Entry level metal detector

[Goldcraz]

Hello
Brand new to the forum and treasure hunting and was looking for reccomendations for a entry level metal detector? I have never used one before and am excited to give it a try.
Thank you in advance.
Chuck

 

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[Kansas_Jayhawk]

Find a used Tesoro silver uMax. Very simple and user friendly.

 

[Kray Gelder]

What's your budget? That would help narrow down the choices. Good luck.

 

[fyrffytr1]

What type of hunting do you want to do? If I was going to get a new detector for general hunting I would strongly consider the Notka Macro Simplex.

https://www.noktadetectors.com/metal-detector/simplex-metal-detector/

 

[Goldcraz]

Probably $300-$400

 

[Goldcraz]

Will be using it on the beach for gold and silver, planning moving to Virginia soon and would be nice to be able to use it in small streams to detect gold if possible.

 

[SusanMN]

If you intend to hunt near or in water I strongly recommend you get a waterproof machine. More expensive but can handle getting wet. And if you are intending to hunt a salt water beach then you need a multi frequency machine. So fresh water, an AT Pro, a salt water beach a Minelab 600. Both are over your budget by a few hundred dollars

 

[Gaspipe]

Remember you get what you pay for. A cheap detector will drive you crazy. For under $500 bucks you can get a new Garret ATP. Nice machine , good quality , water proof to 10 feet , not complicated and good customer service. No brainer in my opinion.

 

[l.cutler]

Take a look at the Minelab Vanquish. No personal experience, but with multiple frequencies it should be better on the beach than a single frequency. As far gold hunting, a dedicated gold machine would definitely be best but a general purpose detector would work but not be ideal.

 

[coin pirate]

If you intend to hunt near or in water I strongly recommend you get a waterproof machine. More expensive but can handle getting wet. And if you are intending to hunt a salt water beach then you need a multi frequency machine. So fresh water, an AT Pro, a salt water beach a Minelab 600. Both are over your budget by a few hundred dollars

This!!!

You can get more bang for your buck by buying used, you won't be happy with an entry level machine where you would want to hunt, get one not too old, maybe even with some warranty, with all the new machine hype as of late, especially with the Nox800 driving people cuckoo for cocoa puffs, there are plenty of quality machines for sale.

 

[jimgrains51]

Around a year and half ago I was also stuck in the same predicament. Now I cant get enough of metal detecting. Its just exciting and fun. Good luck on your adventures!

 

[McKinney_5900]

A used Whites M6, if you stay out of the surf. You can find those in that price range. Stay with the factory, concentric coil for salt water sand. The Equinox 600 fits the bill except it won't come in that budget today.

 

[UncleVinnys]

Good article on a new site: https://metaldetectingtips.com/metal-detecting-beginner-guide/

 

[Goldcraz]

Thank you for all the responses, that also was a excellent article. I think for now I will hold out a little bit longer to get a better machine. Looking forward to the hunt.
Thanks again
Chuck

 

[Goldcraz]

What type of hunting do you want to do? If I was going to get a new detector for general hunting I would strongly consider the Notka Macro Simplex.

https://www.noktadetectors.com/metal-detector/simplex-metal-detector/

That looks reasonably priced and well rounded. Thanks

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Simplex metal detector! You can purchase one for $ 320 dollars with wireless headphones.

 

[jimgrains51]

Its not easy choosing your first metal detector. It actually took me a month of research and a few more months to save enough money to buy the metal detector that I wanted. Your first metal detector experience is very important thats why Id recommend you visit this website for recommendations on what metal detector to buy.

 

[G. I. Digger]

Great advice from the pro's! Thumb down to the section in the forum named "Metal Detecting" then go under the "Brands" section. Cruise through the various manufacturers and see what various users post regarding their experiences with various detectors. However do not formulate your decision from just one user as what works for someone may not have the same results from another user. That is why some like Chevy's and some like Ford's! Just get a overview of various likes and dislikes! Do your research, which is really the fun part, before you pull the trigger. I prefer the Garrett AT-PRO, which you can find used, as it is very user friendly in the beginner mode and can easily be dialed up to the pro mode. Whatever you choose you are in for a very exciting venture and the level of excitement depends on you!!
Welcome to our family,
Rich