Minelab Xterra 305
Price: $500
Avg. Score: 
3.77
Based on 22 reviews
3.77Based on 22 reviews
Avg. Durability:
4.50
Avg. Ease of use:
4.25
Very good detector
March 10, 2012
Light weight, good iron separation, target ID works fine. Lots of bells
and whistles for a 400 dollar machine. This is not the piece of junk some
of these people are posting on here. Learn the machine. All metal mode is
where this machine shines. Hits really well on silver. Slow down your
swing and cherry pick those coins. I have found many shield and V nickels,
countless mercs and barber dimes using this detector. Its a keeper. My
only complaint thus far would be the pinpoint button. Sometimes it
sticks.
Overall Rating
Tom from
Virginia
280
No coins
February 25, 2012
I got my 305 about a week ago I was using my mom Whites detector and I
found coins with hers, but this new minelab 305 I have found ONE penny. I
have found so much junk even with the LCD screen showing what should be
coins is junk, when I put a coke cap and a quarter on the ground about two
inches apart the minelab 305 couldn't tell me what it was, I don't know if
I got a defect (just my luck) or what and the manual does not explain
anything in detail it just shows some pictures and few words, wish I had
one that worked good I like to md.
Overall Rating
Rick W. from
Sherwood,AR
1114
Overpriced
December 29, 2011
I have the xterra 300. Priced around $600 when it came out. I thought the
Minelab name meant a really good one. Pro's It is light, battery life is fine, balanced well.
Does OK on surface clad.
Target ID fairly accurate. Quarters are always a 40.
Con's Pinpointing is difficult and makes really weird noises as you do it.
Not a great deal of depth...and I don't have a clue by the sound it makes about the target quality other than a repeatable solid beep.
Price integrity is weak. resale is about $175 and new ones are dropped a couple hundred already! That $175 is a better reflection of value.
I have a 4900D which I still like except for weight. Had an IDX which is similar to this one. Had a Fisher 1266 which was better than this one. Still looking for my new favorite to replace the 4900D. Just skip this one on your search.
Overall Rating
Dan from
Montana
1021
Extera 305
October 15, 2011
Laughing at this, The Xterras, unlike the Garrett machines, use Vflex
technology which links the machine to the coil when it is turned on. ???
uhhhh I don't pay any attention to any hype all the companies provide just to make sales. EVERY DETECTOR IS LINKED TO ITS COIL. LOL or it wouldn't detect anything. Thats just a marketing strategy for sales.
You want tdi or lcd display with a great find anything even in wet salt sand. Without breaking the bank.
TESORO CORTEZ. OR THE OLD WHITES XLT. Even the garrett ace 250 . Circuit boards run the same in a lot of units per company. Minus or plus a few bells and whistles. It's the khz that give you the depth. Ground balance. Sensitivity, and threshold . Little to know disc or all metal mode. You can hunt pretty much any mineralization. If you learn your machine.
You don't have to break the bank because some guy has this machine and claims its the best. EVERY COMPANY HAS THE BEST UNIT.
Overall Rating
S.W from
Pa.
1547
Don't waste your money
September 08, 2011
I bought a new 305 and was very unhappy with its performance. The meter was
useless if there was any trash in the ground and depth was very poor.After trying to figure out the problem I finally sent it back to my dealer to exchange it for a new Tesoro Vaquero. The Tesoro works fantastic and I'm very pleased with it.
Overall Rating
Anonymous from
Midwest
1517
Don't be decieved by 18khz coil?
January 09, 2011
Sorry Jeffery but I have to disagree, no offense intended. I think someone
gave you the wrong information. The 18khz DOES operate at 18k on the 305,
but the rest of what you said about the Ace 250 and 350 is spot on.We've been using the 305 for a long time and have found a lot of gold nuggets with the 305 using the 18k without paying big bucks for the MineLab 705.
Again, no offense intended.
Overall Rating
BoJangles. from
Washingto State
290
You of course have no clue what you are talking about.
January 09, 2011
The Xterras, unlike the Garrett machines, use Vflex technology which links
the machine to the coil when it is turned on. The 305 will use two
different frequency coils, the 505 and 705 will use three. Do a little
research before you post.
Overall Rating
Jim Sinclair from
Knoxville, Tennessee
4211
18khz coil on the x-terra 305? NO
January 08, 2011
Yes, the 305 is an excellent machine but don't be fooled about the 18khz
coil. Yes, it will operate on the x-terra 303 but not at 18 khz. It will
automatically drop down to the lower frequency the 305 is designed to
operate at. Here is an example from another brand name, the Ace250 operates
at 6.5 khz. The new Ave 350 operates at 8.2 khz AND the coils are
interchangeable. You can use your 6.5 sniper coil from the 250 on the 350
but not at the 8.2 khz. The sniper coil is designed as a 6.5 coil and will
ONLY operate at that frequency on the 350. You can use the 8.2 Ace 350 coil on the Ace 250 but it will only operate at the 6.5 Ace 250 frequency. The same is true o the X-terra 305. Yes, you can use the 18khz coil on the 305 but it's not going to operate at 18khz. It will drop down to the lower to frequencies the 305 was designed to operate at. Minelab fails to tell you that so don't be deceived.
Overall Rating
Jeffery from
Indiana
928
305 terror
June 09, 2010
Well the Tesoro cibola is deeper then the minelab 305, and the 305 that I
sold my friend keeps shutting off while he is detecting, time to send it
in, and see how good minelabs customers service is. If you want a deep
machine for under 400 bucks buy a cibola you won't be dissapointed
Overall Rating
JJ digs from
New Hampshire
823
I like it
April 21, 2010
I bought it used for 240 bucks, Now I sold it to a friend because he wanted
to get into metal detecting. I think its a great machine. I used it for a
couple hours at a park that I was digging alot of old coins at with my
Tesoro Cibola, and the Minelab 305 did just as good of a job. It goes
pretty deep, the disc works good, it has volume control which is nice, it
is light, I like the three tone ID sound, Hi tone is always coins or
silver. If you have a chance try to pick one up used....Why you can get a
good detector cheaper that way. It is better and more deeper then the
Garret Ace 250, it goes as deep or maybe alittle more then my tesoro
cibola, but unlike the cibola you get a digital screen which is nice. Have
fun
Overall Rating
JJ Digs from
New Hampshire
332