The best metal detector out there

[smokeythecat]

One can equate it to what a guy said one time. "A bad painter can make a master carpenter's finishing look bad-A good painter can make a bad carpenter's work look good".

I watched a bunch of guys detect across in a field in England one day, these two guys were just short of full out running while detecting. Fast walking, flapping like headless chickens across the field. I video taped this as it amazed me how fast these guys detect. While I thought I was missing out on something going half coil laps, digging everything small.

But at the end of the trip I started to realize that these two found things-all large items.
Big brass, coppers, a Half Crown, bits of stuff that a $50 machine would pick up. Nothing really in either pouch that would show that a person was swinging slow and methodically.
Both fellows have detected for decades and it was just proof that if these guys detected a stout, well it would be a site that I'd like to detect.

Have a look at posting of finds and you'll realize what I'm saying, folks post up things and all the items are big, nothing small, everything would have been found with the cheapest machine out there in the market place.

Put a good machine (doesn't have to a great one) into the hands of a good operator and there will be a consistent showing of almost magical finds.
Folks wonder what, where, when, who, why they can't achieve this also, it comes down to this " SLOW DOWN AND LISTEN"

OMG ROFL "running like headless chickens". BTW I have three real live spoiled rotten chickens, and they do not run, unless it's time for me to put them to bed. They had their chicken food this weekend, and I "accidentally" gave them a Krispy Kreme donut (plain) and then since it was cold I gave them something warm with a lot of protein - a sausage, egg and cheese croissant! Yum! They ate the sausage first.

I wish people would just have FUN detecting. I like seeing what people find, and I don't mind sharing. I don't make up stories (my life is too wild without a stupid made up story), and God is good, all the time. I ask for stuff, He provides. Like the $10 bill at the store the other day, on the floor all by itself. Sometimes I think I live in an action adventure movie.

I really should get one of the $29 detectors and go to a competition dig. (They might never let me come back.) Regarding large objects, if you look at my post of the colonial items, the grouping of lead shot only included 1 full size .69 round ball. All the others were tiny. Some only 1/4" or so.

 

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[civil_war22]

It all depends on whether you go over that target. I had a $99 radio shack detector back in ‘95 and I found around 150 Civil War bullets with it before Christmas got there. Dad bought it in July for me and my twin brother to share just to goof around with and see if the stories were true about a union campsite on our property. Well by December the bullets and buttons and constant bickering between the two of us who was going to use it persuaded dad to buy us both brand new Whites Classic ID’s for Christmas. People knock them classic ID for being too basic or not that deep. Well I would swear by one because I’ve found some mighty deep and impressive finds with one as well as my brother. They cost around the same as my Tesoro now and were very accurate on the display. You knew if it said 1 cent zinc you had a .69 cal, or if it said 5 cent you had a button or shotgun shell base. So I’ve used the lowest at some of the best sites I’ve ever had and in my experience if you go low and slow and make sure you keep a tight pattern you’re sure to find something good.

 

[civil_war22]

heres one just like my old machine. Was definitely a shocker that it worked as well as it did

 

[HighVDI]

One can equate it to what a guy said one time. "A bad painter can make a master carpenter's finishing look bad-A good painter can make a bad carpenter's work look good".

I watched a bunch of guys detect across in a field in England one day, these two guys were just short of full out running while detecting. Fast walking, flapping like headless chickens across the field. I video taped this as it amazed me how fast these guys detect. While I thought I was missing out on something going half coil laps, digging everything small.

But at the end of the trip I started to realize that these two found things-all large items.
Big brass, coppers, a Half Crown, bits of stuff that a $50 machine would pick up. Nothing really in either pouch that would show that a person was swinging slow and methodically.
Both fellows have detected for decades and it was just proof that if these guys detected a stout, well it would be a site that I'd like to detect.

Have a look at posting of finds and you'll realize what I'm saying, folks post up things and all the items are big, nothing small, everything would have been found with the cheapest machine out there in the market place.

Put a good machine (doesn't have to a great one) into the hands of a good operator and there will be a consistent showing of almost magical finds.
Folks wonder what, where, when, who, why they can't achieve this also, it comes down to this " SLOW DOWN AND LISTEN"

So true! I seem to always have better hunts when going low and slow and listening for the whispers!

 

[smokeythecat]

I sometimes go to competition digs, and just get a blast at people running through the "dig" area. They don't get much.

 

[Kurios1]

As a person who owns eight working detectors I would say it's the one in my hands at any given time. Entering into my tenth season chasing after targets and having used a handful of different detectors I have come to the conclusion no machine is completely infallible in revealing what is truly under the coil creating any given signal. The only true discrimination has to be done with your eyes upon recovery of the target. I dig a lot of trash on my hunts. I often get surprised that some of those weird iffy signals produce some very nice coins or relics. So are there better machines than others? Certainly. However as many of you well know if the operator doesn't have the patience to learn the machine or willingness to sift through and remove some trash then chances are they will be missing out on some great finds. I used to go pretty darned fast when I first began this journey. Now I take my time and enjoy dancing the 360 degree waltz around a target to learn more of the language my machine is speaking. Metal detecting is almost like meditation to me at times. Great therapy. Thanks for the thread Smokey.

 

[smokeythecat]

Thanks Kurios1. Everybody wants to be stronger, quicker, deeper, the best. Sort of. I must be an antique, I want a machine that will work reasonably and to dig in a place I can have FUN. No trespassing, no dangerous conditions, all that. Those little ones with their toy detector finding the grapeshot was so cute. I hope she becomes a collector like her dad. I have done very well, and I hate to admit it but most times I use factory settings on most of my machines. Most of my success is just shear hard-headedness. I try not to quit until I get at least 1 goodie from a site. Some of my sites even 1 keeper is asking a lot. Of course the targets have to be there to being with. I dumped all the silver coins I dug over the last couple years and all the clad. I really don't collect, as my dealer friend says "modern" coins, modern to me is after the Civil War. It's a lot of fun. I can't keep everything. Unidentified metals are dumped within a day or so of digging, as well as stuff like the lighter I got the other day. Bottom is gone out of it. It's going in the trash in the next clean up. I have my cannon ball and grapeshot soaking in iron out. No rush. I'll give it a few days, take my tack hammer back to it to knock off what's left, then soak it about a month to make sure there is no salt it in and it will be done.

I just like playing in the dirt. My mom got me started with that. I still have some of the items I got when I was about 8. JFK was president then.

 

[bayhawk2]

""The best metal detector out there"

Most likely no one here can say which is the best.They bought what they THINK is the best,but unless you buy every $5,000 detector out there,
or work in a place that allows you to test every one of them,then you most likely will never know.My opinion.
The better question would be "what is a really good detector?"

 

[RTR]

The best MD out there....Is the one that makes me a millionaire.Seriously tho, I have found good/great stuff w/ cheap MDs

 

[BRC]

The best detector out there is the one you will use....

 

[dsdigger]

The best metal detector is the one in you hand at the time that you're out swinging and enjoying the hunt! Cost isn't the object, the fun of the hunt is and the finds are the bonus for the proper hunting or research done for the site or as said "Slow Down!". Relax, swing one and enjoy it! Nice thread smokey!

 

[RustyGold]

I just wish I could buy a new body and replace this worn out one. The detectors are another issue.

 

[WaterScoop]

I am sure similar questions are asked by members of gun forums about what is the best sniper rifle

A gun like this



Is worthless in the hands of an owner who does not understand the importance of breathing properly.

Now here is a sniper weapon that does not require understanding of proper breathing techniques



As a former professional photographer I can do more with this


Original Apple iPhone $49.95

Then a novice with this



Nikon 4Ds Aprox $7500 with a good lens

So I guess it’s just human nature to think that a great tool will provide excellent results just by owning one.

Cheers and keep on swinging that coil. Treasure will never find itself, YES one still needs to implement themselves in the process before a favorable outcome is achieved.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I've owned a whole lot of detectors, have 6 at this moment. Coming soon is a mate of my very first detector - the Garrett Master Hunter Deepseeker ADSIII, circa '83. So then I will have 7 working detectors, and one of each of my main detectors through time. I'll take that ADS out and use it. I've taken all of my detectors out, and they were each the best detector I'd used at the time. I did well at times, and other times of great promise I've come away with nothing but trash. Steve called me the other day with an unsearched 1835 homestead. So I took my CTX for that hunt. About 3 hours there, and the ground was nothing but just absolute continuous noise. Had to swing very slowly just trying to isolate a "repeater".

I came away with a whole pouch full of trash - and 2 zincolns.

I've used the Tejon quite frequently over the last couple of months, dig more trash than with the CTX, but get about the same results in good finds.

 

[HighVDI]

I've owned a whole lot of detectors, have 6 at this moment. Coming soon is a mate of my very first detector - the Garrett Master Hunter Deepseeker ADSIII, circa '83. So then I will have 7 working detectors, and one of each of my main detectors through time. I'll take that ADS out and use it. I've taken all of my detectors out, and they were each the best detector I'd used at the time. I did well at times, and other times of great promise I've come away with nothing but trash. Steve called me the other day with an unsearched 1835 homestead. So I took my CTX for that hunt. About 3 hours there, and the ground was nothing but just absolute continuous noise. Had to swing very slowly just trying to isolate a "repeater".

I came away with a whole pouch full of trash - and 2 zincolns.

I've used the Tejon quite frequently over the last couple of months, dig more trash than with the CTX, but get about the same results in good finds.

Put a tejon in the hands of an experienced user and that will be a winning combo for $600.00!

 

[smokeythecat]

With all the new machines out there, I just bought a Vaquero for a special use hunt in a couple weeks. Different machines for different types of digging, but it's always go slow and listen for the targets, dig iffy targets. Then clean up and "play" with the stuff when you get it home. My best gold ring was found with a Cibola and it was almost a foot deep at a salt water beach, the water was coming in the hole. Has 9 diamonds on it! Still my favorite ring.

 

[Digger RJ]

I agree that any detector can find stuff and that poor operation of any machine will lead to missed goodies. I'm a CTX operator and I am fairly experienced with it. In saying this I've pulled many Silver coins next to nails or with them on top of the coin. So many I've acquired from hunted out spots. With any good machine comes the operation. I have gotten very good at cross hatch hunting and digging those nice faint signals. I do agree that there are machines with better capabilities and depth, but I still don't believe that any one machine will get everything. Very Nice thought, but I believe the experience out ways it All every time. Happy Hunting!!!

 

[Gare]

Even the BEST machine has to pass the coil over the GOOD target to FIND IT !! LUck does have a little impact some times !!

 

[smokeythecat]

Gare, you are correct. My best finds were shallow "soft balls", so to speak. One of the best was sticking out of the sand at the beach.

 

[Digger RJ]

Have You tried Your CTX with a Coiltek 5x10" Coil? Sifting through such trash filled areas is so
Much more promising. You still have to go slow as with any trash filled site, but I've had incredible
Results after getting a 5x10" Coil. I hardly ever take it off unless I'm in a plowed field looking for
CW Bullets. HH