DetectingWales.com

Detecting around North Wales mostly fields ,hills...the odd bit of beach ...Soooo .....what you recommend for my budget of £500 ????.......

explorer , does it all and for well below 500squid

Minelab ;)

Still make them today and call it the Etrac :D

Or Safari

Hi Raitlain, welcome to the forum
I agree with the minelab explorer xs.....they go for around 350-ish

btw is that you in the pic?

Been looking at them on google was told there now named x-terra705 but he wasn't to sure.....yes that's me in the pic

No the Xterra is a different model though the 705 is a lovely machine but not multi frequency like the Explorers

so is the multi frequency the better option ?

As I'm not within arms reach of a flak jacket or stab vest I couldn't possibly comment :D
To be honest there is no "one size fits all" with the Minelab FBS machines covering most scenarios well, if you understand and use their full potential, and single frequency machines having the edge of ploughed land and small silver coins (and I do mean small) I could take you to land where because of mineralisation (ironpan) the FBS machines are virtually useless and something like the Deus shines but also land with low mineralisation where the FBS machines make the Deus look like a toy.
People buy and use machines that are fashionable and the more people who use a certain type of machine then the more finds that machine will make thus giving a "false positive" result only 5 or 6 years ago at any rally 80% of people were using FBS machines now it's 80% single frequency so is one that much better than another? No it's what's fashionable.....
Then of course we all scratch our heads when......
Staffordshire Anglo-Saxon Hoard _{(largest ever Saxon hoard)} found with a 25 year old Whites Eagle Spectrum
Frome Roman Hoard _{(second largest Roman coin hoard)} found with a 10 year old Explorer II
Stirling Gold Torques hoard found by ex-member Davey-B valued at a cool £1m found on his first time out with a Garrett Ace 250.
St Albans Roman Gold coins hoard _{(largest in UK)} again found first time out with a Garrett Ace 150.
So go figure ;D

The truth is that 99% of machines will find 99% of the finds and the more you get in to the hobby the more top flight you want your machine to be and with this enthusiasm comes a greater time you dedicate to detecting and simple mathematics dictate that these machines find more.

There you have it thats a excellent post and worth taking on board. ;)  Jerry.

Very well stated Chef,nice piece!!! ;)

quote Minelab FBS machines covering most scenarios well, if you understand and use their full potential, and single frequency machines having the edge of ploughed land and small silver coins (and I do mean small) I could take you to land where because of mineralisation (ironpan) the FBS machines are virtually useless and something like the Deus shines but also land with low mineralisation where the FBS machines make the Deus look like a toy.
With any detector you need to have a full understand of the setting to get the best out of it this is particularly import with the Deus . Light fast and deep but its not really a beach machine and the build quality could be better. The Minelab is heavy and slow and not able to pick up very small hammered which was proved earlier this year in the field the Etrac user was shocked at not being able to pick it up. The minelab is a good machine and i have had some good finds with it but since changing to the Deus finds rates have gone up considerably. There are a number of people who buy and sell the Deus quickly saying that it is rubbish but i think that is down to not being able to use the machine.
If i wanted a detector for £500 i would buy a Makro Racer fast and good depth also  has beach programe but would not be as good as FBS on beach. I managed to purchase one new for £360 so give you great bang for buck with 2 year warantey  ;)

I think the mineralisation of the field may have been at play there as I've had 27 cut quarters and 6 farthings with FBS machines but obviously ignorance is bliss and God knows what I walked over and didn't find and yes the same is true with most machines I know that Damonkey (Andy) couldn't find a Roman brooch at more than three inches with his Deus something in that soil or environment that stopped the Deus working properly  and to make it  even scarier I remember Taff finding a cut half with the Etrac while he, Nobby and I were out which while showing us he dropped....now we knew it had to be in the square yard between us but neither the Etrac, F75 or Deus could find it and in the end Taff had to get down on his hands and knees with a probe to try and find it which he eventually did but the ironpan in that field stopped any detection of small items.
I would agree with the Racer if not for several teething problems it has had but its stable mate the Nokta Fors Core I can vouch for...very impressive ;)

Well,all incan possibly add to that last piece by Chef is that having owned a Minelab Sovereign, and a Minelab SAFARI, I can say(hand on heart)that the NOKTA FORS CoRe is a truly remarkable ,underestimated metal detector,up until today I had 2 coils,stock coil and a 5" coin shooter,had great success, no outstanding finds,just good all round detecting finds fun,well to complete the CoRe's coil range,today I tried  my new "big" coil acquisition, with outstanding depth capabilities, truly remarkable, wow!! Incredible depths achieved.
And it was ALL DOWN to Chef Geoff's recommendations on the FORS CoRe,
A truly BRILLIANT metal detector,initial cost,second hand,£360:00,also, a very big thanks to Kevin at Staffs Metal detectors.👍

you ve just volunteered to become my new personal trainer  ;D

yes I've been looking at the nokta cores seen a video on you tube looked impressive thanks for the advise

Thanks Chef I get your point now as with everything in life its swings and roundabouts so I'm going to have to make a choose and hope ha ha