I have about 300 to play with for a new detector...maybe a little more if its worth it...I would like it to also be able to detect in shallow water if possible...thanks in advance for the help!
I also recommend buying used AT Pro. In my opinion you can't get a better bang for your buck in that price range. It is great in freshwater and land. I found a ton of nice finds with mine. I think you can find a used one for around $350.
I would get an Garrett Ace 250 and some Grey Ghost headphones. Should keep you in budget if you can buy it used. Maybe a Garrett pinpointer, too. Barebones must have combo!
Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro or Teknetics Liberator (essentially the same machine with a different faceplate and a small variance in price depending on where you're looking) You can find the BHLRP on amazon right now for about $ 244. Good luck!
All the machines listed on the post are good choices. But remember , all the machines recommended except the
Garrett AT Pro are NOT waterproof ! Some are "Weatherproof" like the Fisher F44, (Weatherproof. Meaning a little rain).
But with all these machines if you slip and dunk them say good bye.
Are you happy with your Tracker IV ? I love mine. its as waterproof as all the machines listed above except the AT Pro.
If your serious about going into the water, I agree with some of the other guys. Save a couple extra bucks and get the machine that fits the kind of hunting you dream about.
My suggestions ; Garrett AT Pro, Whites MX Sport, Equinox. All in the $ 500 to $700 price range new, $300 to $500 used.
i would get a used sand shark if using for wet conditions and beach plus its built like a baby tank, a used sovereign xs would be very good too for beach but would have to build some water protection around to save circuitry in long run. a used vaquero is also a good idea but is bad in wet sand, its good in the field. if on a real tight budget i would get one of these used, but i personally would get one new. If you want the best bang for your buck in the depth department for coins and rings try to find a used original tdi or tdi pro in the 600-800 range, the thing is a beast and a tank and you can find new rechargeable batteries for it online
My whites prism 6t lives in my truck. Should be able to pick one up cheap and it finds stuff. I could not even guess how many hours I have worked it. Everything from saltwater to old homesteads. Just cannot dunk the box.