Posted 06/26/2007 1:54 pm
Benji,
I have two. I started out with a Bounty Hunter "Red Baron" and now use a White's 6000/DI ProSL. Detectors run from around $100 to $1300 based on the brand and features. One feature that you will want (read must have) is TR discrimination. This allows you to get hits while sweeping the head. GEB-only models require a slow head movement to pick up a signal on a target. If you swept the head too fast, you would not get a signal. TR Disc models actually work better and deeper with a smooth sweeping motion. Most detectors these days have this and have a convenient "pinpoint" toggle to GEB so you can zero in on the target. Other modern features are digital metering and programmable functions. Mine both have an analog meter function that tells what the target is (best guess) and how deep the target is. I try to be as low-tech as possible.
This just scratches the surface on what could be said about detectors. 25 years ago I knew nothing about detectors and took a chance on the Bounty Hunter. I couldn't put it down and learned how to use it through practice. In my prime I could keep up with the guys with detectors three times as expensive as mine. I also found a honey-hole that kept my interest peaked!
Unless you're in love with technology (and understand how to use it) I would recommend the White's. It is no longer manufactured, but can be picked up for around $200~$400 based on condition and the sellers motivation.
I have two. I started out with a Bounty Hunter "Red Baron" and now use a White's 6000/DI ProSL. Detectors run from around $100 to $1300 based on the brand and features. One feature that you will want (read must have) is TR discrimination. This allows you to get hits while sweeping the head. GEB-only models require a slow head movement to pick up a signal on a target. If you swept the head too fast, you would not get a signal. TR Disc models actually work better and deeper with a smooth sweeping motion. Most detectors these days have this and have a convenient "pinpoint" toggle to GEB so you can zero in on the target. Other modern features are digital metering and programmable functions. Mine both have an analog meter function that tells what the target is (best guess) and how deep the target is. I try to be as low-tech as possible.
This just scratches the surface on what could be said about detectors. 25 years ago I knew nothing about detectors and took a chance on the Bounty Hunter. I couldn't put it down and learned how to use it through practice. In my prime I could keep up with the guys with detectors three times as expensive as mine. I also found a honey-hole that kept my interest peaked!
Unless you're in love with technology (and understand how to use it) I would recommend the White's. It is no longer manufactured, but can be picked up for around $200~$400 based on condition and the sellers motivation.
myself and I remember an event from my childhood that I would love to follow-up on. The year was 1957 and the local Lions Club spread out ten bales of hay at the fairgrounds and mixed in $500 in coins (dimes, quarters, halfs, and dollars ... all silver) for the kids to search. My dad was in charge of the event and maintained a log of the finds. After all the kids were finished, there was about $75 dollars that wasn't found. Including some silver dollars and half dollars. These disappeared into the grass and eventually the soil. Metal detecting wasn't big until years later and the spot would appear unappealing to most detector enthusiasts unless they knew what happened there some 20~50 years earlier. Unfortunately I now live some 2200 miles away from the spot ... but if I ever get back there, I'm going to check it out. 
