Having been a staunch user of a competing brand detector, I realized I was missing something... more stable target identification, better depth, and expandability. I decided on the Minelab X-TERRA 70 right at the beginning of 2009. After a few months of on again off again use, I got more and more comfortable with the detector each time out. Watching the DVD and reading forum users input certainly helped me along. Well, today I acquired permission to hunt a place I've had my eye on for a while. The forecast called for rain, but for some reason or other it was a nice evening... too nice to sit inside and wait for the rain! With my X-TERRA 70 in hand, out the door I went.
Arriving at the site (original house built circa 1870), I decided to stick with the stock coil over the optional deeper coil. I figured the stock coil would give me the best clue as to what might be here and was a good place to start. Immediately, I started hitting coins. Lots and lots of coins! All modern, but they were literally all over the place. Having dug about 10 wheat pennies, I finally made my first nice find of the night. At only 3 inches deep were 3 local bus tokens from the 1950's / 60's, along with a nickel and a wheat penny. This gave me hope that the place indeed hasn't been detected like the owner told me! A short time later I received a solid 42 - 44 hit with the X-TERRA 70. Showing in the 6 inch range, I carefully made my plug and sure enough out popped a 1944 Washington Quarter! First silver of the hunt!
Several modern coins and wheat pennies later, I dug yet another silver Washington Quarter... 1959! Very nearby this quarter I received another solid mark with the detector, leading me to believe I had found a silver dime. Sure enough, about 7 inches deep, a 1914 Barber Dime! And after that, a 1959 silver Roosevelt Dime! The rain/storms finally began to move in and after a few more modern coins in my pocket, it was time to head home. A total of 57 coins, plus the 3 bus tokens were dug! This was by far my most productive day with this awesome detector! Hands down, this is the best detector I've laid hands on. I have about 7 years of detecting experience under my belt and this detector has really invigorated my passion for the hobby! I still have a lot of ground to cover at this place, and eventually plan on hitting it with the deeper coil to see what I might be missing. Minelab... you have an excellent detector in the X-TERRA! Thanks for building a great detector that is not only easy to learn, but goes deep and finds the good stuff!
Bill Bertke - USA