I used CZs for years (since 1996)... thought I was the bees knees. Then I watched a guy pull a seated dime and shield nickel, right in front of me, out of a "hunted out" park with an Explorer. It was then I knew I had to have one. I was finding 10-20 silver coins per year with the CZ.
First year with the Explorer... 50 silver coins, 2 gold rings. This year with Explorer and E-Trac, 178 silver coins, one gold ring. I firmly believe that anything the E-Trac will hit, the Explorer SE Pro will get as well. Either machine is excellent. I prefer the E-Trac interface to the Explorer, but that's just my preference. I've said before that if you are a coinshooter, you will probably prefer the E-Trac. If you're more of a relic hunter, you may prefer the Explorer.
It's not about the depth... I'm not digging deeper stuff, it's the DD coil and the balls-on ID capability that make the Minelabs deadly. You hear that high pitched tone, it's silver! Con't get me wrong though, these machines go plenty deep too. I've found myself digging deeper than I would like many times!
The Pro coil is awesome in trash. No detector is great in super heavy trash, but almost all my coins are coming from hunted out parks and schools using the Pro coil.
To me, there is no bigger testimonial to the Minelab than the 1833 dime I dug this weekend in a heavily hunted old park. I've even been at several group and club hunts at this park over the years, and anyone who gets a detector tries their hand here. I usually stay away as it is trashy and the finds are few and far between. You'd be lucky to get a wheat cent many days.
If you are serious about old silver coins, Explorer or E-Trac are the way to go. Admittedly, there is a learning curve, and it ain't a cinchy turn-on-and-go like the CZ, but if you put the time in to learn it, it's worth it.
