not seen any difference.. If you can score one for $600-$1,000 it may be worth it - but I would never pay $3,200+ for a machine unless it has GPR or can talk to me and tell me where the relics are...

The only time i heard Minelabs were doing awesome was at a DIV hunt where some Minelab diggers said they were digging cw bullets 16-20+ inches in the ground.

Everyone I hunt with uses minelabs and they r worth every penny. People who don't think there not worth it r people who can't learn them.

 

[dustytrails123]

Ive never used a 705 ...but i have used the se pro on some hunts with a friend and i gotta say i liked it ...very stable machine that wasnt falsing like my garrett ....its a little on the heavy side but i really liked the thresh hold hum that cut out over iron ...gots to have 1

 

[gerryk]

I know so,eone who has had a 705 for two months and talked to a few who have had them longer. They all say it takes a little longer to learn these machines but once you do your off and running.

 

[metal mania]

the minelab machines are meant to be good expensive but good dont mention that 3030 recall though the deal maker 4 me is a guy called Bruce Candy co owns Minelab now thats sweeeeeeeeeeet

 

[harryst]

I have owned xterra 50, Excal 1000 now I have Excal ll all worked great for me even the older xterra 50 was a great detector even on a salt water beach. I think most detectors are pretty good today (spend the time learning how to use them) I have also found you get what you pay for. Minelab would not sell or be in business for long if their stuff was not any good they sell around the world their stuff works.

P.S. And Bruce Candy co owns Minelab that is sweeeeeeeeeeet

 

[SusanMN]

Love my 705, its a great machine for beginners with features for more experienced hunters as well. One big difference between it and the other Minelabs is weight, The 705 is a pound or more lighter. The Safari, ETrac and 3030 do seem to go deeper, but they are just too heavy for some of us.

 

[dirtscratcher]

Personally I don't see Minelabs as being what they are for $3,200-$6,000. I know a few diggers who have had them and some of them ended up selling them, one of my best buddies hunts with a Minelab and he is still learning the machine more of less, it gets lot of interference from dog fences/powerlines, I have out dug Minelab hunters with my Fisher 1266x vs Minelab and also I have seen Nautilus/Whites out dig Minelabs before.. I was hunting yesterday with my friend who had a Minelab and we had to end up stop hunting a-little early because his machine was getting to wet near the coil... I am sure they are awesome machines but I personally have not seen any difference.. If you can score one for $600-$1,000 it may be worth it - but I would never pay $3,200+ for a machine unless it has GPR or can talk to me and tell me where the relics are...

The only time i heard Minelabs were doing awesome was at a DIV hunt where some Minelab diggers said they were digging cw bullets 16-20+ inches in the ground.

Just curious what machine had to quit because the coil was getting wet? And your right some machines work better in irony relic situations but in parks and old yards give me the sepro.

 

[shanemcn]

I have the exploer se pro and love it, it has turned me into an addict, it's not that difficult to learn.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Just curious what machine had to quit because the coil was getting wet? And your right some machines work better in irony relic situations but in parks and old yards give me the sepro.

Not quite sure which exact one but - I can find out in the next day or two. I know he paid $3,200 brand new for it...

 

[gerryk]

No one should have stop because of a coil getting wet from wet grass. They are water resistant. Water prrof means submersible. Perhaps it was the owners choice to stop.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

No one should have stop because of a coil getting wet from wet grass. They are water resistant. Water prrof means submersible. Perhaps it was the owners choice to stop.

I am very well aware of the coils being water proof, and i asked him about that and he was saying moisture or something was getting into the coil, the ground/forest was very wet after a rain to the point i had to put a bag over my Fisher box to keep it from getting wet but - i don't understand what his issue was with the machine.. it is always something ranging from dog fence to power lines, it seems every spot we hit is just not good for the minelab somehow. He just bought it a few weeks ago, so i don't know I just use my Fisher and don't get really into much with other machines... Maybe he did want to cut out early but he generally wants to stay hunting but he had his kid with him yesterday and the kid surely did not want to go. But like i said i am sure they are awesome machines for some people - for the price they better be!

 

[gerryk]

If it was a used machine, perhaps the old owner sold it because there was a problem with the coil. Witht hat said, what your saying about him possibly wanting to leave sounds like the likely problem.

 

[Number9]

Could be him and not the Minelab?

 

[H-2 CHARLIE]

hunting desert placers a P.I Minelab going 15-30 inches plus is true gold hunting , sure it picks up relics too .

 

[Metal Detecting Stuff]

Brian, the Explorer SE Pro is a step up from the other machines you mentioned. They work well in iron infested areas. The SE Pro has a learning curve, but it's worth every penny.

Wayne

www.metaldetectingstuff.com

 

[Tasmorn]

I have a 705, I am new to this also, I love it. You just have to learn the machine... It's great any questions pm.

 

[joshuadl]

I just bought an xterra 705 tonight for about $700. Its my first detector and I have no idea how to use it..so many buttons. I took it out in the dark and found a really old nut in the yard of the 100 year old house I just bought though. Hopefully I can find some other cool stuff.