I am in Oregon. I have decided to buy an mxt. I just retired and have too much time on my hands. My wife and I had an antique store so love all old items. I just got a Gold Pan kit for Christmas and in it was a book about panning and metal detecting for gold. My dad had a white detector in the early 70's. I used it a little but never knew how to properly operate it. I have been at the white site and they have a special going. If I buy a mxt or mxt300 The 300 is $100. more I t has a 12" coil. The mxt has a 9.50 coil I want to be able to go to the coast and do the beach but will probably look for coins alot and I only live less than an hour from free goldpanning area in the Quartzville area of Sweet Home area. I want to be able to find nuggets with the metal detector if I can as well while I am up there panning. From what I have read you do not want a 12" coil when trying to find gold you want a smaller one. What would be best for me. Also there is an offer for about $100. to get a pair of headphones and a shooter and an additional coil. What I am wondering is would it be best to buy the 300 with the 12" coil and a smaller coil for gold or buy the mxt with the 9.50 and get an extra coil and what would be the best machine and coils for me. This purchase is a lot of money for me and I am not afraid to spend an additional 100 bucks if it is worth it but I do not know what would be the best deal I do not want to make a mistake as I may not be able to buy an accessory later. I bought a kabota tractor once without a bucket loader and could have bought one with for $500 more then after I bought the tractor and did not get the bucket loader I could not afford one as they were 2 thousand more and I could not afford one. Just a comparison. What should I do I hope to get alot of response from you as I live 25 miles from the White Factory and intend to buy one this week. Thanks for your help.