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early 2023 upgrade

wsb79

New Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Messages
13
I think I will be making an upgrade in early 2023 from my old Bounty Hunter tracker IV. I have done a fair amount of research but I know everyone on here has a vast amount of experience and has tried a lot of different detectors so am definitely interested in hearing opinions and thoughts.

Background: I purchased a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV about 5 years ago on a whim. I have learned a lot using that machine and feel like I have definitely learned all the basics of metal detecting pretty well (how the machines work, what the machine is communicating, researching and finding productive spots, etc etc)

Uses: Primary uses would be fields and woods along with the occasional park. I live in central New Jersey but don't really do much at the beach. I occasionally detect very very very small streams (never deeper than 1 foot of water) so I don't think I need a fully immersible unit since even with a fall the box would never be under water. The primary reason for upgrade is added depth. Central New Jersey is full of "old dirt" all the way back to colonial times. and I have found some great sites to detect but feel very limited with the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV.

I have found some great items (indian head pennies, silver etc) with tracker IV but even those great finds have been in my opinion extremely shallow. I feel like I have found great sites and occasionally get lucky with finding something old that managed to stay pretty shallow ( tree roots preventing coin from sinking too deep or in a very rock area where coins couldn't sink that far). I feel like I'm missing out on a lot with the Tracker 4 not being able to go deep enough so for my new detector one of the most important features is getting the best "bang for my buck" in terms of depth while staying in my budget.


Budget: Looking to stay under $400. I don't have as much time as I would like to go metal detecting due to work, wife, kids, other hobbies but feel that there is a big improvement step up available from where I am currently at while still staying below $400. When more time opens up in the future I can always upgrade again and use this upgrade as a backup for an even higher end machine potentially in the future.

Possibilities: The two machines I have spent the most looking at are the Vanquish 540 and the Simplex although I am definitely interested in hearing opinions on other machines as well that I haven't looked at as closely but that maybe I should also consider.

Thank you for all of your help, and Happy Holidays.

Bill
 
I occasionally detect very very very small streams (never deeper than 1 foot of water) so I don't think I need a fully immersible unit since even with a fall the box would never be under water.

You will probably want a fully waterproof unit if you plan on going in the water. You know ... Just in case you drop it in the water. The Simplex would be a better choice than the Vanquish if you plan to do water hunting. I love my Vanquish but I wouldn't have the guts to bring it near water seeing that the control box is not waterproof.
 
go with the legend

I hear these are really good detectors for the money.
No matter which detector you choose check with the sponsors listed above for your best deal.
 
I think the Simplex would be great for you with a little room for coil upgrades. I have a heavy Simplex bias but not without good reason.
 
I've heard good things about both machines. I own a Simplex and love it! Whatever you decide, happy hunting and happy holidays!
 
If you were just land hunting, I would recommend the 540 over a Simplex. The depth is about the same on both in non-mineralized ground, but due to the 540's Multi Frequency, it has better target identification, and handles difficult ground much better than the single frequency Simplex.

Above and beyond that though, if you go just a little higher than $400, you can get a Legend, which is a far more versatile detector than the 540.
 
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For sure the Legend, $425 as we speak from forum sponsors [price may jack up after Dec 31]
 
Happy New Year and thank you for everyone's advice. Thank you for putting the legend on the radar for me since that is something I hadn't originally considered. I think I have narrowed it down to either the Legend or Vanquish 540.........the simplex is great for the price but I think I definitely want to upgrade to multi-frequency technology.
 
I think I have narrowed it down to either the Legend or Vanquish 540..

Again, the Legend is a far more versatile detector than the 540. Plus, the Legend has a lot more features than the 540.
 
Happy New Year and thank you for everyone's advice. Thank you for putting the legend on the radar for me since that is something I hadn't originally considered. I think I have narrowed it down to either the Legend or Vanquish 540.........the simplex is great for the price but I think I definitely want to upgrade to multi-frequency technology.

You did yourself a service going a bit beyond your initial budget, now you will have a machine to grow into instead of growing out of.

That said, if you really start getting into it and need a backup, a machine to keep in the vehicle full time so you can always detect on a whim, a machine for prospective hunting partners/kids, either of those would suit that purpose admirably.
 
I hope the OP doesn't hunt beaches because that Legend is legendary chatty Cathy on wet sand lol. That legend would be thrown in the ocean if I had to deal with that.

GL to OP hope you enjoy your new machine.
 
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I made my decision and ordered a Legend today. Thanks again for everyone's help in the process and for letting me know about the Legend.
Hope you're enjoying your new Legend. I switched from a basic Bounty Hunter to an Equinox 600, and it's not even fair to compare them. The BH was fun and I found things here and there, but the Equinox is next-level. I've been thinking about getting a Legend too for the extra features. Congrats!
 
It ended up turning into my birthday present from my wife which was yesterday so unfortunately it is still in box. Very excited to get out with it though, need slightly better weather and hunting season to end (only a couple weeks left) so I can get out to some locations that I have been researching this winter.
 
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