Minelab X-terra 305 vs Tesoro Vaquero

[stagger]

One of these is to be my new detector. Will be used primarily around old homesites and ghost towns for old coins and relics here in New Mexico. Your thoughts please as to which would best suit my purpose. Thanks in advance.

Mark

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

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

[birdman]

I have not used the 305 but I will say that the vaquero has a lot of things going for it. 2.2 pounds,good trash separation,good depth and has a manual ground balance. Good all around machine but it only has one tone and no screen which means you may dig more junk but you pass less gold over. I set mine just above foil and dig every repeatable signal.

 

[fwcrawford]

For the type of hunting you are planning on doing, the Vaquero would be my choice.
No need for the TID in my opinion as you don't know what could be lying under that ground.
Whichever one you decide on, get a small coil for it... these are great for old homesites and such.
Felix

 

[Shenandoah Digger]

No one likes the Vaquero more than I do, but I would have to go with the 305 for its versatility. It's nice having the target id, and its depth is similar to the Vaquero. The Vaquero trumps it for its lifetime warranty, but the Minelabs I've had have never had any problems. Also changing the frequency with a coil change is a nice feature.

 

[vaquero44]

get the vaquero! if you like to to dig 8 to 10" bullets these will do it, tone is everything, get yourself some grey ghost or killer bee headphones and you'l be in buisness

 

[sqwaby]

I hunt old plantation sites and would go with the Vaquero. It likes iron, but with time you'll know big iron(blows your ears off) and the really small stuff you can disc out, tough times with iron the size of 1/2"+ washers etc. Its deep when set up correctly and has great target separation, especially with the 5.75 coil..

 

[Gonehunting]

I had the vaquero for a couple of years and i loved it. wished i never got rid of it. i have only had the Xterra 70 which is similiar to the 705. now the 70 is somewhat better do to the I'd and the depth, but the vaquero, if it is a repeatable signal and you have the descrim set where you want it, you don't need an ID. I remember there was a post on how to super tune it to make it really reach down. If it was my choice i would go for the Vaq especially cause of the warranty! and I prefer Minleab. Good luck keep us informed.

 

[tarus64]

bought a x-terra 305 has a back-up and full time user for my nephew he has it down pretty good

 

[rws51]

I recently bought a xterra 305 and it was so jumpy it was useless. I sent it back and got a new Vaquero and couldn't be happier. The Vaquero will blow the xterra 305 out of the water in performance
and with a lifetime warranty you don't have to worry if you do have a problem years later with the Tesoro. Minelab coils are very expensive and the vaquero has more coil options. It's a no brainer.....
go with the Vaquero !

 

[Drgonslyer]

Mark, any luck getting into White Oaks? We were able to detect some areas of it a few years ago and had some interesting finds.

 

[Smudge]

I have owned the 305 and I have used the Vaquero and I would vote Vaquero.

It has greater depth than the 305 in most conditions, is lighter even than the 305, and if a repair is ever needed, Tesoro's reputation for customer service will smoke Minelab any day of the week. And that's a warranty for the life of the machine, not just a few years.

The Vaquero recovers quickly, much more so than the Minelab does, which will be a real benefit where iron masking is a problem (which is darn near everywhere you'll want to hunt).

The varying frequencies of the 305 is nice feature, even though the cost of each coil is ridiculous. I personally find Tesoro's coil options for the Vaquero to be excellent, and with the option of DD Widescan coils to boot on the Vaquero, they should meet any need you may have.

Oh, and no, I don't work for Tesoro.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I'm sure the pro-Minelab folks will give you plenty to consider also.

 

[Keppy]

I had the vaquero for a couple of years and i loved it. wished i never got rid of it. i have only had the Xterra 70 which is similiar to the 705. now the 70 is somewhat better do to the I'd and the depth, but the vaquero, if it is a repeatable signal and you have the descrim set where you want it, you don't need an ID. I remember there was a post on how to super tune it to make it really reach down. If it was my choice i would go for the Vaq especially cause of the warranty! and I prefer Minleab. Good luck keep us informed.

I don't understand...? Gonehunting.... You said if it was your choice you would go for the vaquero....... But you prefer Minelab........ You know you have a choice........... So what you said don't make any sence to me............................. To me i would go for the Vaquero over the 305.............

 

[extractor]

Vaquero

 

[Gonehunting]

I had the vaquero for a couple of years and i loved it. wished i never got rid of it. i have only had the Xterra 70 which is similiar to the 705. now the 70 is somewhat better do to the I'd and the depth, but the vaquero, if it is a repeatable signal and you have the descrim set where you want it, you don't need an ID. I remember there was a post on how to super tune it to make it really reach down. If it was my choice i would go for the Vaq especially cause of the warranty! and I prefer Minleab. Good luck keep us informed.

I don't understand...? Gonehunting.... You said if it was your choice you would go for the vaquero....... But you prefer Minelab........ You know you have a choice........... So what you said don't make any sence to me............................. To me i would go for the Vaquero over the 305.............

Sorry Keppy let me explain. The question of the post is Vaquero vs 305. Yes I do have a choice. I am a Minelab fan, but between those two machines I would choose the Vaquero. I feel it has the edge on a 305 even without a digital id. I hope that made "sence". GfH

 

[Keppy]

I had the vaquero for a couple of years and i loved it. wished i never got rid of it. i have only had the Xterra 70 which is similiar to the 705. now the 70 is somewhat better do to the I'd and the depth, but the vaquero, if it is a repeatable signal and you have the descrim set where you want it, you don't need an ID. I remember there was a post on how to super tune it to make it really reach down. If it was my choice i would go for the Vaq especially cause of the warranty! and I prefer Minleab. Good luck keep us informed.

I don't understand...? Gonehunting.... You said if it was your choice you would go for the vaquero....... But you prefer Minelab........ You know you have a choice........... So what you said don't make any sence to me............................. To me i would go for the Vaquero over the 305.............

Sorry Keppy let me explain. The question of the post is Vaquero vs 305. Yes I do have a choice. I am a Minelab fan, but between those two machines I would choose the Vaquero. I feel it has the edge on a 305 even without a digital id. I hope that made "sence". GfH