Metal Detecting Forum

Just looking at the two , and wondering if anyone had any likes or dislikes about either one. Contemplating on picking one, just not sure which one. All comments appreciated
Thank you. HH

I will allow the question but if there is any brand bashing in your answers, you are risking your Finds membership.

Since you are fairly new John, I might explain that questions like this usually result in one sided answers from brand loyalists promoting the brand they use with no knowledge of the other brand, sometimes to the extreme.

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Bells and whistles are nice, but nothing will substitute for the basic understanding of the hobby.

CTX 3030, V3i, M6 W/Bigfoot coil, Cibola/modified



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2012 06:37AM by Larry (IL).

I use an Etrac. Learning curve is reasonable, holes can get deep. I do well on coins and relics. Great on the beach. I wouldn't mind a VX3 either. I will say for all it's good points the Etrac is heavy. I use a swingy thingy as my shoulder is bad. I hear the VX3 has better balance but I can't speak from experience there.

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Garrett AT-Pro, Minelab E-Trac, 2 Pro Pointers and a probe rod.

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good. ~ Thomas J. Watson, Jr.

I like gold too much to ever own an E-Trac!

I guess that's why you find gold with Etracs, just to fool some folks!

But honestly, while they won't hit thin chains they will hit rings and pendants. I'm not brand loyal to anything but if I had the money I'd own way too many machines! In my limited time in the hobby I've seen many of the internet brand stereotypes upset in real life. It would be fun to have several more machines just to do more side by sides on real targets in the real world.

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Garrett AT-Pro, Minelab E-Trac, 2 Pro Pointers and a probe rod.

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good. ~ Thomas J. Watson, Jr.

Can't go wrong either way - both very good 'tectors!!

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Spectra V3i
BHID 300

I don't believe the VX3 was ever meant to be in competition with the Etrac, but was designed to be in direct competition with the Safari as both are basically turn on and go machines and somewhat similarly priced if you disregard retail price and go with our sponsor prices. If you want to save yourself several hundred dollars, by all means go with the VX3 and as previously mentioned it is basically a turn on and go detector and very simple to operate as compared to the Etrac which has additional features. It is those additional features which when properly used, makes the Etrac so good at finding deep silver in among heavy trash, another reason is its 11" DD Pro coil which wisely has also been used on both the Explorer and Safari. If the VX3 has a weak link it would probably be its 9.5" concentric coil which likely won't match up with the 11" DD Pro coil on the Etrac. I believe White's did the VX3 a dis-service by not using the 10" DD coil that V3i uses, on the VX3 too, but that is just my opinion. Both detectors will definitely find the goods, but in the very toughest spots the Etrac is generally acknowledged to be No. 1 and for the extra money it should be. In any other type of area have no doubt the VX3 would do just fine just like the Safari does..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2012 01:32PM by Mtnmn.

That was pretty much what I anticipated to hear, my apologies for asking a question of this type and I definitely will try to not repeat. I was looking to upgrade to a good machine and I have read a lot of specific comments,raves,and rants etc. about individual machines so I will keep monitoring and reading up on all of them. Thank you so much for the answers they really helped out.












2012 Goals / first silver !