Used Metal Detectors For Beach Hunting

[LCP1963]

I am primarily going to use a metal detector for hunting on the beach. I have seen the following used detectors:
- Whites Professional Series 2 Coinmaster 6000/D metal detector
- Whites Coinmaster 5500/D Series 3 metal detector
Would these be good choices for beach hunting? Would you have other suggestions for used or new detectors for beach hunting? Thanks, LCP

[dewcon]

you are going to have trouble with about any single frez detector you try to get close to the wet sand. Id suggest a minelab Sov GT or a dectector you can get wet. Anything elce you will be disappointed with and used ones shouldnt brake the bank. Check first with a dealer, they often have the laying around at a good price with warranties. Bought my DFX for $700 with 23 months warranty which was a great deal.

[TonyinCT]

What beach are we talking about here ? Salt or fresh water ? Any detector can work well on fresh water beaches. Salt on the other hand presents different problems since the wet salt sand becomes conductive. Here the PI detectors are best. As an alternative the Soveriegn GT form Minelab is an excellent choice aslo. If you want to go farther out you really want to have a waterproof detector though. Let me know if you need any more help.

[LCP1963]

I will be hunting on a saltwater beach. What is a PI detector? Thanks for your help, LCP.

[TonyinCT]

Actually PI stands for Pulse Induction. Instead of creating a steady magnetic field the detector pulses a signal into the ground , the coil momentarily changes from send to receive. There are several pulses per second. There is no discrimination but the PI goes right through the wet conductive salt sand much better than a VLF. If all you are doing is salt water beaches then a PI is the way to go. You'll find more trash but lessen the chance of losing gold.

[TonyinCT]

If you want to stay in the dry sand then almost any detector will work there with mid to high end obviously being better. If you want to hunt the surf or into the water more which constitutes wet sand , then the PI is definitely the way to go. It sees right through the conductive salt sand. There is so much less trash in most areas into the surf that the extra digging vs. the extra finds and capabilities warrant the use of the PI.

[crock]

Just got back from Florida and tested a Garrett GTA 400 on several salt water beaches and found that it is a great beach machine, it was right on with all coins and trash, also hunted in wet sand and there was no interference at all, I dug a quarter at 12-13 inches and I like the fact that you can pass over a pull tab and hit the discrimination and it will not bother with them but still hits nickles

[TonyinCT]

Sorry to disagree but I have to say that using a Whites PI here in Ct is better than most detectors by far...Discriminator or not. If you are limiting yourself to beach dry sand then I'll agree on the discriminator , but wet slat sand and water , which I have a fair amount of time on , the PI punchess deeper and is more sensative. The gold finds far outweight the trash finds.
Whatever you decide I'm sure you'll do well and we'll all be here to help you out.

[TonyinCT]

I stand by my statements and my 32 years hunting salt water beaches here in CT and MA. To each his own but that's the way I see it. PI's for salt water , anything else for fresh since you want the most depth you can get and discrimination will limit your depth especially on salt water beaches . Have a great day everyone and see you at the beach ( With my PI of course )

[TonyinCT]

I never said that the Tiger Shark wouldn't work in wet salt conditions. I also never said that the Tiger Shark was a bad detector. And I never said you couldn't find anything with it in those conditions. I was just giving my opinion on the question asked. I think maybe you're taking this a little too personal Chuck. It was not meant to be personal.