I'm thinking about picking up a metal detector for some beach hunting this summer. Any good entry level recommendations for a modest budget, $300 range? What about used models, good idea or no? Thanks in advance! Mike
I got the Garrett Ace 300 and found some beach goodies. The coil wasn't happy when it met the saltwater as I recall. Certainly should be well within your price range and is a very decent detector.
I recommend Minelab hands down !!! Buy their entry level machines/ Ed aka @paddyman98 will fill you the details as mine is a White's Metal Detector which has been bought by Garrett .
I bought that same detector as well over the summer 2020. I had around a $300 budget too but I found a bundle with a pinpointer and some other accessories. I can't really compare it to other detectors because this is the only good one I have actually used. Even though the metal detector has a pinpoint function, you are still going to want a handheld waterproof pinpointer for when you start digging. Its very helpful. The biggest problem for me is finding good sites in Southern California to actually metal detect lol. Not much history here, the only good sites I know of around here are at the beach, but I don't go there much.
Minelab Vanquish 440 I paid $279.00 and of 3 Detectors I own this has been the best machine ever! Silver magnet! All these starting last year.. And much more!
The biggest factor is location, location, location. I've had great success using inexpensive models over the years, ranging from $40 to $90 (late 1970s to early 2000s). The issue with inexpensive models is that the discrimination between junk and bullion isn't significant. I ended up digging on any hit which ended up being fruitful. I picked up the Minelab 440 on Paddy's recommendation in another thread...got it yesterday and spent about 15 minutes putting it together and another 15 doing the test drive. Rain came so it was a short hunt but I did find junk and bullion in a short span. It seemed rather sensitive, but I'm not reading into that just yet as there is adjustments I need to play around with. The weather may clear enough this afternoon to do just that. $279
I checked out a few of these just now online. Wow, there are a lot of different "bundles" these are marketed with!
I have heard good things about the Nokta Makro Simplex. It is a competitor with the Vanquish 440 that @paddyman98 suggested. The Nokta Makro is cheaper than the Vanquish, and it is 100% waterproof (unlike the Vanquish). The Vanquish has a leg up on the Simplex in that it is multi-frequency. Both have great build quality and features for the price point. You really can't go wrong with either one. I am currently saving up to get a Simplex or a Vanquish (it will be a nice upgrade from my 1980s RadioShack detector!). Also, try using the code "REDDITMD" at kellycodetectors.com (10% off)--when I tested it, it worked out to be cheaper than buying from Amazon.
@paddyman98 I have a question for you. Do you keep all of your good metal detecting finds separate from your coin collection? Say you found a low mintage coin that you need for an album or something. Would you put it in the album or keep it with the rest of your finds?
My buddy purchased the Simplex.. I always joke around and ask him.. "Are you using your Herpes Simplex today?" It's also a great detector.
So, ah, where, ah, exactly are you, ah, finding all these goodies? Just between you and me, i won't tell a soul...
Both of my earlier detectors were from the Shack. $39.99 back in the late 70s paid for itself multiple times over. Silver was booming and I found quite a bit scanning the backyards of every family member as a kid. Bought the next one 10 years ago, on a whim (kids were growing restless at a party we were at) for $89.99. It hasn't been used much, but found a few collectibles including an IHC (I think it was 1867 in VF condition) that went to the birthday boy. So that one was probably paid off inside a few hours. I may get out there tomorrow to do a side-by-side comparison, as I didn't have time today. But in the short test drive, I found items that I'm pretty sure I should have found with the old detector, so the Vanquish on early review seems to be living up to the hype. And that would suit me fine. I plan to go back over areas I thought should yield more hits than I got with older RadioShack unit.
My detector is a RadioShack Micronta 3001. Curious if you have/had the same or a similar one. It's very primitive and finnicky (and being held together with duct tape), but I have managed to find a '39 Mercury dime, a '53 wheat cent, and some other odds and ends using it in my 1960s yard. It can't pick up on targets more than about 2-3" deep, so it's sort of a miracle that I have found anything. It's the type of detector where a signal is registered as a break in the threshold tone. The signal for the Mercury dime was almost imperceptible. (I hope I am not hijacking the thread.)
