New detector narrowed down to 1 of 3

[Forvols]

I currently have a Minelab 540. I am wanting to get a 2nd detector (for mine and family usage wife/grandsons/son etc). Several places have package deals this is just regarding the actual detector. I have it narrowed down to 3 please chime in with any information/recommendations wanting to stay in the 350-500 range (for detector or a package price).

1. Minelab Xterra Elite (simultaneous multi-frequency (SMF))
2. Nokta Score 3 (simultaneous multi-frequency (SMF))
3.Minelab Xterra Pro (Switchable Frequency Technology(not SMF))
Above 3 are waterproof to 16ft.

I am leaning towards the Xterra Elite mainly because I have a ML already and it seems the way to go freq wise is the SMF technology. The ML 540 is SMF but not totally waterproof (only the coils are).

 

[Bwhnt86]

If I was choosing, I'd go with a Minelab. I'm not sure if the SMF is better or not. I just bought a Garrett Grand Master Hunter CXIII. It was brand new in the box except batteries had been put in the battery box. Fortunately, the battery box was in a Ziploc bag. The battery box is corroded beyond repair. The battery box is not available anywhere online. I got it for $50, so I will find a way to power it with a DIY battery box. It's from the 90's, but I've read that it is still preferred by some people today. It has switchable operating frequencies.

 

[Crow Terminator]

Definitely the Xterra Elite! Keep an eye on Midway USA for them. I snagged one with the Expedition package for $300. It was listed on their open box discounts page.

 

[Wiley]

I'm shopping around for the X-Terra Elite as well. Not in a hurry in case a deal comes through.

 

[Forvols]

Well I ordered the X-Terra Elite ended up going with the Expedition package and added a ML PRO35 pinpointer. Ordered it from Big Boy Hobbies (free shipping and no sales tax). Bart (the owner) is in chat via the website. I went with the bundle package. You can use a no bundle coupon and get the EXP package cheaper. But the no sales tax helped out and free ship(I think most places have free shipping)
https://bigboyshobbies.net/collections/minelab-metal-detectors

 

[Wiley]

^^^^ I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I added a couple of extras. Hope to have it all early next week.

 

[Crow Terminator]

I think you guys made a great decision. I have ran all the Minelab machines. The newer Xterra line came after the Equinox series and with it, they fixed all of the issues most people had with the Equinox.

 

[Forvols]

^^^^ I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I added a couple of extras. Hope to have it all early next week.

My order shipped yesterday, should be here TUE next week according to UPS tracking.

 

[Lt.Dan]

So are we going to start a tndeer metal detecting club? Seems we have a lot of people in the hobby. I could get my SIL to draw up a logo. Maybe giant buck swinging a detector.

 

[Forvols]

Might be a good idea or at least a meet up somewhere for some detecting.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Might be a good idea or at least a meet up somewhere for some detecting.

I would say my house but I've cleaned out my yard for the most part We need some farm land or something.

 

[Wiley]

I would say my house but I've cleaned out my yard for the most part We need some farm land or something.

I'm gonna have to ask for permission on a couple of old farms down here where my grandparents took part in picking the cotton and corn. I know the owners and I'm certain that they'll let me search the old fields. Aside from that I have approximately 13 acres of food plots on my lease in Hardin County that might work for a group of us to search. It's east of Savannah a few miles and I don't know of any significant Civil War activities in that exact location but I know that I have put a few bullets in the ground over the last 20 years

 

[Lt.Dan]

I'm gonna have to ask for permission on a couple of old farms down here where my grandparents took part in picking the cotton and corn. I know the owners and I'm certain that they'll let me search the old fields. Aside from that I have approximately 13 ceros of food plots on my lease in Hardin County that might work for a group of us to search. It's east of Savannah a few miles and I don't know of any significant Civil War activities in that exact location but I know that I have put a few bullets in the ground over the last 20 years

Sounds like a plan is working up. That would be great and very generous of you to share.

 

[Forvols]

Yes, very generous possible opportunities I greatly appreciate.

I'm with you fellas, I'm very knew to detecting. I don't have any places up here to search yet other than public land. I have been researching area lands and the owners. So, I'm going to get out and start pressing the flesh and asking permission. Hopefully some of those will work out.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Yes, very generous possible opportunities I greatly appreciate.

I'm with you fellas, I'm very knew to detecting. I don't have any places up here to search yet other than public land. I have been researching area lands and the owners. So, I'm going to get out and start pressing the flesh and asking permission. Hopefully some of those will work out.

That's always been my weak suit. So I've been relegated to public areas. I'm slowly learning to find more properties. For me, coinshooting and jewelry are my targets. I would gladly give up almost every civil war relic. Except I would like to find and have one each a Union and Confederate belt buckle. I have collected belt buckles my entire life. So that would be the coup de gras.

 

[Wiley]

My X-Terra is supposed to be here Wednesday and I'll immediately start pushing buttons and swinging! I've been watching YouTube videos on setup and I'll have to save the best ones to my phone due to the memory cells in my brain being severely over worked back when remembering stuff was important

On a side note, I have secured permission to detect around the old home place of my paternal Grandaddy. I never knew of him not having a silver dollar in his overalls pocket. He used to give me one for my birthday for several years and those are locked away in the vault at my CU. There was one that he carried for so long that it was just a smooth silver disc with no features at all on either side. I have no idea what ever became of it. He walked everywhere he went and could have lost it anywhere but I'd be over the moon ecstatic if I could find any silver dollar over there because I'd know that it was his.

 

[Lt.Dan]

My X-Terra is supposed to be here Wednesday and I'll immediately start pushing buttons and swinging! I've been watching YouTube videos on setup and I'll have to save the best ones to my phone due to the memory cells in my brain being severely over worked back when remembering stuff was important

On a side note, I have secured permission to detect around the old home place of my paternal Grandaddy. I never knew of him not having a silver dollar in his overalls pocket. He used to give me one for my birthday for several years and those are locked away in the vault at my CU. There was one that he carried for so long that it was just a smooth silver disc with no features at all on either side. I have no idea what ever became of it. He walked everywhere he went and could have lost it anywhere but I'd be over the moon ecstatic if I could find any silver dollar over there because I'd know that it was his.

If your new detector is anything like mine, you should download a manual so you can refer to it a lot. I have been playing with mine and the settings a bunch. I'm still pulling trash out of the front yard. But that's a good thing. I'm finally learning the numbers (and tones) so when I dig I am expecting exactly what I'm finding. It should save unnecessary digging when I get to new places.

 

[Wiley]

If your new detector is anything like mine, you should download a manual so you can refer to it a lot. I have been playing with mine and the settings a bunch. I'm still pulling trash out of the front yard. But that's a good thing. I'm finally learning the numbers (and tones) so when I dig I am expecting exactly what I'm finding. It should save unnecessary digging when I get to new places.

Yes Sir, I will. And I'm gonna bury a few coins in the yard for 'real world' detecting just like I did when I got my White's back in the 90s.

 

[Wiley]

I just now joined a FB page.... MINELAB X-TERRA PRO & ELITE USERS and will be reading over there to compare my progress with what others have to say.

 

[Lt.Dan]

I just now joined a FB page.... MINELAB X-TERRA PRO & ELITE USERS and will be reading over there to compare my progress with what others have to say.

I have been thinking about getting back on the book of face for the MD groups

 

[Forvols]

I got my X-Terra yesterday. Very solid built, I did download the full manual to my phone. More reading to do I will probably hit the wilds of my yard this week (got a couple of small projects first). One item I may order is headphone case (the expedition package didnt include that).

 

[Lt.Dan]

When you buy digging tools, do not go cheap. I just ordered a shovel from Excalibur Shovels. After watching some YouTube video's and doing some research I decided these were the best. I have a hand digger that was given to me and works well. I am considering adding the Excalibur hand digger. Either way you go, don't skimp on quality. What good will your detector be if you can't get your treasure out of the ground.

Pic is for reference. You will want something that can cut through roots and won't bend.

 

[Forvols]

I did buy a good shovel (for metal detecting) heavy all steel with a cutting-edge T-handle, I got a hand digger that's pretty good. But I have seen the Excalibur you tube also; I may get a hand digger from there.

 

[Lt.Dan]

I did buy a good shovel (for metal detecting) heavy all steel with a cutting-edge T-handle, I got a hand digger that's pretty good. But I have seen the Excalibur you tube also; I may get a hand digger from there.

I wish I could have swung the Merlin shovel. Being able to break it down for packing would be great. I'm working with a guy who has some phenomenal permissions, but are going to require a couple hours of bushwhacking.

 

[Wiley]

My unit is out for delivery and I've been watching more videos. I ordered a T handle shovel and a good digging tool with the X-Terra. Last night I ordered an Amazon hard case for my headphones. Tomorrow I will be swinging it on my food plot a few miles away. It was a farm field in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

This is the headphone case that I ordered. It was recommended by other detectorists on some webpage that I was on....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMYUOLE?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[Lt.Dan]

My unit is out for delivery and I've been watching more videos. I ordered a T handle shovel and a good digging tool with the X-Terra. Last night I ordered an Amazon hard case for my headphones. Tomorrow I will be swinging it on my food plot a few miles away. It was a farm field in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

This is the headphone case that I ordered. It was recommended by other detectorists on some webpage that I was on....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMYUOLE?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

You won't be able to hear any signals with the headphones in a case

 

[Wiley]

She's heeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeee! Gonna read the manual tonight and be swinging tomorrow!

 

[Crow Terminator]

I'm excited for you guys. I'd put it in Field search mode and adjust the number of tones to your preference....noise cancel, ground balance, and take off swinging. You'll start to learn the IDs of constant trash targets....like 22 shell casings and 22 bullets themselves. Me personally...if I'm in a field or woods, I dig everything of all IDs. I usually scrape the top layers of leaves/soil with my boot and if it moves the target, I keep on moving cause it's usually something small and junk.

Edit: I have on occasion, been very surprised what is laying on the surface just under the leaves that is NOT trash. My first Civil War belt plate, I kicked it up out of the ground with my boot thinking it was probably a flattened can laying on the surface. I kicked the leaves back in the woods on a signal and there lay a Civil War Springfield bayonet right on the surface. 30 or so yards away from it, a similar signal produced an intact Civil War "bullseye" style canteen. It exploded on us as we were gently trying to lift it from the small roots on the surface. All I have left of it is the pewter spout. It has the soldiers initials scratched on it.

 

[Lt.Dan]

I'm excited for you guys. I'd put it in Field search mode and adjust the number of tones to your preference....noise cancel, ground balance, and take off swinging. You'll start to learn the IDs of constant trash targets....like 22 shell casings and 22 bullets themselves. Me personally...if I'm in a field or woods, I dig everything of all IDs. I usually scrape the top layers of leaves/soil with my boot and if it moves the target, I keep on moving cause it's usually something small and junk.

Edit: I have on occasion, been very surprised what is laying on the surface just under the leaves that is NOT trash. My first Civil War belt plate, I kicked it up out of the ground with my boot thinking it was probably a flattened can laying on the surface. I kicked the leaves back in the woods on a signal and there lay a Civil War Springfield bayonet right on the surface. 30 or so yards away from it, a similar signal produced an intact Civil War "bullseye" style canteen. It exploded on us as we were gently trying to lift it from the small roots on the surface. All I have left of it is the pewter spout. It has the soldiers initials scratched on it.

They will be hooked in no time. All it took for me was finding my first coin. And that was clad. I am heading to a 100 year old house today. Supposed to be virgin land. Wish me luck?

 

[Wiley]

I am heading to a 100 year old house today. Supposed to be virgin land. Wish me luck?

After action report?