Howdy Amigo!Originally Posted by IdahoBob
I feel a bit ridiculous for not asking some basic stuff, like what do you hope to hunt for? There is a huge difference between the various types of hunting you might wish to engage in. Some folks are focused almost exclusively on nugget hunting. That'd be one category of machine. Others enjoy coin shooting, and that can be a different sort of detector. Still others are avid relic hunters. That's yet another category of machine. Then you have beach hunters who require a device that can easily tranist from wet to dry sand, and that's another difference as not all machines can do that. Finally, there are some who are devoted dive hunters and water detectors are a different can of worms altogether.
So the question arises, what sort of hunting do you think will be your particular niche? It is possible you don't even know yet, and probably won't until you have experienced several different types of hunting and enivronments that hunters enjoy.
Then there's the next question of how do you view yourself in terms of level of interest. There are a variety of those ranging from passing fancy, to weekend warrior, to gnarly hunters who go out as much as possible, to crazy people like me who will begin a hunt a 9:00am, and come home after midnight with the batteries starting to fade out on my headlamp! I do not know you nor your level of interest, but I've seen some folks who spent a whole bunch of money for a high dollar detector and all the trimmings, and used it a few times only to leave it languish in the closet. That ain't a great investment. Others play around with a detector, have a mild level of interest, but don't have the time or amibition to spend many hours hunting or on their knees digging up targets.
Until you experience the hobby, and know how much of your time and energy will go into the hobby, it may be unwise to spend very much money getting an expensive machine.
For example: When I started, I was given an XLT for my birthday. Once I got that thing (not the most expensive in the line, but a real good one!) I got that coil to the soil as often as I could. It caused me to show up late for work more than once, too! But I found some gold jewelry, some old coins, and I was hooked. I used cash from coins I'd found (a couple of buckets of clad) and bought an MXT 300. When I was ready to step up to a more expensive machine, I sold off some gold jewelry and bought a V3/V3i. But I started with a moderately priced machine first, learned what my real interest level was, before investing a whole bunch of money. And the machines I got subsequently were paid for from finds, not out of pocket.
These are legitimate things to consider, and I suggest anybody looking to get into this hobby start off with a moderately priced unit rather than jumping in whole hog with expensive gear that they might never really use much. This ain't meant to be discouraging, but encouraging of taking things on with a clear eyed view about this hobby, which as it turns out, ain't for everybody. Is it for you? I don't know, and until you are doing it awhile, you might not know for certain either. This hobby is like buying a new car. The thing might look perfect from the showroom floor, but not quite so much once you're behind the wheel. Metal detecting might look interesting until you actually do it, then it might turn out it ain't your thing.
Just remember, more expensive isn't necessarily better equipment. I believe I can match results wtih my MXT Pro or MXT 300 that most any hunter with a V3/V3i can achieve. Since I do quite a few competition hunts, I haven't felt I was out-gunned by anybody on the field including them that run with DFX, V3i, eTrack or any other type of machine.
This ain't to dissuade you, but give you some other considerations to mull over before pulling the trigger on a detector purchase.
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
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