Been awol from thng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

PJ in WI · Mar 17, 2007

Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

I used to coin hunting almost every day for about 5 yrs but the wife, kids, my job and the military had a higher priority. Now that I'm through with the military and the kids are gone (I still have the wife) I've decided to take up the hobby again. I found your outstanding site and after reading the posts and comments I can honestly say you guys are a wealth of knowledge and rather entertaining. I intend to look for coins in local parks, older homes, old abandoned home sites and a rather large town that was going strong in the1890's to the 1920's but was totally gone by the 1950's. My question is what kind of md would you recommend. When I started reading TN, I see a lot of you talk about the Ace 250. Is this a good choice of md or would you recommend something else. How is the depth. Would it be good for old homes and the old town that is now woods. Thank you in advance for your time, knowledge and feedback.

Ant · Apr 8, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

The Ace is an entry level detector, you already know the bassics, don't waist your money on one. Get yourself at least a mid level detector, $500.00 to $900.00 price range.

You can read about the performance of these detectors over at findmall dot com's forums. And you plan on hunting old mine sites, most mine sites are located in highly mineralized areas. You will definitely need a different detector, one that can handle highly mineralized ground. Just trying to save you a little dough and frustration.

Check it out.

Kas · Apr 8, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

Depends on how much money you want to spend.

With five years experience on the old VLF all-metal machines, you should do well with the new detectors.

Find a dealer and look at what they have, try them out, and go from there.

Trash Digger · Apr 8, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

Excellent advice has already been given by others. Pick the machine that best fits your intended needs and budget. My XXX machine is better than your YYY machine is like the Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge argument. Pick your machine, learn how to use it, and good finds will be the result.

Mike

Bavaria Mike · Apr 8, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

That Garrett Ace 250 is the best bang for the buck! Something like $220ish. Nothing but great reviews by all that have used one. Also light weight and has 3 different coils reasonably priced. I would advise coil covers for whatever detector you buy, they will help keep the coil in good condition as you will bang it and scratch it. A friend has cracked his Ace 250 stock 6X9 coil twice and it still works and he did not use a coil cover. If you really like detecting after the Ace 250 then you can always upgrade to a Minelab X-Terra 70 or a 50 from all the finds you will make using the Ace. I would also recommend rechargeable batteries, you will save a lot of $$$ using them and the higher the milliamps the longer they last, at least as long as alkalines and then just recharge them. Since you are retired military, I would advise you find an old obstical course on a nearby military post, they are major hot spots. HH and good luck with your decision, Mike

lockman209 · Apr 8, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

Hi PJ.

I too am in West Central Wisconsin. I have been using White's for alot of years. I now use
a White's Eagle II SL 90. When I go to upgrade it will be another Whites.

cheese · Apr 8, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

I'll chime in with the ever-popular response that the ace250 is a good starter machine. If you have the money to jump in whole heartedly, and you know you're going to be in this for the long haul, then spring for a better machine. You'll be wanting one soon anyway (if you don't get one to start with). I use Fisher. I'll probably stick with them as long as they continue to make machines that hold their own among the best of the best. My wife has an Ace250. I've used it, and it's a decent machine. I think most anyone getting started would like it. I won't use it when I'm serious though. It performs, but not as well as my machine. My hunting partner has an Ace250, but has since upgraded to a DFX. His finds have improved since the upgrade.

Oh, if your budget doesn't allow for a $1k machine, then take a look at used ones on ebay and at detector dealers on the net. I picked up my Fisher CZ7 for about a third of the original price (got it for $310) by buying used. It was in unused condition.

There are product reviews on many detector sites...a pretty good one on losttreasures.com. Read about the machines that catch your attention and see what owners are saying. See what the reviews say. I spent hours researching before buying mine, and to this day, I would not trade my machine for any other. I think it's because I spent the time finding out what machine fits me before I went and bought one. I decided on the machine, then searched the net for the best price on one, and found one used and bought it.

Nick in NEPA · Apr 9, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

i have a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV. It's not bad, a cheap entry level detector. Good luck.

Hoosier Kingfisher · Apr 9, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

Since you are expierenced get the best you can afford. And congrats on keeping the wife.........

Eu_citzen · Apr 9, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

Hoosier Kingfisher said:
Since you are expierenced get the best you can afford. And congrats on keeping the wife.........

yeah get what you can afford.
And welcome!

silvergirl · Apr 9, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

I got a chuckle about keeping the wife. You are a winner already. I have a prizm IV and a MXT.I started out with the Prizm IV. Whatever MD MC you decide to get,I would reccommend buying from a dealer you can trust. Everybody's taste is different. I really like my MXT. Do research on alot of MC and dealers. Consider the weight of the MC and the features. Do you want to go in the water with the MC? Whatever MC you decide on getting,just have fun. H.H. Silvergirl

lionhrt9 · Apr 9, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

I got the 250 to start with, then upgraded to a midlevel Minelab. One thing to consider is that the resale value of machines that are kept in good condition is unbelievable!! I got the 250 used for 200 bucks and could get rid of it for around 200 bucks!! Ive never seen anything like it! So now I use the 250 as a back up and if a friend wants to detect and doesn't have a machine Ive got one for them.

As this past weekend has proved to me, once you get the machine you HAVE to spend time with it. 100 or more hours under the coil should get you used to it and what its trying to tell you, heck that time should be shorter for you as you are not new to this hobby. What ever you decide good luck and I'm looking forward to your posts!!!!

Eddy1H · Apr 9, 2007

Re: Been awol from th'ng for 30 yrs. Have a few questions and I need your help.

Given time you will do good will most all the newer name brand detectors, about 100 hrs or so and you will learn what these new detectors can do. I have used many and they are for the most part all very good machines today.
Personally I prefer the ones with tone olny.
Welcome back to detecting, I wish you the best of luck

Eddy