preferences

[Anonymous]

I would really like an honest opinion from guys that have tried both Whites and Explorer. I know that the guys that have always been minelab users are predujice and think that minelabs are the best and the "Whites guys that think the only detector out there is A Whites. I have had a Whites for about 14 years and still think Whites is a great machine. I have talked to a couple of guys that think the Exp 11 is the best. I want to know if this is just personal preference or is there something to it.

 

[Anonymous]

Skytrooper
You have ask the number one question of everybody that is interested in metal detecting. Right now I use an Explorer XS as my primary weapon of choice. I have used Tesoro's and Whites for a nubmer of years and found keepers with both, but I must say that I have found more with my Explorer than I have found with all of my other metal detectors combined.
I also have a Whites IDX Pro as a back up, that I just picked up and I am in the process of sending to Mr. Bill to have ground balance, threshold, boost, and SAT switch installed on it, because I think that with modifications it is one of the best coin shooters around.
The Explorer XS and the modified IDX Pro is a combo that works for me, but I have friends that use XLT'S, DFX'S and other high end brands and they will not trade them for anything because they are happy with what they are using. The best thing that you can do is find a machine that you are comfortable with and try to decide to dig or not dig, we are all a bunch of goffers with hi-tech toys. Good Luck and HAPPY NEW YEAR. TB

 

[Anonymous]

For years my partner used an XLT and I used a CZ and we both did well. I think learning your machine is what its all about and confidence counts.
I will say after using a whole bunch the Explorer just seems to get them where others fail and at some great depths.
Have I pulled some nice finds with other brands, sure have but for right now an Explorer stands out above the rest.

 

[Anonymous]

Sky;
The most important factor is learning what your detector is telling you. I have an explorer XS and my brother-in-law has a Whites XLT e series that he has used for years. If you have been using a whites it will take some time and effort to learn the Explorer. It is a horse of a different color.
Don't expect to pick up an explorer and have it be the same as a whites. If you take the time you will be well pleased with the performance of the explorer.
Some ppl that are "tone deaf" are just unable to use the Explorer. If there is someone in your area that has one you may be able to hunt together and compare target response by checking each others targets to see if there are targets that the explorer will detect that the whites will not and vice versa.
Rick (TN)

 

[Anonymous]

I just went way out on a limb and bought them both, and will test them both in my ground and side-by-side on the same targets in my test garden where I know exactly what's in ground and how deep it is. I figure that's the only way I can settle it once and all for myself. Ray Hogan in Waco, TX.

 

[Anonymous]

And found a lot of coins with them. Over 30,000 to be exact. I virtually gave up hunting in the 90s because I couldn't find much. Then when the Explorers came out I started reading the forums and seeing all of the old coins being pulled out of the ground.
So far since December 2001 with the Explorer XS I have found over 4000 coins of which over 500 are silver :
Large Cents 7
Flying Eagle Cents 3
Indian Cents 481
Wheat Cents 1303
Memorials 768
Two Cent Pieces 7
Silver 3 Cents 6
Nickel 3 Cents 6
Bust Half Dime 1
Seated Half Dimes 4
Shield Nickels 50
V Nickels 32
Buffalo Nickels 16
Silver War Nickels 5
Clad Nickels 94
Bust Dime 1
Seated Dimes 43
Barber Dimes 95
Mercury Dimes 207
Roosevelt Dimes 89
Clad Dimes 320
Seated Quarters 11
Barber Quarters 17
St Lib Quarters 4
Wash Quarters 27
Clad Quarters 695
Barber Halves 2
Walking Liberty Halves 7
Franklin Halves 3
Clad Halves 5
Morgan Dollar 1
3 Gold Rings
I recommend the Explorer!

 

[Anonymous]

I own a White's XLT. I own (2) Minelab Exporer II's. The best way to answer your question is to go back three months on this forum and the White's forum and judge the finds yourself.

 

[Anonymous]

Bouncing back and forth between two detectors with many facets will drive you bonkers. After hunting with a fellow that used an XLT for years and using one myself it will find coins, but the Explorer will just go deeper and pull that old silver. Living in an area that has been beat to death an Explorer is my choice just for these reasons alone. Stick with quickstart , bump the sens. up into the twenties and you have a formidable unit until you get the hang of it and then experiment. I would advise you to swing a silver dime and nickle across the coil until the tone is imbedded in your brain and when you go into the field the tone will stop you in your tracks.Remember this is coming from a fellow that has tried a bunch and an Explorer sure has the best guts of any I used..Not trying to start a detector war and many do well with the XLT so in the end its your call. But to me its a no brainer the Explorer is just a superior machine.