Metal Detectors

I know that this topic has been touched before... but are the cheap metal detectors $250 or less even worth it? Do they work? I think it would be really cool to try using it around town and stuff, but I really can't afford it. What do you guys use that works? Thanks
Also for the users where do you typically search to find old coins??

 

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try walmart for a cheap one that works

 

Hi. I Bought The $200 Metal Detector At Walmart And It Works Great. I Usually Go To Parks And Metal Detect In The Playground Sand. I Usually Find Typical Pocket Change But Nothing Old. I Would Try Finding A Old House Or School To Metal Detect At. Also Try The Really Old Parks. I Have Spend Hours Of Time Metal Detecting In The Woods Behind My House. I Mostly Find Horseshoes Since There Use To Be An Old Horse And Wagon Trail There. It Is A Really Good Buy.

 

Oh yea...the ones less that $250 work great.Like one I bought off the internet,it was a Bounty Hunter Quick Draw 2 and I bought it for hundred something.

 

The cheaper models work well in good conditions and when not in "dirty" ground. The difference comes into effect when searching in areas with much junk metals and "hot rocks" present in the ground. Cheaper detectors have a hard time distinguishing between true and false readings thus you pretty much have to investigate every hit. With the more expensive, top-line units these false items can be tuned out so only the better items are detected and junk like pull tabs are over-looked enabling you to do more time finding than searching. One big factor is that the more expensive units will also go much deeper and many have built-in "pin pointers" to help find the treasure after you start digging. My whites has a digital readout that tells you what it is seeing, even down to the denomination if its a coin and pretty accurately too.

 

Well that makes me happy (that a cheap one works well) Anyone use the
Bounty Hunter Pioneer EX Metal Detector? Thats really cheap @ Walmart ($89.88), but i am not trying to be best in class. Just thinking it would be fun to do.

 

The Garrett Treasure Ace series is pretty good for the money.

Good Luck
Bone

 

About two years ago I bought a Bounty Hunter/ Pioneer 101 off somebody that was hurting for $$ I pd. 35.00 and have used it mostly on the beach, it can be tuned for money so that you don't keep getting hits on bottle caps or the like, 1 time I found a property stake 12" deep on the beach, found some coins in the sand, but between the sand and salt water not good for the coins.


We generally go to the beach entry points and then look for where people might take their pants off (for change) or where they have been laying out tanning (for jewelry) haven't the mother load yet.
Here in Fla. we have a problem, and the problem is everytime a hurricane reaches the panhandle all the white sand goes into the gulf and then spend millions pumping it back to bch., so we wait for spring break to end then go, during the summer when we go I just search around them, it usually starts a conversation anyway

 

I'm looking at some on ebay that are really cheap, do you think they won't work or something??
AS i'm new to all this world i'm sot sure what to look for. I wa slooking at a range of diferent ones (15-50 €), and they seem to be fine.
Any info is welcome.

 

The real cheap ones would be good for a starter to see if this is the hobby for you or not but you may get discouraged if looking for older coins. If ya just wanna find clad change then ya can't go wrong with a cheapie. If ya wanna find the old coins then I would recommend a mid range ($300) known brand detector, whites for example. Old homes are the places to go for old coins. They are not that deep and there usually is not that much trash. Front yards are the best areas. Most old coins are in the 4-8 inch range and a cheapie just isnt' gonna go that deep. You could still stumble upon some oldies by chance but the odds are against you. Just my two cents. Jim

 

Oh man Jim I knew there would be a catch somewhere. Well know that puts me out of the metal detector buisness (i was kinda hoping to find some older stuff) and I really can't afford it now anyway.

 

Don't let me discourage you. You can still find "some" old coins especially at old home sites where coins usually don't go that deep if the ground has not been disturbed over the years. You will just miss a majority of them. Its still fun searching. Jim

 

Jim how about the Priz II for older coins any better?

 

That would be a real good beginner detector. Whites detectors are good detectors. I would definetly choose that one over the others mentioned. Just my opinon. Have never used that one but for a cheap detector that would be your best bet in my opinion. I don't think the prizm has a depth gage on it. That helps out a lot when first starting out.
My final thoughts. If you want old coins you gotta get a detector that will go deeper. Again, I would start with a mid range detector ($300) range. But since you can't afford that and you want to try detecting. The prizm 2 would be a good choice. Jim

 

Thanks for the insight Jim

 

I've got to agree with Walmart. The funny thing is I bought a kid one in the toy department for about $25 and he has been using it for several years now and finds all kinds of coins. Also, finds nails, bolts, washers, pop bottle tops, etc. Don't know what the depth is and don't know how reliable it is but no complaints yet.

 

Do you mean to get one at walmart or not to get one at walmart?? Also with yours do you get old coins?

 

places to hunt coins

I have had great luck on old carnny sites county fare , sites and day after fire works display but that a suggestion redhorse

 

That's the other thing, so, you get the metal detector, at last! but, witch are the places that you can metal detect without beeing in somone's property or other non-metaldetecting place? nearly going to buy a metal detector, tomorrow. They say it's the cheapest reliable one on market. I don't know if it's true but surely looks better than the chineese imported ones from eBay. Good luck eaveryone.

 

My son has a detector from Radio Shack. I don't know what the reputation is for quality, but he always brings home a lot of coins and other interesting stuff.