Best detector for $2-300?

[Silversound]

Hey guys! Newbie here coming over from the coin roll hunting forums. I've been in the market for a detector and was hoping for some experienced advice as to the best ones in the $2-300 range? I'm sure this question has been asked ad infinitum, but I'd appreciate any help! I'm mostly looking for coins and gold in dirt and sand.

Thanks,
George

 

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[GibH]

You will get many replies to this post. Personally I would keep checking the classifieds. Awesome deals pop up there all the time. You can get more detector for your money that way.

If you you want new, then my opinion would be either a Tesoro Silver umax or an ACE 250.

 

[AUDuke]

Tesoro................. New or used... life time warranty

 

[Sandman]

You will get many replies to this post. Personally I would keep checking the classifieds. Awesome deals pop up there all the time. You can get more detector for your money that way.

If you you want new, then my opinion would be either a Tesoro Silver umax or an ACE 250.

There are many that like the Tesoro's, but if you want to watch a screen blow smoke up your pant leg, get the Ace 250. It is a nice detector for the money you just can't rely on the screen being right 100% of the time.

 

[rmptr]

The Little Yeller Feller is a snappy looking, very liteweight, computerized graphic notch machine that set the world on fire when introduced. I got one for my bride to encourage her to metal detect with me.
That didn't go as planned even though she found a bit of clad so I began using it to see how it worked.

It does work !

It is no where near as sensitive as a fifteen year old Tesoro Silver Sabre, has slower response and recovery , gives you absolute FITS when pinpointing (after using a Tesoro which pinpoints EXCELLENT), and the Bong Bong when you find a coin drives me crazy.
I could not consider the Compadre or Silver uMax or the Ace 250 to be particularly deep machines. YMMV

Some folks do quite well with them.

I would personally buy a brand new Tesoro Compadre if I did not have the cash on hand for a Silver uMax.
I traded off my Little Yeller Feller, in nearly brand new condition, for an experienced Silver Sabre uMax.

If you look around the board, TABDOG has done spectacular work with the Compadre.

Best
rmptr

 

[sassyswingah]

tesoro silver uMax....can find them used for under $200!

 

[rmptr]

Well I'm still just a newbe to the metal detecting thing myself. But I got an Ace 250 and simply love it ! All I can tell ya from my experiance, is with that one machine, as I haven't used any others yet. For the price tag on an Ace 250 and the ease of learnin' the machine I just can't see how ya could go wrong with one !

Hey Mac,

Please, don't anyone think I would say it might be wrong to buy an Ace 250.
That's just not the case.
In particular, the Tesoro Compadre and Silver uMax at the low end of their competing line are far superior machines, and, simpler to operate.

Response and recovery time is very important with detectors, as it may cause one target to mask another.
If one target is notched out, or discriminated against, it could cause a good target to be missed.

Easy to conduct a test, yourself.

Place five nickels upon the ground surface, perhaps 6" apart, in a shallow arc so you can sweep over them from one side to the end, easily. Use your normal sweep speed and note that you get five separate triggers with the Ace... Well, maybe not ! It's going to be BONGING for a coin alert, isn't it ?

....Just try, anyway....

Then, compress that line-up by an inch, with only 5" between each, and try again. How'd it go ?
Compress the line one more inch so there are only 4" between the coins....
At a normal sweep speed, will it identify ALL the individual coins ?

...My own Little Yeller Feller, bought brand new, would not.
And it was a dandy, and I have no reason to believe it was any different than any other Ace 250.

All my older Tesoro machines were noticeably more sensitive and with a normal (much faster) sweep would detect each individual coin until they were 3" apart and make a short duration "beep". Not a BONG BONG !
And this is with a fairly brisk sweep which I normally use.

Please note this is only one simple, quick test that exhibits the capability of each machine.
Not even any need for a comparison test for you to note the capability of your own machine for your own knowledge.

As this is a surface test, you might note the circumstances would be made even more difficult if the targets were actually in the ground. It's an indication of how the tests will go for that scenario.

There's plenty of other differences that could be discussed, yet this is the simplest to describe.

All told, by far the best way to discover buried treasure is to do research for the best spots, spend as much time as you can with one detector so you can learn it's capabilities, and blind outhouse luck !

I'd rather be lucky than know what I was doing !

Best
rmptr

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have a Whites Classic ID with the Mr. Bill mod in sweet condition for $275 plus shipping, check it out, IM me if you have any questions about it. It is a sweet detector, I bought it as a backup for my Whites 6000 XL PRO, only selling it to purchase another one down the road. I have a Sovereign GT for land as well so I don't need the Classi ID.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,256446.0.html

 

[kenley]

hey rumptr...
Garretts don't go "boing" on nickles. I think someone is trying to bestow unknown knowledge.

 

[Digginman]

I own a Ace250 and a Tesoro Cibola. I like both machines. The Cibola will cost a little more, but to me was worth it.

DM

 

[GibH]

I own a Ace250 and a Tesoro Cibola. I like both machines. The Cibola will cost a little more, but to me was worth it.

DM

Easy enough to find a used Cibola for his price range, and you're right. It is worth it.

 

[Shortstack]

Short and sweet; a Tesoro. If you can find a used Silver Sabre or, better yet, a Golden Sabre you'll be VERY satisfied after you practice with it and learn it's "speak".
You don't want the uMax versions. The older Silver Sabre II and Golden Sabre II are the best. I have a Bandido II that I'd NEVER trade for a Bandido uMax. There's just something about the II's that produce better results.

 

[Nick A]

Ace 150 or 250 is nice. Any basic machine... White's, Fisher, Tesoro is decent. I started with a White's Classic II. Lots of good used machines out there too. Personally I would highly recommend a used Fisher CZ. It's a solid machine, gets great depth and is easy to use.

 

[olepossum]

there is also 1 more important tool you need to go with the machine and that would be the garretts propointer pin pointer it is the best i have one and somtimesi take just the propointer and my lesche dig tool and do side walk edges when i get bored and no one says you messed up my side walk they ask you who edged my walkit needed it

 

[rmptr]

hey rumptr...
Garretts don't go "boing" on nickles. I think someone is trying to bestow unknown knowledge.

OK OK
...from my Ace Manual... (I forgot to mail it to the buyer !) and this clip is online...

9. Tone ID—The Tone ID feature produces distinct
audible tones based on a target’s conductivity:
• High conductivity targets (such as U.S. coins)
produce a unique belltone signal.
• Medium conductivity targets (such as
jewelry, nickels and international coins),
produce a standard-pitched audio signal

Really... You try it with yours... you will notice the signal blend.

and the "unique belltone" drives me crazy ! :-)

OK, I will say the absolute best thing about the Little Yeller Feller that I possibly can in hopes of making up for that mis-speak....


The CRACKBADGER uses an ACE 250.

 

[CanadianTrout]

The CRACKBADGER uses an ACE 250.

Amen!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

He also uses the Minelab Excalibur and Explorer SE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGc2GH_sjmE

 

[BareBones]

I've been tearing up the clad with the Ace 250. I bought the Treasure Hunter Special that comes with an extra coil and some other freebies from Garrett. The price was $276.20 shipped.

I've been having a blast and I just found my first piece of gold, an 18K charm white gold elephant.

 

[dahut]

Hey guys! Newbie here coming over from the coin roll hunting forums. I've been in the market for a detector and was hoping for some experienced advice as to the best ones in the $2-300 range? I'm sure this question has been asked ad infinitum, but I'd appreciate any help! I'm mostly looking for coins and gold in dirt and sand.

Thanks,
George

Something used from White's, or Tesoro. That nice Classic ID would be an excellent choice. Perhaps you can luck up on a DeLeon, at that price.
If you can find a Garrett GTP1350 at $300, snag it. That is the only Garrett I would recommend in any price range... run from those who would suggest an ACE 250.

 

[GibH]

Something used from White's, or Tesoro. That nice Classic ID would be an excellent choice. Perhaps you can luck up on a DeLeon, at that price.
If you can find a Garrett GTP1350. That is the only Garrett I would recommend in any price range... run from those would suggest an ACE 250.

It depends on what you're hunting. I picked up an old GTAx 400 and that thing is killer on coins. It surprised the hell out of me. I think it's a great detector and can be had dirt cheap.