Tesoro Compadre; Garrett Ace 250
Sorry but I disagree. I started way way back with a Tesoro machine which was so basic, I'm not sure if I could consider it a detector. (This was actually a compadre, but probably an older model).Seriously Terry! The yellow one of these two is a mistake. Terry is dead on with the Compadre though. Great first detector and add in the Garrett Pro Pointer and you will be just a tick over your budget. Other than the Compadre I would take a Fisher F2 any day over that yellow one. The F2 doesn't look like a toy, sound like a toy, and has been proven very successful. Another one in your budget would be a Tesoro Silver uMax at the $250 mark and maybe a little better of a deal from one of our forum sponsors. With any of these three you will be off to a good start and have a quality detector that will bring quick success. Any of these three detectors will pay for themselves in short order if you put a little work into it.
Sorry but I disagree. I started way way back with a Tesoro machine which was so basic, I'm not sure if I could consider it a detector. (This was actually a compadre, but probably an older model).
For $250, get the Garrett ace 250 and save 120 and buy a pro pointer. It is a fine beginning machine. When you get the feel of it, then you can move on up to bigger game. I've never used the f2, but I'm sure it's also good.