seeking advice on beginner MD - Garrett vs Tesoro?

[brian1]

Hi everyone,

I had come here seeking info on one thing, but after spending a bunch of time reading many posts, perhaps I want more than I came for...

My MD use has been strictly either finding all my brass ammo cases after shooting semi-autos, or finding the occasional metal thing I've dropped somewhere and can't find by eyesight. I've seen a couple people with metal detectors, but I think I figured they were just killing time & not really finding anything cool or useful, so I never gave it much thought. Apparently I was wrong.

I have a Compass Coin Hustler II that we got years ago for about $3 at a yard sale. It worked great for the above. My parents also bought me a Radio Shack MD several years ago, but I've never liked it, even though I think they paid "a lot" for it. It has so many knobs and bells & whistles I could rarely get it to work as well as the Coin Hustler, and every time I wanted to use it, I had to drag out the manual and go through all the adjustments, just to find that last ammo case.

Well, the Coin Hustler has given up the ghost and the Radio Shack is working so poorly I don't even want to use it. Maybe it's just adjustments, as I also can no longer find the manual to do all the knob adjustments.

Anyway, I looked into getting a new one that works as well as the Coin Hustler did, is as simple to use as the Coin Hustler, and doesn't cost too much. My main focus is stuff on the surface, and I don't care about things like discrimination (at least I haven't up until now). A large detection area is a big plus. The people at metaldetector.com recommended the Tesoro Silver Umax. The price of it shocked me, as it seemed like an awful lot just to find a few ammo cases, but I guess you folks consider that the bottom of the barrel. They also recommended the 3x18 widescreen coil with it, but that priced it in the "no way" category. The people at metaldectors.com recommended the Bounty Hunter Tracker II or a Quicksliver, but they didn't sound quite as personally knowledgeable as the fellow at metaldetector.com.

All this reading about metal detectors and the people doing it and what can be found has piqued my interest in maybe doing some "real" metal detecting below the surface, like you folks do. I can think of a few places that might yield something interesting. So perhaps, if I'm going to have to spring for a few hundred bucks for a basic MD, I might as well get one that is still simple to use, but one that's powerful enough that I can grow into as my interest possibly grows, and use for some "real" detecting, like you folks do. So, I was thinking that a MD that takes different coils might be the way to go - something like the Silver Umax or the Garrett Ace 150 or 250.

The Silver Umax was recommended over the Garretts, but just from looking at the pictures of their control panels, I thought I might like the Garretts better. And they, especially the 150, are quite a bit cheaper than the Silver Umax. And they take different coils, in case I want to expand my MD usage. But I hate to go against advice from someone knowledgeable, even if that person is trying to sell me something.

So, what do you experienced people think? Can anyone relate to me the differences/pros/cons of the 2 Garretts & the Silver Umax? I noticed they all operate at different frequencies, but I have no idea what real-world difference the frequency would make. Any other recommendations for a raw newbie?

Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
brian

 

[Boris]

Personally I would pick the Tesoro, it has a lifetime warranty and it is simple to use. I have a Tesoro and it is a great machine.

 

[khouse]

I say the Ace 250. Simply reject all notches except the casing notch. Then it will only beep on that conductivity of target. Plus it's a really nice coin and jewelry machine. I would not mess with the Ace 150.

 

[slingshot]

In all seriousness, that is really a tough decision. I have both. The thing about the Ace is you can hunt according to your mood. Now if a person was strictly a beep-dig person-the Silver has the edge and it's just hard to explain why, but mainly due to the fast response time, making pinpointing easier. The sounds that trash and coins make, however, are hard to explain-but after a while it kinda grows on you. I love my Ace, BUT I couldn't get rid of my Silver-that's how special it's characteristics are. The Ace shines because it's applications are not limited to just beep-dig. Go to a new place with a friend and find it loaded with trash? Just switch to coins mode..Got a tot lot? Switch to Relics mode and miss the tiny hairpins, nails, etc. Want to find just one object? Set the notches to where it only accepts this one item and you won't have to fool with any other signals. And the Ace DOES have it's own language, too. Nickels have a much broader signal than small foil and some canslaw. And you can always use it as a beep-dig detector,also-and just look at the meter in tough situations. Finally, you DID say you were not interested in surface hunting-have you considered the Compadre? For about $150 you get a detector with a lifetime warranty that has discrimination abilities that many people swear by. You can see by these pics-the first of Ace finds and the second of Silver umax finds that either way is a great choice.

 

[rglyons]

Ace 250 - I've owned Heathkit, Radio Shack, White's 6000 DI Pro, Bounty Hunter, and now the Garrett Ace 250.

The neat thing about it (and probably others in the higher money ranges) is that you can scan the ammo brass and notch out everything else.

Kellyco in Florida has it for $212.00 with free bonus merchandise. Give them a looksee.

Good luck!

 

[jhettel]

Tesoro by far. The Ace250 looks good and has lots of extras packed into it. The Tesoro is rather plain looking but it will get you the deeper targets. Believe me my Tejon is much deeper than my DFX, I know that because I dropped a minnie ball in a hole and my buddy asked me to hold off so he could swing his DFX over the hole, he swung his DFX and nothing. I also had my DFX and same thing. The Tejon was sounding off loud and clear and that was at about 12 inches. I know the DFX is not on your menu, but it is a one thousand dollar machine and that's why I am making the comparison.

I personally would not even consider a detector in the price range of an Ace250. It is a popular machine because of its price, not its depth. That is not to say that it is not a good machine. But, if you want the deep stuff, if you want the stuff from hunted out sites then I would go with the Tesoro. Once people buy a Tesoro they are hooked.

Wanna buy a DFX? It is going up soon on this website.

 

[khouse]

I'm not saying your Tejon doesn't go deep. But he said he wanted to simply look for newly spent casings. These would be surface. Plus with the Ace 250 he can accept only that notch and find his casings very quickly. My 250 easily hits coins at 7 inches with the stock coil. My 9x12 coil will hit coins in the 8 to 9 inch range. The little 4.5 inch Sniper coil will go 6 inches deep. It really doesn't matter what it costs. It's what it can do that counts.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Well I won't try to sell you anything but go with the Garrett 250. It's the most sold detector on the market and for good reason. It's a $700 detector that only sells for around $200. Easy to learn and easy to use. Back when I used Compass detectors my wife had a Coin Hustler. Was a great little detector for that time but is an outdated antique now as current technology has buried it. For fnding lost brass it was fine but for anything else ( compared to today's technology ) it is useless. I'm quite familiar with Tesoros as I owned and used them for years and field tested several ( that's what I do ) but the Garrett will give you the most bang for the buck. Hop over to my Garrett Forum ( on this web site ) and check it out and what is being found with it. Good luck on your decision.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

I don't see anything wrong with the depth on the 250. I have pulled quarters at ten inches with it. I owned Tesoros for many years from the time Jack Gifford first opened his doors for business about 27 years ago and I've field tested several of them for Jack and I ain't "hooked." Tesoros are good machines but not the "end all" of machines. Garrett pulled some goodies out of their high end machines and dropped them into the 250 and sold it at an afforable price. That's why it outsells everything else - not the price. If price was the only thing that counted then everyone would own a Bounty Hunter or one of the many Chinese jobs on the market.

Bill.

 

[Cherokeefan68]

I don't see anything wrong with the depth on the 250. I have pulled quarters at ten inches with it. I owned Tesoros for many years from the time Jack Gifford first opened his doors for business about 27 years ago and I've field tested several of them for Jack and I ain't "hooked." Tesoros are good machines but not the "end all" of machines. Garrett pulled some goodies out of their high end machines and dropped them into the 250 and sold it at an afforable price. That's why it outsells everything else - not the price. If price was the only thing that counted then everyone would own a Bounty Hunter or one of the many Chinese jobs on the market.

Bill.

That last statement is really unfair to the Bounty Hunter's. I've pulled quartersized coins at 10 inches as well with my BH Quicksilver. For not trying to sell something, you're trying awfully hard to sell that garret.

Brian, the best advice I can give is visit a local dealer or two, swing a few machines, find one that is comfortable and has the options you like. Don't rule out Bounty Hunter just because someone infered that it is a "cheap" detector.

IMHO for bang for the buck, the compadre is hard to beat. My Quicksilver is comparably priced and it is also a great machine if you want a few adjustments.

I hope this helps..

 

[khouse]

Here is his quote "My MD use has been strictly either finding all my brass ammo cases after shooting semi-autos, or finding the occasional metal thing I've dropped somewhere and can't find by eyesight".

Just how deep is he wanting to detect?
He is strictly using it to finding fresh spent casings.
I don't think he would want to thumb the disc control on a non metered machine to find his casings.
This is a perfect fit for a notch detector.
Not all notch detectors has full range of accept or reject.
This is why the Ace 250 is his best fit.
I'm not saying the Tesoro's and others are bad - but especially for what he specified the Ace 250 will do that plus a lot more.
There are other notch detectors out there. But they won't let you accept or reject any or all notches. The Ace 250 will. Plus it's a good price.

 

[Cherokeefan68]

If all you want to do is find spent brass and surface targets, that can be done with a stud-finder taped to a stick.

BUT, if you want to do other detecting, and want the notch and displays--choose the garret

If you want a simple machine that has does alot without the displays -- choose the tesoro.

 

[brian1]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice and help. I just ordered the Ace 250 package from Kellyco
brian

 

[khouse]

Another thing about the 250 is if you resell it you won't loose more than $15.00. They hold their value well. But I'm sure you'll like it. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[slingshot]

It's FUN to use! If you use headphones you'll notice after a LONG time that the battery check meter hasn't moved, also. It's NOT broken!

 

[tab-nabit]

the sniper coil is also a lot of bang for the buck - works well, pinpoints center, helps in trashy areas, works closer to tot lots & metal fences, easier to swing in tight spots, and very affordable.
You may not need a small coil for your use, but thought I would add if you get out for other uses.

 

[Socalal]

Brian,

No matter what machine you buy, learn everything you can about it. Be the best that you can be with it. Practice, practice, practice.

Every machine is different. I personally own six detectors: three White's, two Tesoro's, and a Minelab. If all you are looking for is surface materials, then I have to agree with the comment earlier about the Tesoro Compadre. Two and a half pounds total weight, one knob, cost is less than $200, has a lifetime guarantee, and is really good at locating "brass" (this is the one machine that I use most when out helping the Police locate expended cartridges, lead, etc.)

-- Al