lifebeinit said:
love the input Goldpick it has given me more incite to whats out there for money value and experience that you are showing thank you, but if you were to pick one out the ones you just mentioned what one would you go foras i have look and check them out but all seam about the same to me so i think i need your lintel again here please.
If it were me, I'd start off with a coin/relic/beach detector and save up for a decent pulse induction gold detector. Very hard to have a one size fits all scenario, as VLF detectors aren't the easiest things to use on mineralised goldfields ground, not to mention having to deal with hot rocks in those areas. The pulse induction detectors ignore mineralisation, are easier to use, and will surpass any VLF on depth on mineralised ground.
Ideally a multi frequency detector such as the Minelab Safari, Etrac or CTX would best suit beach detecting, though most likely out of your price range. The Racer 2 is probably the best VLF detector I have used on wet sand with regards to stability and ability to gain a successful ground balance - even when run on high sensitivity levels. If you can save up a couple of extra hundred dollars, the Nokta Impact will hit our shores in the not too distant future - that would definitely be worth a look at, and a lot cheaper than high end detectors like the XP Deus.
Whilst I can try to recommend a detector, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be to your liking - purchasing a detector is quite a personal decision on what features you want from a detector, including weight, ergonomics, number and types of factory programs etc etc. All I can go by is what I have used and experienced, and that pretty much leaves Racer 2 as being best value for money as an all-rounder on beach ability, and on coins and relic hunting (for under $1000).
Other detectors worth considering include:
Fisher Gold Bug DP (also called Gold Bug Pro, the DP model comes with larger 11" coil)
Fisher F75 (very similar to the T2 though cannot run concentric coils)
Teknetics G2 (same as Gold Bug DP, except with superior ergonomic shaft setup)
Teknetics T2 Green Classic (superior in the picking order to the G2 or gold bug, but currently selling around the same price as the G2)
Minelab X-Terra 705
Minelab Safari ($200 over your budget, but running multi frequency which is desirable for beach use)
I would have mentioned the Makro Gold Racer, as it can be used for both Gold and coin detecting, though it lacks a dedicated beach mode.
Later on you can maybe look at a used Minelab pulse induction detector for gold detecting.
