First metal detector...any tips?

[blackrose]

Im searching craigslist and i found this bounty hunter MD for 50 bucks:

imgur: the simple image sharer

The guy also is selling a fisher...not sure which model on either one. Is there anything specific i should know about the differences between the brands? I have never owned a MD before, so will it matter which one i choose? Any advice is greatly appreciated. I just want to get out there and start detectin'!!!

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Welcome from White Plains, New York! Here is my FIRST piece of advice. NEVER buy your very first machine used off of Craigslist or Ebay. EVER! Buy your first machine from a dealer that can answer your questions and support your machine. A BRAND NEW Tesoro Compadre, with a Lifetime Warranty and superior resale value runs $170.00 Tesoro Metal Detectors - Official company web site with metal detector models for treasure hunting land or water. There are many sponsors right here to help you. Best of luck!

 

[woof!]

The unit in the photo is probably from the 1970's and probably doesn't even work. I wouldn't take it for free.

There are Bounty Hunter models beginning at a little under a hundred bucks new, with the kid-sized BH Junior running typically about $60. The Tracker 4 usually runs a little over $100, it's a popular unit discussed in many posts in this forum.

In general, if you pay more, you get more depth and more features. The top of the BH line is the Platinum which is usually around $350 and has performance and features comparable to many products that cost a lot more from other companies.

In addition to Bounty Hunter, we here in El Paso also manufacture Fisher and Teknetics, with models that go up to more than a thousand bucks. In the Fisher line the F2 is a good beginner's machine at about $200, and the Teknetics Delta at about $300 is both a good beginner's machine and a good backup machine for someone who has other more expensive units.

Terry's advice about buying used is on the money. Savvy detectorists often do ebay and craigslist deals, but a newbie should stay away. The only way a newbie should be buying used is if they know the seller personally and the unit is a name brand product. Otherwise buy new, preferably from either a local dealer or a forum sponsor, and only a name brand unit.

--Dave J.

 

[blackrose]

Hey guys thank you so much for the input! I'll be sure to stay away from Craigslist when looking to buy my first MD. Regarding the detector mentioned in the first post, that sounds very reasonably priced and definitely within my budget. Is there any specific features I should be seeking for my first detector?

 

[Terry Soloman]

Hey guys thank you so much for the input! I'll be sure to stay away from Craigslist when looking to buy my first MD. Regarding the detector mentioned in the first post, that sounds very reasonably priced and definitely within my budget. Is there any specific features I should be seeking for my first detector?

The most important thing is to get one that gives decent depth, is lightweight, and is sensitive enough to get small gold and silver jewelry, deep coins and relics. I don't like screens that give you VDI numbers, as they are pretty useless because you need to be digging any solid tone you get if you have discriminated out iron.

 

[liftloop]

Make sure you get the one that can tell you what's in the ground before you dig, I think it's a white's, it will save you time than just a beep and dig detector. A beep and dig detector doesn't give you enough information on what is in the the ground, and when you knock out nickels there lost for good along with gold on a beep and dig detector. But not on the one that shows you what's in the ground before you dig. I think it's a white's on that one you see what's in the ground before you dig it. you will get a vdi number, an icon, and a probability bar. but it won't beep, just the threshold will cut in and out and that's when you look at the screen because it is going to show you what is the ground before you dig. with out it beeping telling you that there is some thing their. do you com-Pren-day... I hope that helps now get out there an find your fortune ...


............................................................................................................liftloop

 

[blackrose]

when shopping around how will I be able to test these features? Also, would I want to go to a sporting good store to find one? I can't think of many places that would sell these things. also can you explain a bit more about those features you mentioned ? Im sorry if I'm ill informed but I so appreciate the help! =)

 

[Terry Soloman]

when shopping around how will I be able to test these features? Also, would I want to go to a sporting good store to find one? I can't think of many places that would sell these things. also can you explain a bit more about those features you mentioned ? Im sorry if I'm ill informed but I so appreciate the help! =)

Where are you? I'm sure we can find a club or dealer near you..

 

[lost hunter]

Check out YouTube Lots of videos

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[blackrose]

Where are you? I'm sure we can find a club or dealer near you..

Im in the city of orange, California

 

[Terry Soloman]

Im in the city of orange, California

Route 66 Gold Miners, Orange CA Prospectors

Bakersfield
Kern County Prospector's Club
Philip Steiner,
7309 Firebaugh St.
Bakersfield, CA 93313
661 663 9193
philchar@earthlink.net



Campbell
United Prospectors Inc.
Ray Hughes,
3804 Abbey Ct
Campbell, CA 95008
408-374-8115

http://unitedprospectors.com


canyon lake
riverside treasure hunters club
rick schramm,
23331 gray fox dr
canyon lake, ca 92587
(909) 244-7927
schrammrick@aol.com



Chatsworth
Litton Treasure Hunters
Lyle Rasmussen,
10049 Nita Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311





Clovis
San Joaquin Valley Treasure Hunters Club
Jim Ferreira,
5080 Appaloosa
Clovis, CA 93612
559-252-6905
JSanders@AmericanAmbulance.net



Coloma
Gold Country Treasure Seekers
Bud Hamilton,
P.O. Box 12
Coloma, CA 95613





Concord
Mount Diablo Metal Detecting Club
Ray Romeo,
1331 Concord ave
Concord, Ca P.O. box 273215 Zip94527

silverno7@aol.com



Downey
Prospector's Club Of So. California
Arthur Morgan,
9813 Paramount Blvd.
Downey, CA

bsmillie@mindspring.com
http://prospectorsclub.org


goleta
pismo beach metal detecting club
larry linnen,
5778 hollister ca#105
goleta, ca 93433

foyeburger@hotmail.com
Yahoo! Groups


Happy Camp
The New 49'ers Prospecting Club
Maria McCracken,
P.O. Box 47
Happy Camp, CA 96039
530-493-2012

http://goldgold.com


Hesperia
Victor Valley Treasure Hunters
High Desert Jim,
Victor Valley
Hesperia, CA 92345
N/A
sififly@yahoo.com
http://groups.msn.comVictorValleyTreasureHunters


Hornbrook
Siskiyou Co. Relic & Recovery Club
Sharon Rettmann,
3416 Dennis Lane
Hornbrook, CA 96044





Imperial Beach
Coinshooters of San Diego
Don Haradon,
1331 California St.
Imperial Beach, CA 91932
858-581-2787
sdmike@san.rr.com



la mesa
The Southwestern Prospectors and Miners association
mike matthews --president,
p.o. box 904
la mesa, CA 91944-0904
1 (619) 273-3653




La Mesa
Southwestern Prospectors & Miners Ass'n.
Keith Coleman, President,
P. O. Box 904
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 749 - 3415




La Mesa
Southwestern Prospectors and Miners Ass'n.
Mike Mathews,
P.O. Box 904
La Mesa, CA 91944-0904
619-449-0657
goldbuggg1@aol.com
http://sandiegogold.webjump.com


Lancaster
Antelope Valley Treasure Hunters Society
Rick Wyatt,
P.O. Box 4718
Lancaster, Ca 93539
(661) 943-1124
prospectorrw@msn.com
http://www.qnet.com/~guy14kt/


London,Ontario Canada
Thames Valley Metal Detecting Association.
Brian Cross,
718 Victoria St.
London,Ontario Canada, Ca N5Y-4C6
1-519-434-2290




Long Beach
West Coast Prospectors & Treasure Hunters
Mary Lois VanSooy,
5822 Barbanell St
Long Beach, CA 90815





Manhattan Beach
California Wreck Divers
Phil Bergeron, President,
1909 Harkness
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266





Marysville
Yuba-Sutter Treasure Seekers
Ann Vanderpool,
5837 Wildwood Way
Marysville, CA 95901





Monterey
Treasure Mags Swap & Sell
Yahoo Clubs,
000-Pine Ave
Monterey, CA 93940

Aufever@pacbell.net
Yahoo! Groups


Oceanside
N.C. Gold Prospectors & Metal Detectors Club
Mel Helit,
PO Box 1146
Oceanside, CA 92051
760 722-5500




oceanside
north county gold prospectors and metal detectors club ---meets the second Wednesday at 7:00PM each month at 1506 oak drive, Vista, CA.
mel helit --coordinator,
p.o. box 1146
oceanside, CA 92051
1 (760) 722-5500




Oxnard
Ventura County Gold Coast Treasure Hunters

Simi Valley, CA

no known email



San Luis Obispo County Central Coast Treasure Hunters Association PO Box 13405 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 Treasure Club - Home

Port Hueneme
Gold Coast Treasure Hunters Club
web site www.GCTREAUREHUNTERS.COM
1604 N. 8 th St.
Port Hueneme, CA 93041
805-483-5923



Riverside Treasure Hunters Club President: Jerry Myers Meets 1st Friday monthly @ 7:00 pm Eldorado Park Community Center 1400 W. 13th Street Upland, CA 91786 Main


RIVERSIDE
WOODCREST ARTIFACT RECOVERY LEAGUE
MIKE CASSELMAN,
16981 KRAMERIA AVE
RIVERSIDE, CA 92504
909 780-8630
MCASSE7631@AOL.COM



Sacramento
Sacramento Valley Detecting Buffs
5026 Don Julio Blvd.
North Highlands, Sacramento, CA
Website: SVDB Sac.Valley Detecting Buffs
Email: svdb-admin@sacramentovalleydetectingbuffs.com



San Andreas
Mother Load Treasure Hunters
John Puisis,
P.O. Box 967
San Andreas, CA 95249





San Bernardino
Valley Prospectors Inc-MeetslastThurs.of month@7pm-KnightsofColumbusHall - 1729 E Baseline Rd
Richard Di Bacco,
PO BOX 2923
San Bernardino, Ca 92406
626-914-6244
Radhere@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/valleyprospectors


San Diego
Coinshooters of San Diego
Russell Gish,
P.O. Box 900412
San Diego, CA 92190
619 444-7626
russgish@cox.net



San Francisco
Bay Area Searchers
Fred Grafelman,
1447 32nd Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94112





San Jose / Santa Clara
Treasure Hunters Society of Canta Clara Vally
Nadyne Barnwell ,
None
San Jose / Santa Clara, Ca None
None
None
http://www.members.tripod.com/~waipahuhaole1/treasurehunters.html


Santa Cruz
Jeff Kinzli's California Metal Detecting Forum
Jeff Kinzli,
n/a
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
n/a
jk@employees.org
California Metal Detecting


San Luis Obispo County Central Coast Treasure Hunters Association PO Box 13405 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 Treasure Club - Home

Seal Beach
Leisure World -Treasure Club
Roland Fabbrie,
13361 N. Nairfield ln.
Seal Beach, CA 90740
562-596-9070




Ukiah
Mendocino Lost and Found
Romona Brown,
700 E. Gobbi St., Sp 111
Ukiah, CA 95482





Union City
The Original California Searchers
Hal Thornbrugh, Treasurer,
2464 Regal Dr.
Union City, CA 94587

 

[blackrose]

Route 66 Gold Miners, Orange CA Prospectors

Bakersfield
Kern County Prospector's Club
Philip Steiner,
7309 Firebaugh St.
Bakersfield, CA 93313
661 663 9193
philchar@earthlink.net


Campbell
United Prospectors Inc.
Ray Hughes,
3804 Abbey Ct
Campbell, CA 95008
408-374-8115

http://unitedprospectors.com

canyon lake
riverside treasure hunters club
rick schramm,
23331 gray fox dr
canyon lake, ca 92587
(909) 244-7927
schrammrick@aol.com


Chatsworth
Litton Treasure Hunters
Lyle Rasmussen,
10049 Nita Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311



Clovis
San Joaquin Valley Treasure Hunters Club
Jim Ferreira,
5080 Appaloosa
Clovis, CA 93612
559-252-6905
JSanders@AmericanAmbulance.net


Coloma
Gold Country Treasure Seekers
Bud Hamilton,
P.O. Box 12
Coloma, CA 95613



Concord
Mount Diablo Metal Detecting Club
Ray Romeo,
1331 Concord ave
Concord, Ca P.O. box 273215 Zip94527

silverno7@aol.com


Downey
Prospector's Club Of So. California
Arthur Morgan,
9813 Paramount Blvd.
Downey, CA

bsmillie@mindspring.com
http://prospectorsclub.org

goleta
pismo beach metal detecting club
larry linnen,
5778 hollister ca#105
goleta, ca 93433

foyeburger@hotmail.com
Yahoo! Groups

Happy Camp
The New 49'ers Prospecting Club
Maria McCracken,
P.O. Box 47
Happy Camp, CA 96039
530-493-2012

http://goldgold.com

Hesperia
Victor Valley Treasure Hunters
High Desert Jim,
Victor Valley
Hesperia, CA 92345
N/A
sififly@yahoo.com
http://groups.msn.comVictorValleyTreasureHunters

Hornbrook
Siskiyou Co. Relic & Recovery Club
Sharon Rettmann,
3416 Dennis Lane
Hornbrook, CA 96044



Imperial Beach
Coinshooters of San Diego
Don Haradon,
1331 California St.
Imperial Beach, CA 91932
858-581-2787
sdmike@san.rr.com


la mesa
The Southwestern Prospectors and Miners association
mike matthews --president,
p.o. box 904
la mesa, CA 91944-0904
1 (619) 273-3653



La Mesa
Southwestern Prospectors & Miners Ass'n.
Keith Coleman, President,
P. O. Box 904
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 749 - 3415



La Mesa
Southwestern Prospectors and Miners Ass'n.
Mike Mathews,
P.O. Box 904
La Mesa, CA 91944-0904
619-449-0657
goldbuggg1@aol.com
http://sandiegogold.webjump.com

Lancaster
Antelope Valley Treasure Hunters Society
Rick Wyatt,
P.O. Box 4718
Lancaster, Ca 93539
(661) 943-1124
prospectorrw@msn.com
http://www.qnet.com/~guy14kt/

London,Ontario Canada
Thames Valley Metal Detecting Association.
Brian Cross,
718 Victoria St.
London,Ontario Canada, Ca N5Y-4C6
1-519-434-2290



Long Beach
West Coast Prospectors & Treasure Hunters
Mary Lois VanSooy,
5822 Barbanell St
Long Beach, CA 90815



Manhattan Beach
California Wreck Divers
Phil Bergeron, President,
1909 Harkness
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266



Marysville
Yuba-Sutter Treasure Seekers
Ann Vanderpool,
5837 Wildwood Way
Marysville, CA 95901



Monterey
Treasure Mags Swap & Sell
Yahoo Clubs,
000-Pine Ave
Monterey, CA 93940

Aufever@pacbell.net
Yahoo! Groups

Oceanside
N.C. Gold Prospectors & Metal Detectors Club
Mel Helit,
PO Box 1146
Oceanside, CA 92051
760 722-5500



oceanside
north county gold prospectors and metal detectors club ---meets the second Wednesday at 7:00PM each month at 1506 oak drive, Vista, CA.
mel helit --coordinator,
p.o. box 1146
oceanside, CA 92051
1 (760) 722-5500



Oxnard
Ventura County Gold Coast Treasure Hunters

Simi Valley, CA

no known email


San Luis Obispo County Central Coast Treasure Hunters Association PO Box 13405 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 Treasure Club - Home

Port Hueneme
Gold Coast Treasure Hunters Club
web site www.GCTREAUREHUNTERS.COM
1604 N. 8 th St.
Port Hueneme, CA 93041
805-483-5923



Riverside Treasure Hunters Club President: Jerry Myers Meets 1st Friday monthly @ 7:00 pm Eldorado Park Community Center 1400 W. 13th Street Upland, CA 91786 Main

RIVERSIDE
WOODCREST ARTIFACT RECOVERY LEAGUE
MIKE CASSELMAN,
16981 KRAMERIA AVE
RIVERSIDE, CA 92504
909 780-8630
MCASSE7631@AOL.COM


Sacramento
Sacramento Valley Detecting Buffs
5026 Don Julio Blvd.
North Highlands, Sacramento, CA
Website: SVDB Sac.Valley Detecting Buffs
Email: svdb-admin@sacramentovalleydetectingbuffs.com


San Andreas
Mother Load Treasure Hunters
John Puisis,
P.O. Box 967
San Andreas, CA 95249



San Bernardino
Valley Prospectors Inc-MeetslastThurs.of month@7pm-KnightsofColumbusHall - 1729 E Baseline Rd
Richard Di Bacco,
PO BOX 2923
San Bernardino, Ca 92406
626-914-6244
Radhere@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/valleyprospectors

San Diego
Coinshooters of San Diego
Russell Gish,
P.O. Box 900412
San Diego, CA 92190
619 444-7626
russgish@cox.net


San Francisco
Bay Area Searchers
Fred Grafelman,
1447 32nd Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94112



San Jose / Santa Clara
Treasure Hunters Society of Canta Clara Vally
Nadyne Barnwell ,
None
San Jose / Santa Clara, Ca None
None
None
http://www.members.tripod.com/~waipahuhaole1/treasurehunters.html

Santa Cruz
Jeff Kinzli's California Metal Detecting Forum
Jeff Kinzli,
n/a
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
n/a
jk@employees.org
California Metal Detecting

San Luis Obispo County Central Coast Treasure Hunters Association PO Box 13405 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 Treasure Club - Home

Seal Beach
Leisure World -Treasure Club
Roland Fabbrie,
13361 N. Nairfield ln.
Seal Beach, CA 90740
562-596-9070



Ukiah
Mendocino Lost and Found
Romona Brown,
700 E. Gobbi St., Sp 111
Ukiah, CA 95482



Union City
The Original California Searchers
Hal Thornbrugh, Treasurer,
2464 Regal Dr.
Union City, CA 94587

Hey thanks! ! I'm checking out the one in orange!

 

[Trackerman]

Ill tell ya what Ive used Manny id machines and decent ones too and the funny thing is my favorite machine is a Bounty hunter tracker IV at this stage.. It hits coins like a beast especially quarters and loves rings and jewelry. It has no id and frankly doesn't need one to find the goods. Its about 100.00 for one and out hunts some of the higher dollar machines Ive used.

 

[Keppy]

If you want a Bounty hunter buy a new one ... Don't buy your first detector off craigslist or ebay..........You will end up with a junk crap detector......And it will have you leaving the hobby before you start............. And you do not need a screen to show you what is in the ground......... If you start out without a screen you will find more ..... And i have been in this hobby for 40 years + and my go to detector's have no screen ....