Need An Honest Opinion

[rmavery@hotmail.com]

Hello fellow diggers,
I finally joined this site after years of just browsing without posting. I’m looking to buy another detector and need a little help please;
Looking to purchase a Minelab E-Trac and want advise against the below detectors; which is better? I will be hunting coins/ jewelry and relics in very dry dirt for the most part. How does the E-Trac compare to these models below?
1. CTX 3030
2. Deus
3. Equinox
4. Or any other machine suggestions.

Thanks For Helping Me Out.
Rod

 

[Rookster]

My opinion is that if you are hunting in water part of the time get a machine that is fully waterproof. Buy a machine that has good factory support as you will have questions for sure. And from your list of prospects, you are willing to pay quite a bit so ask the guys on the forum that have the machines listed in their username bio plenty of questions as to their settings, etc. And welcome to the forum.

 

[smokeythecat]

Welcome. It all depends on the type of soil you have, mineralized or not, and if there is a lot of iron, like nails in it. If it is mild soil, I'd go for the Deus or The Equinox.

If a lot of iron, either the Deus or Equinox.

If mineralized with a lot of iron, the Deus.

The CTX 3030 is too slow in a lot of cases. I'd try to "test drive" at a dealer's store before you buy, each has it's merits, each it's drawbacks.

 

[rmavery@hotmail.com]

My opinion is that if you are hunting in water part of the time get a machine that is fully waterproof. Buy a machine that has good factory support as you will have questions for sure. And from your list of prospects, you are willing to pay quite a bit so ask the guys on the forum that have the machines listed in their username bio plenty of questions as to their settings, etc. And welcome to the forum.

Thanks, I won’t be using it in water I have a Surfmaster for that so it’s land only.

 

[rmavery@hotmail.com]

Thanks,
It’s both heavy trash areas and some non trash areas. The soil is mostly very dry Nevada dust with low mineralization but lots of iron trash.

 

[trdking]

I LIKE THE PLAIN OL Garrett AT PRO Hunting like a pro in 10 minutes.
The CTX 3030 (I own one) Is very difficult to learn. You may give up on it before you can actually hunt with it.

 

[rmavery@hotmail.com]

Thanks,
I use an AT Pro as well and love it but want a good discriminating machine with depth.

 

[moonlooter]

Hey trdking I’m new to metal detecting. To day I found and old trap with my AT Pro.. any idea how old it is? Mid 1900s you think?

 

[Terry Soloman]

CTX 3030, or the Equinox 800. Big Silver & Gold to you!

 

[Gare]

Marverty First let me say I am glad you decided to join. Now as to what detectors you should decide on try this. Search on here for members in your area and see if maybe they would help you decide by trying there machines out. Some machines have a real hard learning curve. I thought maybe someone close to you might take you out and let them play with the machines while they was with you . I know if you was in my Area i would let you TRY ALL the machines you listed out. Hopeing some day we could be detecting buddys See on here if people are in your area and maybe they would work with you to try some out