Beach Hunter 300 or Aquanaut 1280 X?

[JerseyHunter]

Hi all. I am new to the forum, and new to metal detecting (unless you count messing around with my Bounty Hunter II 30 years ago). Looking to purchase a detector.

Anyway, after reading here and some other reviews, I think I have narrowed my choices to the Beach Hunter 300 or the Aquanaut 1280X.

I will be detecting on land and in the surf in central New Jersey. So I wanted something submersible, but also good on land. Budget is $450, and I found used/demo models of these two in my budget. Can't afford an Excal yet.

So, given these two choices, I thought I would seek your expert opinions and ask - which would you prefer and why? I am primarily concerned with performance in wet sand and shallow salt water as I believe that is where I will be doing most of my detecting. I am also up for suggestions of any other similarly priced models you think might meet my needs.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

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[erikk]

If you are going to be hunting the salt surf and the wet sand I would go with the BH300. The 1280X although a great machine for fresh water does not work to well in the surf, has no form of discrimination, largest coil is 10 inch as opposed to the 12 on the BH 300

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

JerseyHunter I have used the 1280x for over 17 years on NJ beaches. But with all that time I learned how to use the machine. With that said I would recommend to you go with the Whites as it will be easier to learn, as compared to the 1280x. The most important thing for you, is learn the machine you buy. A person that has had a old 30 year old machine can out hunt the person with the latest best machine that doesn't know how to use it! I hunted Sunday with a guy with a brand new machine and only out three times. I found 112 coins to his 4 coins. Go slow and the rewards will follow.
And remember even on he beach fill in those holes!
steve

 

[therover]

Steve,

My friend Matt met you at either Pt. Pleasant or Ortely a few weeks ago. We went to Ortley Sunday morning and you were taking your life in your hands with all the debris in the water smashing into the dunes ( which are gone...all the new sand is now nicely smoothed over all over the beach !). Totally nuts. Ended up in Pt. Pleasant and got LOTS of targets. Got some silver coins and a silver ring. No gold though.

Went back to Ortley at low tide yesterday...slim pickens. Should have went right back to Pt. Pleasant. Looks like the A.C. crowd did good too.

Interesting to see you are using a 1280X here in NJ. What I have read, you can hunt salt beaches with it but the disrimination control is the key.

I agree if a newbie, get the BHID300 or a used CZ20, Excal, etc. The $450 budget on a water machine means used since new all the major water machines average $800-1000 if not more. Problem with used water machines is, you never know how well the owner took care of it.

On another note, hopefully one day we can meet.

John

 

[erikk]

I to used a 1280X for many years in fresh water lakes in Mass both wading and SCUBA. There is no doubt it is a great machine but when U take it into the surf as a NEWBY you will not be a happy camper, and will be digging every signal you encounter. Given the two choices you stated I still feel the BH300 is your best bet $ for $

 

[JerseyHunter]

Well, thank you for the advice. Today I ordered a Beach Hunter. I'll let you know how I do.

I'll also probably be back to ask some basic newbie questions - after searching the board for similar posts, of course.

 

[Sandman]

Good luck with the BHID 300. I only had one complaint with it and that was the 12 inch coil floated real bad. Not good for in the water, but good for hunting out of the water.

I've used the 1280 also and it has excellent disc to trash. However because of it's sensitivity it can respond to saltwater and the black sand at the shore line. The BHID may also because the larger coil sees more minerals. Check which color O rings you have. If they are the newer orange you are ok. Black ones require you to use extra care when closing it up and keeping the O rings clean.

 

[JerseyHunter]

Sandman, thanks for the tip on the O rings. I will check it out.

Also, I read your earlier post where you expressed your, um, displeasure with the floatation of the coil. I will just have to deal with it.

 

[seeker41]

If you are going to be hunting the salt surf and the wet sand I would go with the BH300. The 1280X although a great machine for fresh water does not work to well in the surf, has no form of discrimination, largest coil is 10 inch as opposed to the 12 on the BH 300

erikk, sorry to correct you but the 1280x does have discrimination!!!!

 

[erikk]

If you are going to be hunting the salt surf and the wet sand I would go with the BH300. The 1280X although a great machine for fresh water does not work to well in the surf, has no form of discrimination, largest coil is 10 inch as opposed to the 12 on the BH 300

erikk, sorry to correct you but the 1280x does have discrimination!!!!

U R right, It has been many moons since I ran mine I was thinking of tone-it does only have 1 tone right?

 

[Sandman]

Yes the 1280 only has one tone, but a trained ear can get some idea as to what the target is.........sometimes.