buying new detector

[jenca]

I like my current detector except that it seems to be a kid magnet since it doesn't have a headphone jack and I'm thinking that if I could use headphones I could draw a little less attention from kids or at the least onewith volume control.

I'm having fun with my Pioneer Ex, but feel like it's lacking something beyond the headphone issue just don't have enough knowledge to say I know what I'm missing.

I am looking for something that with shipping wouldn't cost more then $275 (free shipping would be awesome)

I've looked at descriptions for so many detectors that my brain is mushy from all the info, but one that stands out somewhat is the Ace 250 seems like it would be similar to what I have, only with a little more detail in identifying the target.

Does ayone have any thoughts on the Ace 150 or 250?

What is the difference between the 150/250 and the 150/250 pro?

Is there a Bounty Hunter detector that would be compareable in function that would fit my price range?

I like the lightweight of the ace, I think it weighs about a half pound less then my current device but I'm guessing so I could be off on that... it's definitely lighter though.

My hunting is in dirt that can range from easy to dig soil to something that resembles coarse gravel mixed with dirt. Clay is sometimes also found ... not close to any beaches really, but don't want to rule out using it on sand, because I hunt in sandboxes at playgrounds and the sand could be wet or dry depending on if it rained or not.

in short I am looking for something that is a sort of all purpose detector that doesn't cost a lot.


Advice would be great I want to do a little better with my second detector then I did with my first one

 

[kschae4]

I'd suggest checking the price and detector feature comparision chart at kellyco.. this may help your search. They've got independent reviews from new owners,too.

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/allbyprice/29-299-allpurpose.htm
HH

 

[jenca]

Will take a look thanks

 

[mwaynebennett]

Just about a years ago I bought a Bounty Hunter Elite 2200 for $139.99 at Big 5 Sporting Goods. I am constantly blown away at its design. I am mechanical engineer with a long history in design and I can tell you that there is almost no way that machine could be improved. It is light weight, has depth indication, target ID a L A R G E digital display and no knobs there dirt and dust can infiltrate and cause damage. It is totally solid state and has adjustable sensitivity and discrimination. I live in the Pacific NW where the soil conditions can be all over the place and the auto ground balancing handles the variations in ground conditions in stride.

I will admit that I would like to see a volume control however if you have a set of headphones with such an adjustment, it would not be an issue.

Mark

 

[dave5710]

How old is it, that it doesn't have a headphone jack? The Ace 250 is a fine machine, but you might want to contact Richard at Backwoods Detectors and talk with him. He could probably find you a quality used machine in your price range.

 

[TURNMASTER]

You may want to ask that question down on the Metal Detection forum. You will be likely to get an answer with less brand bias.

Some will give both sides and those who like the BH machines really like them. You will find that a lot of folks like the Garrett Ace 250 a LOT. If it is between an Ace 150 and 250 get the 250
There are good options in that pricew range, even better if you are OK with the possible draw backs of a used machine. You should not rule out Whites or Teknetics or Fisher, The Minelab stuff is probably out of your price range, and considered by some to be overpriced and not worth the investment,I like mine though.

Don't be in to much of a hurry.

If you watch your local Craigs list, you should see some MDs there off and on. Check with your local MD dealer, he should be a good resource. Pawn shops are another place to look.

Jeff

 

[Dave J.]

Well, here we are on the BH forum talking about other makes.

The Pioneer EX was my first design after coming to El Paso in early 2003. To give credit where credit is due, it was a rework of an earlier design which I believe was done by an independent engineering firm here in El Paso. There are so many things about it that are right for an approximately $100 or so price tag, that we've never been tempted to change it. But as jenca points out, it is a $100 or so machine. The next big step up is the $200-300 range. There's stuff in the $100-200 range but things get so much better at $200 and a bit over, that it makes sense to spend that extra money.

Several people are mentioning the Garrett Ace 250, which was introduced about 7 years ago. It was brand new and it was good. And a lot of people bought 'em. Still do.

About 3 years ago we introduced the Fisher F2 and priced it to compete heads-up with the Ace 250. Almost everyone who has tried both machines says the F2 offers better performance and better features, no contest. It is after all nearly the same machine as the F4 which runs somewhere around $400. The BH products are not indexed to the Ace 250 and therefore don't have to offer so much at that price point as the F2 does.

The Teknetics Delta, which I think runs a little under $300, is a newer and completely different design. Its diehard fan club is people who own much more expensive machines and wanted something for "backup" or "loaner" duty, and were amazed at how close its performance came to their high-end machines.

I'm not knocking the Ace, it's one of those rare products that changed a segment of the industry and became a classic. But nowadays you can get more value in that same price range, and it comes from the same factory as Bounty Hunter. Up here in the high desert of legendary El Paso, where Rose's Cantina still serves beer and the Mexican food is even better than in Mexico, and our ex-mayor Joe Wardy kept life interesting by trying to go through airport security packing a loaded Barretta, after 9-11, because he was literally too stupid to know any better. The Ace 250 is from half a continent away down there in the Texas lowlands best known for water mocs, mosquitoes, politicians who are too dangerous to do stupid stuff like Wardy, ...oh yeah, and oil barons and air pollution.

Charlie Garrett will forgive me for saying all that stuff, but probably not this week.

So that's my recommendation for a big step up from the Pioneer EX: Fisher F2 or Teknetics Delta. Check 'em out.

--Dave Johnson
Chief Designer for Bounty Hunter and allied trademarks, Fisher, and Teknetics

 

[jenca]

How old is it, that it doesn't have a headphone jack? The Ace 250 is a fine machine, but you might want to contact Richard at Backwoods Detectors and talk with him. He could probably find you a quality used machine in your price range.

I bought my current one around 2001 and had done almost no research into metal detecting.

 

[jenca]

Just about a years ago I bought a Bounty Hunter Elite 2200 for $139.99 at Big 5 Sporting Goods. I am constantly blown away at its design. I am mechanical engineer with a long history in design and I can tell you that there is almost no way that machine could be improved. It is light weight, has depth indication, target ID a L A R G E digital display and no knobs there dirt and dust can infiltrate and cause damage. It is totally solid state and has adjustable sensitivity and discrimination. I live in the Pacific NW where the soil conditions can be all over the place and the auto ground balancing handles the variations in ground conditions in stride.

I will admit that I would like to see a volume control however if you have a set of headphones with such an adjustment, it would not be an issue.

Mark

I was looking at Kellycodetectors.com after I got the link from the first reply, and the BH Elite 2200 is one that started to stand out a bit. Thanks for the thoughts

 

[jenca]

Dave J.

Thanks for the history lesson it was neat to read.

I was looking at the F2 last night along with the BH Elite 2200 after I got the link for Kellyco not ruling anything out just yet, I still have to wait for my money to arrive so in the mean time I'm trying to research things ... like most folks trying to get the most bang for my buck so to speak.

A couple things I'm starting to really consider is a device with built in pinpointing. I do have my eye on a BH Pinpointer sold by Radio Shack for about $50 which is part of the reason for the price range I picked for my new detector.

As for the Ace 250 I hd mentioned it in my original post so that's why it keeps coming up periodically, so that was my fault.

Based on your post am I right to assume that Fisher is another BH brand? Just curious, I like to have an idea of what names are connected when it comes to products.

Overall I like my Pioneeer Ex it's just really loud for a park setting and seems to atract kids from halfway across the park because of how the beeps carry. I saw that someone put duct tape over the speaker to quiet theirs which is something I'm considering doing myself.

I do find stuff with it and right now I kind of get excited everytime it beeps in the range for coins and oddly even the pull tab range because it *might* be a nickle or with any luck a piece of jewlery so far quarters are the most valueable thing I found, but I can say that the sandboxes are safer at my local park then they were before I started playing with my detector there ... no more shreaded pop cans for kids to ge cut on while they play in the sand. and the pesky pull tabs, I'm collecting and plan on turning into McDonalds to help fund Ronald McDonald House..... so yes I'm having fun with my current detector it's just a little loud and seems to draw extra attention that a quieter detector might not draw.

In short I'm not anti BH in fact I would love to stay with BH products just needed some guidence on what would actually be an upgrade from what I have yet be similar in the way it operates ... the similarity and the light weight were 2 things that caught my attention with the Ace 250 but looking over the F2 I see many of the same features on the F2 as I saw on the Ace 250 and the price seems better then the Ace 250 so the F2 is now a contender in what catches my attention.

The 3 BH units I'm kind of drawn to are the F2, the Sharp Shooter II and the Elite 2200 .... the is a 4th BH unit I kind of liked, but the model escapes me atm .... if Fisher is a BH model though I will definitely be looking closer at them as well though.

 

[dave5710]

Bounty Hunter, Fisher, and Teknetics are all divisions of First Texas Products. Dave J. has forgotten more about metal detectors, than most of us will ever know.

 

[kschae4]

Jenca- I found with the Land star & 8 " coil I really didn't need a pin pointer, the target was recovered under the bulls eye. With the Safari, I do rely on the built-in pin pointer feature.

 

[Dave J.]

TRADEMARKS: Fisher, Bounty Hunter & related private labels, and Teknetics were originally trademarks of different companies. Over the years through companies being bought and sold, all three things came to reside under one roof and unified management in El Paso, Texas. In some of our newest designs, a product created for one trademark may be adapted for distribution under one of the other trademarks. Each trademark has its own basic emphasis and its own distribution channels, although there is some overlap.

PINPOINTERS: There are three different things that go by that name.

1. Pinpoint feature on a regular metal detector. This is to aid the user in deciding where to dig.

2. Separate handheld pinpointer detector usually costing less than $100, for locating a target in the hole in order to minimize digging.

3. Accessory pinpointer probe "searchcoil" usually more than $150, which becomes part of the regular metal detector and is used for locating a target in the hole.

NO HEADPHONE JACK: For "tot lot" detecting, you don't need a lot of performance and features. Our two most popular "tot lot" machines are probably the inexpensive PEX and the TK4. If headphones is really the issue for you, and not more performance and features, I believe we manufacture a slightly different version of the PEX that goes by some other name, which has a headphone jack. Sorry, I'm not in the office right now so can't just go ask someone. You may find it listed on the BH website; if not, you could call the factory and ask someone in customer service dept. That way you wouldn't have to learn a new machine. Just an idea.

BH ELITE 2200: I believe MWBennett spotted it at $139. Darn good detector for that price tag, performance and features a big step up from the PEX, in the same league as the Ace although the two machines are of quite different character.

--Dave J.

 

[jenca]

Yes, more features is something I'm looking at as for pinpointing I would like to get a detector with pinpointing feature, and also a handheld pinpointer for once I start digging so I'm not clubbing myself in the head checking to see if the target is in the hole or in the plug like I currently do with my current detector.

Headphones are a major feature I'm looking at most of the detectors I'm seeing seem to have a headphone jack so that is an easy part.

If I understand the term "segments" it seems like more segments could help me better identify targets I'm not great with terminology so I coul be off on this one, but it seems like one of those things that having more then a few could be a good thing.

I did a side by side of the F2 and the Ace 250 and there are only a couple differences in the unit themselves, but the big difference seemed to be in the price tag.

I also go huntin on my Mom's property which use to have a horse barn on part of the land so while "tot lots" seem to be my primary target at this point, I am looking at other locations as well ... I just happen to be near one park that is heavily trafficed so it's more out of convenience then anything I can go to it on a whim with little need for planning.

I'm looking at state hospital grounds and a bike hike trail that was an old railroad bed .... just need to work on permission for the state hospital. I think as long as I leave my camera home they'll be okay with it. One person I spoke to said I would have to fill out a form of some kind but that I would have to talk to someone else to get more information. So, I have some ideas in the works beyond just playgrounds, so I'm thinking features could be a bonus. As for learning a new machine, it doesn't bother me, I tend to be good with electronic gadgets so it shouldn't take long to learn that aspect of things ... I'm kind of nerdy and enjoy technology and learning how things work ... I'm just not great at terminology ... I'll get it though as I learn more

 

[mwaynebennett]

With my Elite 2200 (same as the Discovery 2200) I can, 9 times out of 10, cut a 4" dia plug and find the target within said plug or hole. I also have a Pioneer 505 and it "pin points" to within about 3", so as for as I am concerned, the built in PP of teh Pioneer is not worth while. I will admit that the Pioneer can PP in about 10 seconds and the Elite might take me 15 seconds, but the Elite is so freaking light weigh compared to the Pioneer that I never get fatigued. I cannot say that about the Pioneer. I also think the Elite is an entire generation (electronically speaking) ahead of the Pioneer with its auto ground tracking, HUGE, easy to read display and 100% solid state controls. The Pioneer is a great machine, but is is a bit obsolete compared to the Elite.

Things to look for in a detector are:

1) Light weight
2) Easy to use controls. The Elite 2200 can be adjusted with the same hand holding the detector. If there are knobs, you will need to use two hands or at least put down the detector.
3) Easy to read display.
4) Ability to use larger or smaller coils.
5) Number of tones it can make for the various targets encountered. The Elite uses 4 tones.

Mark

 

[wasp]

Dave J,
How do the Bounty Hunter models such as the new Platinum carried by Cabelas compare to the Teknetics Gamma 6000? They look very similar and have similar features. Is the performance similar as well?