NEEDING HELP WITH PURCHASING FIRST DETECTOR!

[tarheel10]

I'm sure you hate people like me, but I've wanted to do this type of stuff for years. I've never purchased a detector of any kind.

I don't know what kind to get. I can't afford of course like a lot of people to put $500+ dollars into something at first.

I can tell you where I live and what type of areas I have access too.

I live near the East Coast and would like to go to the beach. I also live in a rural areas like farm land.

Between farm land, beaches and the mountains is there something that is recommendable to use. I know I'd like to have a ID display.

If someone could feel sorry for me and help me out it would be great. There aren't any dealers around where I live, but I didn't hear of someone that has a small place I think at their home called Common Sense in Shallotte, North Carolina.

I live between Myrtle Beach, SC and Wilmington, NC. I wish there was someone I could meet to discuss what the pros and cons of purchasing and detecting in our areas. I've tried to research clubs, but nothing came up.

Thanks in advance,

Randy

 

[Tin Nugget]

I saw a post recently here or on Tnet that said Fry's Electronics store is selling the Garrett's Ace 250 for 167.00 or 176.00. Pick that up if you have a Fry's in your area. Then you can still afford a quality digger and headphones. If not, you can get one for about 210.00 elsewhere. Great detector for the money. If you stay with the hobby you can always upgrade later.

 

[Beale]

You said you could not do 500+ dollars into a detector. If you want to stay under the $300 rang then I will second the Ace 250. Very easy to use unit, has nice features for the price, and gets good reviews. If you do the Ace I would suggest the sharpshooter coil as a add on. I am reading very good things about this coil.

Good luck withr choice, Beale.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Randy,If you pick up an older CZ for $400-$500 and did not like the hobby you could get your money back on a resale.Any CZ is a great metal detector great depth excellent visual and tone ID.When I first got into the hobby I thought 500 dollars was too much to pay for a metal detector.Bottom line you'll be further ahead paying more for a good used quality unit, otherwise you could waste time trying to use a cheap metal detector that just doesn't work very well. [ /b]

 

[Uncle Willy]

Try a Garrett Ace 250. A lot of detector for the money and it will hold its own with machines costing hundreds more. Easy to learn and easy to use. Don't make the mistake of buying more detector than you can handle. Detecting ain't as simple as it sounds. Start simple and work your way up.

Bill

 

[Ron from Michigan]

II agree with Bill,metal detecting isn't as simple as a lot of new hunter's think.The Ace 250 is a great detector,for a beginner or seasoned hunter, with lots of options.There is a learning curve that is required in this hobby.

 

[clondike clad]

Whites Prizm 2 is a nice detector also.
The thing is like a tank...and it is eazy to use.
The ACE 250 is very hard to beat.( more bang for the buck) get the small coil and you will have a coin hunter.

 

[tarheel10]

Thanks guy's and I'm keeping all of this great advice that your giving.

 

[tab-nabit]

Common Sense is farther from me than I thought...
The ACE 250 gets a vote from me as a good starter machine. When I take first timers out, I have loaned different machines. I will say that it seems like most get the hang of the ACE 250 faster than my other machines, and have fun at it. Nothing like starting someone out on a top dog menu loaded machine that pops, squeals, chatters, crackles, barks, hisses, growls, phuts, - well, you get the idea, the frustration factor which causes them to take it out on me - good friend.
ACE 250 is simplicity that wont break the bank. Reads the posts and reviews and you will see positive remarks allot. Later on if you hunt in trashy areas, the 4.5 sniper coil which is inexpensive works well. Headphones recommended.
The Prism models work well and are simple to operate. Personally, I would be happy with either machine.
If you may decide later on a non-TID machine, give Tesoro some reading.
However you go, I recommend a name brand. You wont see much posted on the non-brand machines, and there is a reason for that. Common Sense - Good luck and I see you already started to right thing first which is ask/read. - HH

 

[Daniel A.]

Hi Randy a story for you the first two machines I bought were the explore 11 and tesoro sand shark. The explore frustrated me I kept reading the manual which by the way is like a book
The sand shark I liked because I'm by the ocean and the sand shark was easy to use. Then I bought an ace 250 for land hunting with the snipper coil just great, oh the explore sat in the corner
and I finally put a sun ray probe on it to help pinpoint. Since then I've bought other machines still have the explore just don't have the time to put into it at the moment but will work on it because it has something the others don't serious depth and I still use the ace depending on where I'm hunting. I prefer a concentric coil for pinpointing you may like a DD who knows if your good with software and techie you may consider more machine, if you just want a fun distraction without a big learning curve the ace is hard to beat and I'm sure there are other brands that keep it simple.
My current most used are a Troy x5 and excal. Dan

 

[tarheel10]

Thanks Dan,

I've went on several of the sites that was recommended and the price is pretty much the same for the ACE 250, except for a couple offers some head phones and digging tool, etc.

I see that it comes with a 6.5 X 9 coil. Someone was suggesting investing in another for some reason. I'm really green when it comes to this stuff right now, but I am the type that researches on the internet and asks opinions of people that know more than I do and that is all of you.

Any help still is great. I do think I'll get the 250, but don't know about the other coil to purchase and what type of head phone is a good start.

Remember, I leave near the coast and lots of rural farm land. I wish I could get it prior to going to the blue ridge mountains in November.

I may try a little panning for gold. I just love the hunt for things.

Thanks,

Randy

 

[Wayne/TX]

Hi Tarheel, have you tried the following sources for clubs?

http://gometaldetecting.com/links-clubs.htm

http://www.tomstreasures.com/club.html

Good Luck!
..W

 

[tarheel10]

How good of a deal is this?

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/garrett/garrett-ace250pro.htm



Thanks,

Randy

 

[Wayne/TX]

It is a good deal, mainly because of the 9X12 coil, which is good to have for
covering big areas faster, plus the added depth of an inch or two for most
objects. The other accessories are OK too, since some of them you'll be
needing anyway. The 250 Ace is the Biggest Plus, of course...A real
jewel of a detector!
..W

 

[jackintexas]

I agree with the 250.00 The reason people say to get the small coil is because the hardest thing for someone new to detecting is pinpointing the target they are looking for. The stock coil is a very good coil but not the easiest for a complete new user to learn. The small coil is easy to pinpoint with to find the target you hear in the ground.

 

[Tin Nugget]

It's an OK deal. The digger is not going to cut it. The headphones are cheap but work. I had an Automax pin-pointer and hated it, to big and clunky. You are probably going to want the smaller sniper coil for parks and heavier trash areas which you will encounter often.

Ace 250 212.00
Lesche digger 40.00 I can pry up chunks of hard clay with it, cut through roots etc. Nothing hurts it.
Vibraprobe ????? not sure what they go for now. I used one for 4 years and it was great but now use an in-line Sunray
Good headphones 80.00-100.00 You can wear these for hours with comfort and better sound.
Ratphones
Grey Ghost
Killer B's
Sunray's
ETC
Then as soon as you can get the sniper coil. Not sure how much they are but it will save your sanity.

You are getting a good detector, get good accessories.

 

[tarheel10]

Thanks guy's and please keep the advice coming.

I'm still reading and looking for the best deal.

I'm really excited about this new adventure and hopefully soon can purchase what I need.

If there is any good deals out their or someone that sells and doesn't mind helping out it would be greatly appreciated.

Randy

 

[Gunnar of bradford MN]

get an MXT or a DFX because they have great coil options for you i heard mine labs are good to

 

[Piperboy]

My First Machine Was a sound machine no graft. Learn to I-D the hit's by sound no graft or display just what comes thru ear phones.You learn to listen to the different hit's coins relicks iron etc.The whites classic 2 is a very good starter machine. Or the I D X pro .Stay Away From The high end Machines For At Least a year.. Ive found some really nice coins and Buttons etc with these two units. Good luck Jim...

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

As an experienced user, my vote is the ACE 250. I recently sold my "high end" detector and purchased the ACE. After 6 months of using both interchangebly I decided the ACE gave me more depth! It is definitely not as feature packed as higher end machines, but I figure I can pocket the $300 i got from my older detector and use the ACE for a little while. I am going to buy a new high end machine, and it will be 100 % funded by the sale of my old machine and the cash found with the ACE.

There is only one bad thing I have to say about the ACE. It is too inexpensive. It has created more competition. In the past, you couldn't get a decent machine for under $300, which weeded out the weekend warriors. Now metal detectors fall into the "impulse buy" category, and anyone can afford one.