BHID300 versus Minelab Exp for beach?

[Moe (fl)]

Happy New Year to All!

I see some detectorists with Minelab Exp at the beach getting deep targets where other machines won't find. Of course they have the large 12" or 15" coils. I do most of my hunting on beaches so I'm interested in depth and some DISC.

I believe most top of the line detectors are good but when choosing one is the Minelab Exp more effective than the BHID-300 for beach from surf to dune edge? I have seen some with the Minelab Excalibur not do as good as the Explorer on Florida beaches. I figure the Excalibur is designed more for underwater not beach hunting.

What about the performance of the CZ21 or the new E-Trac on the beach?

Thanks.
HH!
-Moe

 

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[Sandman]

I don't have any experience with the E-Trac on any beaches yet and may not get one. If Neilo says it is good, I'll plunk down the cash.

I also haven't used the BHID 300, but have used the original one with the floating coil and found it to work well. The larger 12 inch coil should do better for more depth and area covered per hour. I think using the Explorer at the rough beach environment could damage the detector and don't believe it to be deeper than a Excal. A Sov GT with a WOT coil is a real coin and ring killer at most beaches.

The Fisher CZ 20/21 can do well at most beaches, but isn't deeper than a BHID 300 due to the larger coil on the Whites. A really deep detector for most beaches is still a PI like the Infinium LS and with it's tone ID you can choose to dig only the gold/pull tab sound and not waste time with coins while spending more time sweeping for the deep gold. Still some like even more discrimination and miss some depth. It can't be helped.

 

[Detector Wars]

I used to use my SE at the beaches. There's not a lot of targets so I'm looking to get a pi as this is what would suit me. I also have an Excalibur 2 and am using that now. I don't know which one's better (out of the water) but the excal is more fun. but heavier and you can't change coils. I'm sure the SE goes deeper since I have the WOT coil, but not in noisy ground.

Here's my advice: from what I've found, you only need to discrim three ways: ferrous, low cond an high cond. I would get the BHID if I were you.

 

[Moe (fl)]

I have thought about the Sov GT but isn't a Exp with WOT coil a much better detector all around? Is the iron rejection feature available in the Sov GT?

I have heard that the BHID300 is as good for depth as the Whites PI Dual Surf.

 

[Sandman]

I think the Exp with a WOT would be a nice detector, but not a good all around one with the WOT because of the weight.

The Sov GT does indeed have the Iron Mask feature which can be turned on or off. With a WOT it is a sweetie as it can be hip mounted to save the arm.

No the BHID300 is not as deep as a PI and definitely no where near a Dual. But it does have the advantage of better disc to save you time digging deep holes for hairpins. Remember time wasted digging wasted holes can be better used searching for those rings.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I hunt the beaches here with a water proofed Sov GT (my preferred water machine) and as back up a Minelab Excal.

If I am hunting a good hole and finding lots of goodies, I "personally" don't get excited when another hunter enters the water near me unless he is using an Excal, or another waterproofed Sovereign, then I think "shoot, there goes some of my finds". The only exception would be the Infinium LS, and the BHID 300. I know some hunters on the West coast of Florida are having great luck with them.

I would not enter the water past ankle deep with any machine not waterproofed. Speaking from experience, I have been knocked on my butt too many times when i was only knee deep because a rouge wave hit me when I was consentrating on a target and not watching the surf like I should have been. I have also stumbled in holes when I wasn't paying attention. Wish I could say I found a ring in the holes I stumbled in but can't...

 

[COTTON]

Sov.GT,

 

[Moe (fl)]

Was talking to a guy last week that has an E-trac and Exp SE, and claims that he has found targets at 2 to 2 1/2 feet deep on the beach! These were inch size objects. Can this be true?

I have heard that the BHID300 can detect a dime at 1-foot and a quarter at 1 1/2 foot.

Some of these depths seem a little hard to believe!

 

[erikk]

I think the Exp with a WOT would be a nice detector, but not a good all around one with the WOT because of the weight.

The Sov GT does indeed have the Iron Mask feature which can be turned on or off. With a WOT it is a sweetie as it can be hip mounted to save the arm.

No the BHID300 is not as deep as a PI and definitely no where near a Dual. But it does have the advantage of better disc to save you time digging deep holes for hairpins. Remember time wasted digging wasted holes can be better used searching for those rings.

When I use my EX2 on the beach and have the WOT coil on it I use a modified swingy-thingy and that completely takes the weight off the arm. I can hunt that setup all day without getting tired and it is a great coin/ring setup for either wet or the dry sand. If it is calm I have taken it into the shallow water and last time out with it I found a nice white gold 10K ring. I don't do this often though as I am usually in the water with the Excal or LS

 

[Moe (fl)]

Is the E-trac good for the beach? The reviews are coming very positive so far!

 

[miket]

Was talking to a guy last week that has an E-trac and Exp SE, and claims that he has found targets at 2 to 2 1/2 feet deep on the beach! These were inch size objects. Can this be true?

I have heard that the BHID300 can detect a dime at 1-foot and a quarter at 1 1/2 foot.

Some of these depths seem a little hard to believe!

Yes it is true...I have dug a foot deep for a quarter , dime or even a penny on the beach with my BHID300...using my hand scoop I have the caluses on my fingers to prove it .. Sometimes the object is just too deep and I just give up and cover the hole in. miket