Gabe's metal detector choice
Hi Gabe,
If you want dry and salt water capability, at 800 dollars there is nothing, and I mean nothing to beat a Minelab Sovereign. I've tried on: one the beach, it is irreproachable (use it on "auto"). Inland, it's a fabulous machine. The restrictions are battery consumption is very high, pinpointing is pretty vague, and sensitivity to very small targets is not too hot, 'though if you're not hunting for very small antique stuff (and you won't be considering where you live ;-) that's not a problem. The Great Drawback is that this machine has a very slow recovery sped, eg, it will ignore, if you're discriminating iron or other maetals, other targets next to the trash. Need's a slow sweep. Even not using discrimination, if you're in the all metal mode, the recovery speed is a litle sluggish. Apart from that, it's by far the best all round machine ever for your money. The only reason I haven't bought one myself for beach hunting is that I've already got more machines than I can afford, and I couldn't pay the alimony if I did buy one and my wife found out.
Nick