Xterra 505, M-6, or AT Pro?

[shack24]

Looking to upgrade from my Ace 350 to possibly one of these machines, but not sure which one I want it for mostly coin/jewelry hunting but would also be doing some relic hunting every great once in a while so a solid all purpose detector would be best. Any insight or suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks.

-Jared

 

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[Del-Bill]

Have not used the AT PRO or Xterra 505. But I have as my main Coin and Jewelry machine an M6. I also have 2 Xterra 70's which are also very good machines. The M6 is I think superior for coin/jewelry in parks and schools. It is fairly deep, having no problem getting coins at the 8 to 10 inch range in moderate soil with the stock coil. It has great ground tracking, really fast target response and hits hard on gold. Once you have found a couple of pieces of gold jewelry, you can usually tell by the sound that it is gold. It has a really large, easy to read display and is easy to use and really nice 7 tone audio. For relic hunting I use the 10.5 DD coil which gets a couple of extra inches in depth and I use the 6x10 DD for most of my coin and jewelery detecting. The only negative that I could say about it is that it tends to get a bit heavy after a few hours. The Xterra 70 is the big brother to the 505, as such I can say that the Xterra 70 with the 10.5" MF coil is super deep and great for relic hunting, that is the prime reason that I have mine. It gets at least 2 to 3 inches deeper then my M6 with a comparable 10.5 coil on the M6. It is lighter and has a equally good display, and I really like the 99 tones (actually 28). The down side to the Xterra in my opinion is that you have to go a lot slower then the M6, as the reset speed is a lot slower and the response time is also a bit slower. As your primary detector either would do well for you as both are solid well built machines with outstanding performance.

 

[shack24]

Have not used the AT PRO or Xterra 505. But I have as my main Coin and Jewelry machine an M6. I also have 2 Xterra 70's which are also very good machines. The M6 is I think superior for coin/jewelry in parks and schools. It is fairly deep, having no problem getting coins at the 8 to 10 inch range in moderate soil with the stock coil. It has great ground tracking, really fast target response and hits hard on gold. Once you have found a couple of pieces of gold jewelry, you can usually tell by the sound that it is gold. It has a really large, easy to read display and is easy to use and really nice 7 tone audio. For relic hunting I use the 10.5 DD coil which gets a couple of extra inches in depth and I use the 6x10 DD for most of my coin and jewelery detecting. The only negative that I could say about it is that it tends to get a bit heavy after a few hours. The Xterra 70 is the big brother to the 505, as such I can say that the Xterra 70 with the 10.5" MF coil is super deep and great for relic hunting, that is the prime reason that I have mine. It gets at least 2 to 3 inches deeper then my M6 with a comparable 10.5 coil on the M6. It is lighter and has a equally good display, and I really like the 99 tones (actually 28). The down side to the Xterra in my opinion is that you have to go a lot slower then the M6, as the reset speed is a lot slower and the response time is also a bit slower. As your primary detector either would do well for you as both are solid well built machines with outstanding performance.

Thanks for all of the info! I had heard that the M6 did really well with coins and jewelry as you stated which is why I am looking at it. I really want to find some old silver, and I would also love to find some gold. Have you had much success finding older coins with either of them? I like my Ace 350 ok but I would really like a detector with vdi #'s.

 

[bigtim1973]

I have had the xterra 50 before and I must say it was a real good coin shooting machine but in my most honest opinion if you get the xterra series is I would get an optional DD coil for it instead of the stock coil. The xterra machines are fun and all but perform alot better with their optional accesory DD style coils. I found plenty of silver coins with my xterra but I have to say I did not notice any of them being exceptionally deeper targets. The M6 would be a good choice and my first choice because it seems to be built more sturdier than the xterra lines and the garrett lines also. The down side to it is to get the best performance also in trashy areas and such, you will have to upgrade to either the 6X10" or 10" D2 DD coils. I have had both coils and both are awesome coils. I now use the 10" D2 on my MXT. With either machine you get you will notice a big difference in the size of the display. The Xterra series only has a number for a VDI and a depth meter. The Whites M6 is going to have a VDI number, description of target possibility, and a bar graph that has 3 segements to it plus, it has the depth gauge too. I personally would get the M6. With either one you will notice a difference in perfomance compared to the garrett your currently using and you will be happier. Tim

 

[Del-Bill]

To answer your question about the M6 and finding old coins, I have found the majority of my oldest coins with the M6. The oldest silver is a 2 Reale from 1739, I also have a number of half reales as well. The M6 is a real good coin shooter.

 

[John (Ma)]

M6 is a very good simple and effective option!

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

I don't have any experience at all with the Xterras, but do currently own and use both the M6 and the AT Pro. I really like the versatility of the AT Pro, but I'd have to give my nod to the M6. I may be a little prejudiced since it has found me so much gold jewelry, but I just love the seven tones, the ease of setup and use and the rock-solid VDI's on gold. I love going in the heavy trash where others "fear to swing" and cherry-picking the good targets (especially the gold ones) using my trusty little 4x6 coil. I use the 4x6 DD coil on in almost exclusively (wonderfully light, super pinpointing, good depth for the size of the coil - 4 to 6 inches) and I'm pretty sure the M6 will be the last land detector I will ever purchase.

I don't think anyone could ever go wrong picking the M6. I've used it at the beach, on the ski slopes and at the parks and playgrounds. It's rare that it doesn't get me some unusual keepers. Other M6'ers will know what I mean when I suggest you always dig a target with a steady VDI of 74. While the screen always calls it a penny, I've found gold, antique toys, and other really cool items with that VDI. It's weird, but really fun.

Hope that helps.


Phillip

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

Got a solid 74 at my new favorite ghost town. Turned out to be a brass rifle casing immediately above a 1903 IH cent!

 

[shack24]

Got a solid 74 at my new favorite ghost town. Turned out to be a brass rifle casing immediately above a 1903 IH cent!
[That is awesome! I am pretty set on getting the M6 so now I just need to sell some of the stuff I have found, and get the $ up. I have gotten to know the 350 pretty well now and had some sweet finds the last couple of days (posted on the forum) but just having one notch for quarters, dimes and everything else in that range isn't cutting it for me. It has served me well though, but I would love to find more jewelry and this machine just isn't really a great jewelry machine.
What part on NM do live in? I lived in Albuquerque for several years. Thanks again for your help!]

 

[khouse]

I had an xterra 30,50 and 70. All great machines. But had a little problem with the 30 and 50 just shutting off by themselves. Slower response than the ATpro and M6. I had 4 ATpro's. 3 were bad and leaking. I sold the 4th one I was sent. I will say when they were working they were hard to beat. I have had 4 - M6's - every one rock solid. Currently using one. They will not let you down in the field. Garrett's will fix the Pro's but it was a pain just sending them in and waiting..... Whites will take care of you too - but you won't have to send the M6 in for repairs either. Minelab takes forever on service. So the nod goes to the M6. PS: Just because they say it's a coin shooter doesn't mean it won't hit relics. I found two 3 ringers over 6 inches deep with the 5.3 coil a few days ago. They both hit solid #45's The M6 is Whites best kept secret in my opinion....
Run the M6 at zero disc, power all the way up, trac on and 7 tone mode. Listen for the goodies next to the iron. This thing goes as deep as any set up this way. Is it noisy this way? You bet!

 

[George (MN)]

I got the AT Pro recently & am very impressed! I was just using it in the standard mode, set it to reject everything below zinc cents. Got a quarter just about completely on edge down 4" that gave a good ID. Then I get a signal it is saying is 8" deep. The ID is just bouncing 80-85, the range for copper penny or dime. Down about 7" is a clad dime, the deepest one I've found & ID accurate.

My deepest coin with Minelab X-Terra 70s 4.5" penny ID as quarter & 5" deep nickel IDing as zinc. I have pretty bad ground, lots of pops from hot rocks.

Had several White's M6 MXT XLT. Not often did I dig a 7" coin as usually the ID is all over the place at that depth, due to my bad ground. 7x10 DD or 9.5 stock

The AT Pro is lighter than the Whites & uses only half as many batteries, plus it can go in up to 10' of water & the most gold rings with least tabs is in the water about waist deep. They corrected the problems in March, but to be sure of getting a newer one, ask dealer how long in stock (Garrett can provide serial #s)

I got the 7" deep dime with correct ID on the AT Pro after using it only about 5 hours. The stock DD coil did that & it separates well. Seems to be made for about any ground. But I'm getting the 9x12 concentric also as John-Edmonton says he really likes it. Best wishes, George (MN)

 

[worldtalker]

M-6 ONLY way to go.All metal,listen for that High Tone,Superb with the DD 6x10.61 years in bussiness gotta mean something!

 

[pyledriver]

Can't say about the Whites but I did have a 705. I now have an AT and it's a lot hotter and deeper detector. What I do know is that neither the Minelab or the Whites will take kindly to getting dunked! The bugs seem to be worked out with the AT, I'd buy it again even if I had to live through every problem they've had!

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

AT Pro is very hard to beat with it's iron capabilities and separation. The DD coil on the AT is an amazing coil and hands down the best in trash of the 3.

 

[cosmic]

Whites M6 is the best of the bunch !! More accurate than the Xterras and much better designed the AT POO !!! And you won't be sending it in to upgrade their shoddy engineering and to fix problem after problem like the garrett!!!

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Just so everyone is clear. Unless you get a dealer with old stock the AT PRO it is the upgraded version with locks and extended arm.

Much more user friendly now!

 

[shack24]

I just wanted to thank everyone again for their input and information. It was very helpful. I decided to go with the M6 and ordered it yesterday. It was a tough decision between it and the ATPro. There were just too many people giving great feedback on the M6 to go any other way. Maybe after I find a couple rings I can get the Pro and go for a swim.
Thanks again!!

Jared

 

[liftloop]

Stick with White's... there a better detector stay a way from the Garret line, there cheap detectors you would be better off with a bounty hunter.for the price..