Thanks for the replies this forum does seem full of helpful people. Since I plan on searching through spots littered with junk iron how does this change what type of detector I want? I have a few decent spots to go where I know there are old coins and I like uncovering these. I would like to purchase a new machine so I can share the other one with my kids. I do like the sounds of the F5 and the $350 deal seems like a good investment...
Used Garrett AT Pro are going for about $350, maybe another $75 for 5x8 coil. I have 8 coils for my AT Pro. I may sell some coils after testing this Spring. Actually all I've used so far is the stock coil. I got a dime down 7" that IDed as dime on every pass, and a very tilted clad quarter down several inches that gave good ID. Also got a shallow nickel with perfect 52-53 ID, even though is was surrounded by 5 pieces of iron.
The Minelab Equinox 600 for $649 new & Equinox 800 for $899 will likely be the best overall detectors we've seem for under $1K new price, not just detecting deep, but IDing correctly at depth, and getting coins close to trash.
Like the Garrett AT Pro, they can go underwater to 10 feet. But the Equinox 600 can operate on 5, 10, or 15 kHz, or on 5, 10, 15, 20 & 40 kHz at once. The 800 can do same, plus one can select 20 KHz or 40kHz for gold.
Cheaper detectors that impress me: Teknetics Liberator for $219 new, and it is the cheapest detector that I know of that offers manual ground balance. It comes with 7x11 DD coil, same as Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro.
For detectors that are only fixed ground balance, Teknetics Minuteman is on sale for $149 with coupon, same as Eurotek Pro w/8" concentric coil.
The cheapest and newest Teknetics is the Digitek for $129. Detects coins to 8" w/7" concentric coil. They will send you the kid size 20" lower rod version good for people up to 5' 5" unless you change selector to 26.5" lower rod.
To get the coupon discount and free shipping just go to tekneticsdirect.com and pick a participating dealer. Pick one that's on your favorite website.
I had a Fisher F5, got coins down to 4-5" in my moderately mineralized soil.
Think I sold it for $299 & got it cheaper than that. Best wishes.