Help Purchasing A Metal Detector

I have learned enough over the last few months to confidently say that the ACE 250 is a great, if not the best metal detector to start off with. At $212 new, it will fit into any serious treasure hunters budget. For those that have a few extra bucks, consider the Etrac, at 1,200 new, it eats coins for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I hope this helps someone out there looking for a good machine.

The Garrett brand markets really good products, after studying field tests, I see no major differences between the Ace 250 and 350 so to save a few bucks I decided to go with the Ace 250. Fisher also has great metal detectors but unless you get a used one, you'll pay a premium.

fistfulladirt I meant used not new, sorry.

Hey ya'll,

Thanks for all of these continued and very helpful details guys.

I am pretty much still reading and waiting but haven't 'pulled the trigger' yet on buying my first real, womb-to-tomb, metal detector.

Besides the ever-present financial piece of the puzzle to consider I would hate to become the proud owner (similar to a boat owner) of a great new MD toy and later realize that two happiest days of my life were:

1) the day that that I initially purchased this fantastic new metal detecting marvel

and

2) the day that I finally got rid of this MD unit that had been gradually evolving into a stationary 'boat anchor' from prolonged storage time within a closet collecting dust as a result of not prioritizing my time toward learning how to maximize my enjoyment of this metal detector...

In summary it would really be nice if some type of interactive and personalized app existed that could predetermine anyone's future level of enthusiasm and dedication to the hobby of MD 'after' the purchase of any MD device for the first time.

Buying a cheap one first and then upgrading later is not an option I would like to pursue.

IMO
mdpmedia

mdpmedia
I think you are maybe looking at this the wrong way. Metal detecting is hard work and sometimes back breaking. It gets you out into the world you will have to interact with strangers and even kids will bombard you with questions. You will probably end up at some point running foul of some authority such as the police. You will not get rich. you will be lucky to find enough to make minimum wage and it will take years to get enough of a return to pay for your detector. You will learn to hate people who drop the pull tabs from soda cans. You will find piles of grotty corroded cents that will need cleaning before you roll them and turn them into the bank. If you really want to get into metal detecting then this is what you are in for. I have been detecting for close to five years now. I still get excited about finding even a cent and there is no way to describe the feeling when you pull your first gold or silver out of the ground though for some this never happens. I don't do it for the money though I seem to do much better then the average detectorist. I do it because its fun and most of all I get to spend Quality time with my wife. If you buy a good machine it is going to retain its value so even if you don't like it you should be able to recoup a large percentage of your costs back. If the thought of digging corroded cents and pull tabs excites you then this may be the hobby for you. If you had to think long and hard over the pros and cons then perhaps this is your sub conscious telling you its not for you.

When you become efficient at the hobby, you won't be digging pulltabs or aluminum cans. Sure, there may be a slight learning curve at first, but the more time and effort you put in, the better you get. I don't consider MDing work at all, and have never had a run-in with the law, or anyone else for that matter, and I've detected hundreds of public and private areas. I like to brag that I've dug hundreds of old coins like silver dollars, halves, large cents, IH's, Shield nickels, 2-centers, and so on...I pretty much pass over clad coin but I will stoop to dig a newer quarter lol! I like to give others the incentive to get into the hobby and get out there and dig (remember - always fill holes and be neat and courtious wherever you are detecting).

Mdp it might be me in that photo! Well now I was only 2 then, and that wasn't my brand of smokes anywho..
...regarding the reale, I was digging an old farmyard dating back to "civ" times, when I got a solid hit and popped out what I thought was an old knock-out from and electrical box. I threw it in my garbage pouch, and weeks later took a second look and noticed the date on the old worn silver, couldn't believe my eyes! The same thing happened with an old KGII copper that I'd dug, thought it was an old button till I looked closer and noticed a date, 1807!