705 vs Etrac

[ewcoinhunter]

Ladies and Gents, I know these are two completely different machines, and thus the price difference. But my question is to you experienced 705 users. Have you hunted with anyone swinging an Etrac? If so, how did you do against him with the 705? In the right hands, experienced 705 user like Digger, Longhair, etc., could you pull as many coins as the Etrac, or is the Etrac that much better of a unit. The reason for my question is some of my fellow coin hunters say I am wasting my time with the 705, and also missing many targets. By the way I have owned an Etrac also. Now it is my mission to prove them wrong and also find more coins then all of them. Let the games begin. Keep your coils to the soil...

 

[Old Longhair]

I'm sure that Randy and I can/will both add to this thread, but this will get you started and give you an idea.

http://www.findmall.com/search.php?55,search=dynamic+duo,author=Digger,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=0,match_forum=55,match_threads=0

 

[ewcoinhunter]

Thanks for the info Longhair.

 

[surfchunker]

I think I'm the perfect person to answer this question being I got a 705 and used it a lot last year and made a lot of great finds, and last week I got an ETrac. the 705 with a stock coil is ok and with a digger coil it's a very fine machine, but one spot I've hit several times with the 705, I hit yesterday a small 6' circle and pulled out a wheat and flying eagle cent. I don't plan on getting rid of the 705 anytime soon but the Etrac will see most of the action from here on out with a small coil on it. the 705 is a very capable machine in the hands of someone willing to learn it and it's not real hard just takes a little time and the ETrac will take a little more time to learn it but is easier after having the 705. you can't go wrong with either one

 

[Digger]

one spot I've hit several times with the 705, I hit yesterday a small 6' circle and pulled out a wheat and flying eagle cent. I don't plan on getting rid of the 705 anytime soon but the Etrac will see most of the action from here on out with a small coil on it.

I have a few places where I've detected many, many times over the past 40+ years, with dozens of detectors. And to this day, I can go back knowing that I stand a good chance of finding a couple nice coins there. As we all know, you have to put the coil over the target or it ain't going to beep. And we also recognize that a 6-inch coil doesn't cover a lot of ground. With that in mind, next time you hit a target with the ETRAC, check it with the X-TERRA before you dig it up. I'll be very surprised if you find many coins that hide from the X-TERRA, if you do a "head to head" comparison. I will admit that I have found a couple coins (in very trashy areas) with the ETRAC, that the X-TERRA had a hard time sorting out. I will also say that I've pulled out quite a few coins with the CTX, again in very trashy sites, that the ETRAC couldn't distinguish. With that said, I agree with your last comment.....you can't go wrong with either one. JMHO HH Randy

 

[surfchunker]

Randy ... it wasn't even a good clear signal but good enough I was going to dig it but I do that with either machine and yes I've went over places with the same machine and something is different and make a find ... different angle or maybe a freeze has shifted it ... lots of variables ... all 3 machines are great

 

[Mark in S.E. IA]

ew, I use the X505 with the 10.5 MF DD coil and I have been using it since the x505 come out. Before that I had the X50 just after it come out and I'm pretty good with the x505. I use to hunt with a guy that had the etrac and most places that we hunted I did pretty good keeping up with him. The places that he kicked my but was when the ground was super hot or real bad electrical problems, damn power lines, lol. One place we was at the soil was super hot and areas of a lot of trash and he would get a signal and I would come over to him and check it out and I would not get a beep or the signal was so bad that I would not dig it and I dig alot of iffy signals. Ever time I checked out one of his signals and I said that I could not get a signal or it was a trash signal to me, it turned out to be a barber dime, Merc or a wheat. I was not very happy with the X505 that day but on the other hand, most any other place we went to together I had no problem keeping up with the etrac. I've been saying for the past 3 years that I am going to buy a Etrac but you know what,,, I have not bought one yet, lol

I have learned that their is going to be those types of places that the Etrac is going to out do the Xterra's but for all those other places the Xterra is going to do just fine if you really learn how to use the Xterra and use the right coil for that place.

 

[Old Longhair]

I've got both an Explorer SE and a 705, and I have them for the reason that Mark just expressed, that where one would have trouble the other would shine. And for the most part it works that way. My 705 is the go to machine, and the Explorer gets brought in where the 705 isn't working well. However, the more I play with Prospector Mode at those sites the less I see a need for the Explorer.
I foresee the Explorer turning into a CTX at some point. The 705 is going nowhere without me!

 

[Tired Rooster]

I own an Etrac and an Xterra 705. You are NOT wasting your time with the 705. I honestly think that there have been very few situations that the Etrac has pulled targets for me that the 705 couldn't have. They are different technologies. The 705 in my opinion is at the very top of VLF technology. I will not part with mine and honestly am not so sure that in the hands of some one who has REALLY learned it.............the 705 will hang with any machine out there. Digger and/or Longhair are the ones that know it best I think. What I have said is just opinion............TR

 

[ewcoinhunter]

Thank guys for the replies, all very informative. I think with the stock Xterra 705, I will go ahead and purchase the Coiltek 6" digger and the Coiltek 15" coils. With this combination, I feel there is no coin safe, or at least the ones in the ground. Thanks again to all. Keep your coils to the soil...

 

[ewcoinhunter]

By the way can anyone tell me the best place to purchase these coils, I will also get two new lower shafts for the coils, easier to change out.

 

[Old Longhair]

I know that Bart has 'em. Give him a call.

 

[ewcoinhunter]

Thanks

 

[surfchunker]

on the ETrac extra shafts are helpful but one the 705 I would rather spend the money on good digging tools or coils ... the Etrac the coil wire goes inside the shaft but on the 705 it wraps around the shaft, one thing that I got was the 705 extra bolt, nut kit for $20

 

[ewcoinhunter]

Surfchunker. Thank you for the reply. It is easier with the extra shafts to slide them together connect on back and go. I have been metal detecting for quit some time now, so I have all the good stuff. Just need a few extra coils and the two shafts, and I will be good to go. Keep your coil to the soil..