How much have metal detectors changed in the last 20-25 years?

[mr helton]

My boss has one about that age...it has a pinpointer too. Anyway, I really want to buy one, but I'm going to borrow his to see how I like it before I take the plunge. Will using a metal detector that old for my first time ruin the experience for me? He said it cost him like $400 new at the time.

 

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[BryanM362]

I am not an expert, but I think some of the big changes are the ability to better identify targets, and show depth.

 

[mr helton]

If that's the case, the I'm definitely ok with that!

 

[Jason in Enid]

In 25 years? There has been a quantum shift in the technology. Not all detectors make use of this though. There are many detectors being sold today still using that 25 year old tech.

 

[jeweler21]

I have four detectors, the oldest is 37 years old and the newest 6 years old. The oldest is by far the best detector that I have ever used.
1 - 1976 A.H. Electronics Super Pro 2 body mount. Its discrimination ability still leaves most of the new models in the dust. I hunt right behind people using new top dollar detectors and find more than they do. Except when using all-metal mode it lacks the depth of the new detectors but in this area coins are hardly ever found over four inches deep and it reaches 5 or 6 inches in discriminating modes. Excellent pin pointing ability. With this detector, you don't have to have a pin pointer. And you can use it comfortably all day long.
A.H. Electronics stopped making detectors about 1980.

2 - 1979 A.H. Electronics Super Pro 5. Good detector, excellent discrimination. Not as good at pin pointing or depth as the Super Pro 2 but better for finding nickels. It is too heavy for long hunts.

3 - 1980 Garrett ADS 3 with co-planer coil. Good depth, good discrimination, easy to use but harder to pin point with.
You need a good pin pointer with this detector. Too heavy for long hunts.

4 - 2007 Garrett GTAX 500 good detector with target ID and depth. Excellent for relic hunting. It has good depth but iron discrimination has a lot to be desired, especially when objects are very rusty, and its pin pointing ability is not great. Continual beeping is hard to live with until you get used to it.

I think either an E-Trax or AT pro is in my future before too long.

 

[mercury1]

I have four detectors, the oldest is 37 years old and the newest 6 years old. The oldest is by far the best detector that I have ever used.
1 - 1976 A.H. Electronics Super Pro 2 body mount. Its discrimination ability still leaves most of the new models in the dust. I hunt right behind people using new top dollar detectors and find more than they do. Except when using all-metal mode it lacks the depth of the new detectors but in this area coins are hardly ever found over four inches deep and it reaches 5 or 6 inches in discriminating modes. Excellent pin pointing ability. With this detector, you don't have to have a pin pointer. And you can use it comfortably all day long.
A.H. Electronics stopped making detectors about 1980.

2 - 1979 A.H. Electronics Super Pro 5. Good detector, excellent discrimination. Not as good at pin pointing or depth as the Super Pro 2 but better for finding nickels. It is too heavy for long hunts.

3 - 1980 Garrett ADS 3 with co-planer coil. Good depth, good discrimination, easy to use but harder to pin point with.
You need a good pin pointer with this detector. Too heavy for long hunts.

4 - 2007 Garrett GTAX 500 good detector with target ID and depth. Excellent for relic hunting. It has good depth but iron discrimination has a lot to be desired, especially when objects are very rusty, and its pin pointing ability is not great. Continual beeping is hard to live with until you get used to it.

I think either an E-Trax or AT pro is in my future before too long.

Jeweler, you have obviously been at this for some time and I had a couple questions which might be of interest to the op also as he has expressed a desire to buy a md and like me, lacks experience. I just received my new ace 250, an entry level detector which I expect I will quickly outgrow. I bought it because 1) it was cheap and recommended by a friend , and 2) I'm not yet knowledgable enough to evaluate my needs and how they relate to the higher end detectors out there. My research so far has lead me to liking minelad ctx 3030 or perhaps the etrac. Also have looked at At pro and v3i. I guess my question would be, what will I find lacking in the 250 that the higher end machines will address ? I haven't had a chance to use the 250 yet because of rain. Any insight you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[fella]

My boss has one about that age...it has a pinpointer too. Anyway, I really want to buy one, but I'm going to borrow his to see how I like it before I take the plunge. Will using a metal detector that old for my first time ruin the experience for me? He said it cost him like $400 new at the time.

I hunted with my brother the last two days and he was using his 20yo Garrett GTAX1000 ($400 back then) and me a VX3 and an MXT Pro. We compared a lot of signals over the last two days and I was very surprised at how well his old Garrett performed. Every target I checked of his, his machine was right on. Every target he checked of mine was right on. I was more confident on nickel/canslaw targets but I'm pretty comfortable with my machines and this was the first he has had his out in over ten years.
On planted dime at 6" he was nice and solid. At 8" dime, he could get the signal but it was broken up some. Still a signal I would investigate though.
Just because the tech is older doesn't mean it's bad!

 

[cudamark]

My boss has one about that age...it has a pinpointer too. Anyway, I really want to buy one, but I'm going to borrow his to see how I like it before I take the plunge. Will using a metal detector that old for my first time ruin the experience for me? He said it cost him like $400 new at the time.

If you post the make and model of his detector, we'd be better able to comment on it. Generally speaking, the never detectors at the higher end level will be more adjustable to conditions and much more stable in use than ones made 20+ years ago. Less false signals and in most cases a little more depth too. Jeweler21, if you get the E-trac and learn how to use it properly, your other machines will just gather dust.

 

[jeweler21]

If you post the make and model of his detector, we'd be better able to comment on it. Generally speaking, the never detectors at the higher end level will be more adjustable to conditions and much more stable in use than ones made 20+ years ago. Less false signals and in most cases a little more depth too. Jeweler21, if you get the E-trac and learn how to use it properly, your other machines will just gather dust.

Cudamark, Took the Super Pro 2 out for about three hours yesterday. I found 36 pennies (one penny was a wheat and one was 1964, one of the quarters and one dime was 1965), 3 quarters, 7 dimes ($1.81), two tokens and a 1980 ten pesos Mexican coin.
I was looking in a park area that has been hunted many times by other detectorist and that I have looked over myself with other detectors recently.
I would love to try the E-trac but the ease of use and excellent capabilities of the 37 year old A.H. Electronics detector, I doubt that any detector will make it gather dust. It has 38 class rings, lots of other jewelry and thousands of coins to its credit. I paid about $400 for it in 1976 (not cheap then) and it paid for itself in the first two hours of use.

 

[Old Dude]

I hunted with my brother the last two days and he was using his 20yo Garrett GTAX1000 ($400 back then) and me a VX3 and an MXT Pro. We compared a lot of signals over the last two days and I was very surprised at how well his old Garrett performed. Every target I checked of his, his machine was right on. Every target he checked of mine was right on. I was more confident on nickel/canslaw targets but I'm pretty comfortable with my machines and this was the first he has had his out in over ten years.
On planted dime at 6" he was nice and solid. At 8" dime, he could get the signal but it was broken up some. Still a signal I would investigate though.
Just because the tech is older doesn't mean it's bad!

I have a Garrett GTAx 500. My motto is " The equipment I'm swinging might be old, but it still works! ".

Sent from my iPad using TreasureNet

 

[mr helton]

I got the metal detector today, it's a Bounty Hunter Big Bud XL. I'm pretty excited to give it a shot, but I need to figure out how to use it (plus I'm stuck at work right now!)

 

[Frankn]

Hay, they still beep when they see metal, but they can see a lot further and they 'SWAG' about what is down there. Frank...

 

[Jason in Enid]

Hay, they still beep when they see metal, but they can see a lot further and they 'SWAG' about what is down there. Frank...

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