What should I buy? less than $500

[Anonymous]

what should I buy? I have never done any metaldetecting before. I want to look for coins and all kinds of things at home and maybe go to the lake and search at the beach. I don't know what to buy? I've been thinking of: Fisher 1212x, Minelab Musketeer Advantage, Minelab Sovereign Elite. There is a pretty big price difference between them. Will the Fisher 1212x be ok or should I get something better?

 

[Anonymous]

any of the ones you mentioned will be fine.do you want some kind of target id?tone id?do you know anyone you could get together with to hunt a bit?what's your threshold for pain?i ask that because the sovereign,as most minelabs,is a bit hard on the arm.there are a lot of detectors out there and that makes it really tough.we all had to go through that part so from my experience i'd read the forums,ask a lot of questions.list the things you really want in a detector,make a decision and jump right in.you can always sell or trade up without losing a lot of money if you stick to the popular models.good luck

 

[Anonymous]

what can the Musketeer Advantage do that the fisher 1212x can't do? How deep does Musketeer Advantage search compared to Elite?
I've read in this test that the elite can search at twice the deep as fisher 1212x http://www.guldstrom.se/soekdjup_elite.html

 

[Anonymous]

Here's an even bigger question: When you look at those detectors, do you have any idea at all what all the controls on them do, and how they interact with each other to do a variety of things depending on ground conditions and how much trash is in the ground? If you don't -- which is quite likely if you've never done any metal detecting before -- chances are pretty good that you'll spend more time in your year trying to figure out how to actually control the detector than you will actually hunting for stuff. Ideally, the BEST first detector anyone can get is one you can basically use without much muss and fuss right out of the box. The more expensive detectors tend not to be like that -- and really, it's tough to hunt when you've wrapped your detector around a tree out of frustration.
I'm not going to suggest any particular detector(s) because you've not really given any sort of info helpful for *anyone* to do that. But the thing you should really be concentrating on when you first start out is not necessarily depth or cost (more expensive doesn't necessarily mean "more better"), but rather a machine that's simple to use, as light as possible, AND able to handle however mineralized your soil is and whether you're talking about hunting fresh water or salt water beaches.
Scott

 

[Anonymous]

My father in law just got one and is VERY impressed. It's track record over the last year appears phenomenal as is the customer satisfaction. They've really incorporated a LOT of high end features in a nice mid-range detector and, as with all White's it's ergonomically constructed AND light (2.5 lbs) so those new to detecting don't find it a physical liability.
Check out the link below the picture...

 

[Anonymous]

Since you've never done any metal detecting, have you any notion of how long it takes a guy with a hand trowel to dig a hole 1-1/2 feet deep and 1 foot wide in baked dirt and around tree roots thicker than your thumb while under a blazing summer sun? Pretty damn long, that's how long. Come to think of it, it also takes pretty damn long using a camp shovel, too. Your hands will hurt and blister up just the same either way.
Unless you're hunting for extremely old coins and war relics (especially in places where the ground has been turned an awful lot, like farm fields), you may not necessarily NEED an extremely deep detector. Most detectors in the $150-$350 range find coins and such down to 6-8 inches (where 90+% of most everything you'll ever want to find happens to be) quite easily in good soils, and even quite a bit deeper than that in wet freshwater sand. Matter of fact, guys over in England typically find absolutely ancient stuff thousands of years old in the 4-6" range using detectors that cost us around $350 or so.
Also, if you plan on hunting in public parks, schoolyards, etc. you NEVER want to be digging holes more than a few inches deep because digging huge holes is a very fast way to get thrown off the land. In places like that, a simple detector that'll get you down 4-6" is more than adequate.
You might want to re-think your situation a little more. Or not. It's your money.
Scott

 

[Anonymous]

too many variables.what are your soil conditions?not all detectors will work the same in different soils,not all people have the patience to learn their detector.the sovereign will generlly go deeper that the others you mentioned but as scott pointed out deep isn't always important.if it were me i'd start out with a fairly decent detector and see if this game is really for you.whatever you choose don't think it's gonna be the detector that's going to be doing the work.you have to learn how to use it and what it's telling you.it's only a tool,you still have to decide whether to dig or not.

 

[Anonymous]

first i want to say thank you to all kind people who help me.
Does it matter if it's salt of freshwater at the beach. where i will search it's only freshwater.
Damn I don't know what to buy? The fisher 1212x is cheap but doesn't go very deep. I've read some good stuff about Minelab Musketeer Advantage but it costs twice as much.
What can Musketeer Advantage do that fisher 1212x can't?

 

[Anonymous]

You need to go to a multiline dealer and let him help you.

 

[Anonymous]

OK, exactly *how* deep are you expecting whichever detector you choose to be able to get? 6 inches? A foot? 3 feet? "Deep" means different things to different people. And in different parts of the country, ground mineralization makes "deep" a relative thing, because the exact same detector that gets 12" in one place with low mineralized soil can get barely 3" in a place with very high-mineralized soil. And in one certain fabled place in Alabama, it'll get barely an inch ... so we're told <img src="/metal/html/wink.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
Minelabs are fine detectors, but they're heavy beasts (just like a lot of other detectors out there), so unless you've actually tried swinging one around for about a half hour straight, you might want to be in less of a hurry for one (or any other heavy detector) when you're first starting out. They also have quite a bit of learning curve to them as well, which isn't exactly an ideal thing for beginners.
IMO, beginners really should look toward low- or mid-line Tesoros, or the Fisher Excel if you're not afraid of a little learning curve and not afraid of programmable detectors with a meter. Those detectors are simple to learn and operate, feather light (which will keep your mind on your hunting, not how really, really sore your arm is getting), get very respectable depth, and do very well in the trash. Then in about a year or three, that's the time to start thinking of getting into the really deep (and really heavy) machines like Minelab.
Scott

 

[Anonymous]

The Whites Prizm V is your choice or the Quantum Pro, you will appreciate the Visual Target ID, Tone ID, specially the depth gauge and the pinpoint, the 9.5" coil is great too.
You can also try eBay and try to get a Whites XLT E-series or a DFX, the Explorer II is an amazing detector (or the Quattro), if you can find one of the two Minelab detectors I mentioned on eBay go for it!
And to start you'll need just a few things, trust me on this one, Try getting a 'Sierra Dig-it", a "Treasure Scoop", a 14" trowel (again, from Jimmy Sierra), a Convertible Twin Scoop (From Jimmy Sierra)for when you're on the beach (works amazingly), a pouch to keep the dug stuff, a big piece of cloth (to put the dirt you scoop out) it won't cost you a cent. An 8" probe. That's all, oh, and if your budget allows try getting a bullseye II pinpointer, I have the bullseye (the first one) and it works great, the Bullseye II has a vibrating option which is great if you like keeping your headphones on. Here's where you can get all of your detector accessories:
http://www.jimmysierra.com/
Hope this helps, and yes, I have everything I posted so I can reccomend it! I GREATLY reccomend Jimmy Sierra accessories!

 

[Anonymous]

They will all find stuff. I started with a 130.00 Bounty Hunter Tracker IV and found plenty of stuff. Once I figured it out, I had to try several different machines to find out what features "clicked" for me. I did too. Took 8 detectors to figure it out, but I did it <img src="/metal/html/clap.gif" border=0 width=20 height=30 alt=":clap">
Pick a detector that looks fun. Fun to use, fun to learn, fun to look at and then just get out and use it. This is not the time to be agonizing, that will come later <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
After a while you will learn what you like and don't like in a detector and at some point go shopping for "your" detector. in the mean time, have FUN!!!!
Happy Hunting
Mike Hillis

 

[Anonymous]

You can buy a Minelab Musky brand new If you are interested email me at rlofton3@yahoo.com

 

[Anonymous]

Which is 'better' depends on what type of sites you hunt and what kind of mineralization you have in your area. I have heard alot of good things about the Advantage. I have heard the Advantage is very good in iron. The DD type coil on the Advantage will also make the Advantage lose less depth in mineralized soil when you compare it to a concentric type coil. I've haven't heard too much on the 1212x's. But, Fisher detectors are known for being deep machines. I have Minelab and Fisher metal detectors and like them. In my area I would probably opt for the Advantage. But, that's just my opinion. As some others have said. Don't get caught up in the depth issue. I have found many, many keepers less than 5 inches down. The detector's ability to seperate trash from the nearby coins is why I dug the coin. Good luck!
-Bill

 

[KansasGeo]

Al,

Let me give you a little insight on my first detector. I purchase a top-of-the line Whites Spectrum several years ago. Nearly $800. I really knew nothing of the hobby, but was raring to learn. After I got it home, I began scratching my head trying to figure out all the LCD meter readings and settings on it. I took it out to a local park and found some items with the preset programs. It took me 3 years or so to feel comfortable with it. In the meantime, I entered competitive hunts and got lucky and won a Fisher 1212X. This is the machine my wife began to hunt with. Simple, easy beeping machine. She has found so many good items with it, I cannot begin to describe. I also bought a Tesoro Stingray. I got into water hunting and really enjoyed the sound, ease and depth (in water) of this machine. My brother also bought a Tesoro Stingray and Tesoro Sidewinder, The Sidewinder is a great entry-level machine. My wife used it yesterday and found a 1857-O Seated Liberty quarter. This is her favorite machine now. It is light and easy to use with just enough bells and whistles to keep you interested. Now for me, on the other hand, have become wise to the hobby. I am about to purchase a Tesoro. I can't decide whether to get the Tejon or the Vaquero, but for me, it will be a Tesoro. They have a lifetime warrantee of their products, provided they are not abused. I like the rugged light-weight and ease of use they are known for. I'd rather listen for targets than look at a screen. My eyes are glued to the ground and my ears are tunned to the sound. A great combo for me. I like a fairly simple machine. I don't want to fumble through all those screens and figure out what to enter. I rather spend time digging and searching. I am not a "hardcore" hunter either. I like to go out occasionally when opportunity stikes with the misses and have fun. As far as depth, I was always looking for something that went deep. Now, I would rather have more sensitivity than depth. If I can't find it, it won't matter how deep it went. I don't really like digging up big iron objects - it takes too long. I am more interested in coins, tokens and jewelry. This why I am leaning toward buying the Tesoro Vaquero. It has about the same depth as a Tejon (from what I read) and with the 5.75 coil, it will be highly sensitive to small deep objects. I hope this helps. Whatever you may choose, just make sure it suits you. That is the best recommendation I can offer.