Which one to buy?

[darktower007]

Hey guys forgive my complete ignorance but I've never picked up a metal detector before! I'm a nerd by training (scientist) and I tend to analyze everything in depth. But trying to figure out which one to buy is paralyzingly hard. I live in Chattanooga but visit the beach yearly so that would be fun to search. My budget is $500-$800 max.
I've been looking at the f75 ATP and T2. But what else am I missing? And what about gold hunting? Geeze I'm lost! Lol


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[DannyB.]

I'm feeling more confident especially since finding this wonderful forum! I was about to buy a bounty hunter a few months ago on a whim... but I was like.. you know what I better research this a bit! Lol glad I didn't!
Thank you for the input [emoji106]


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Just for the record.. the last detector I bought was a bounty hunter Land ranger pro. Fine machine. Just don't ask more of something that it can give. I wouldn't trade it for my F75.

 

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[darktower007]

Just for the record.. the last detector I bought was a bounty hunter Land ranger pro. Fine machine. Just don't ask more of something that it can give. I wouldn't trade it for my F75.

Wow! Well that's food for thought! It was like $150 I think at cost co one I saw... as I progress I might pick one up as a back up[emoji106]


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[darktower007]

I have been thinking. There are several shallow streams around my house as well in Va where my inlaws live. Old coal mining towns. I'm leaning to the ATP I think. Only drawback I hear from them really is weight and their noise which some folks don't like. But if I've never had one I wouldn't know any different I guess. The water proof is a big plus the the ATP I feel.


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[Loco-Digger]

Wow! Well that's food for thought! It was like $150 I think at cost co one I saw... as I progress I might pick one up as a back up[emoji106]


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The Land Ranger pro is the best bang for the buck, it comes with many options that other more expensive detector come with. Many of us started with a cheap detector, but at least we pulled the trigger and started the adventure. I started with a TC-1023, a basic unit. It had 3 tones and an 8" concentric coil. Using the low end detector I learned the basics. It did not have a depth meter but by swinging the coil over the target and raising it up at the same time could give you the depth of the target. It paid for itself in 60 days I then moved up to a used F4 since it had a bigger coil. I love the stock DD coil. 6 months later I ran into a great deal and moved up to the F75LTD2. Many people have a fear that a top end detector will be to complicated to use. That is a myth since most come with preset processes that will allow you to start without having to tweek anything. I am still learning some of the features, but again I am out enjoying the hobby. I also started detecting without a pin pointer and dug over $400. I bought a BH pin pointer and it only has a range of 1/2 inch so it is now a paper weight. Get a good one, it will speed up target recovery and allow you to find more targets while you are out hunting. I use a nail apron as a finds pouch (less than a buck), trash on the left, treasure on the right. I also used a small shovel that cost $10 or less. I do wear a knee pad on my right knee. My 1st hand digger was bought at the local hardware store, but once I used a lesche hand digger I never looked back. Be sure to buy the one that has the teeth on the side you will be digging in. No matter which detector you buy, see if they will give you a deal on a sniper coil to. I use large coils in target sparse areas, stock coil to hunt most sites and the sniper coil to hunt trashy sites.

 

[Cosmo3]

I have been thinking. There are several shallow streams around my house as well in Va where my inlaws live. Old coal mining towns. I'm leaning to the ATP I think. Only drawback I hear from them really is weight and their noise which some folks don't like. But if I've never had one I wouldn't know any different I guess. The water proof is a big plus the the ATP I feel.


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Hey mate, as I said earlier I went from a Bounty Hunter Sharpshooter II and then got an ATP. The ATP does have a custom feature where depending on what you are after can customize the settings and really bring the noise down. It also has a Standard setting that is a little easier to use. All in all I don't find it a hard machine to get used to. I will say that the Sharpshooter was a fine machine that I will not say anything bad about it.

 

[snorks]

If you are hunting in shallow water remember that most detectors have waterproof coils and stems meaning that detecting in a foot or two of water is possible

 

[junkhunt]

There is a lot of information on U Tube. And I keep hearing good things about the Garrett AT Pro but never used one. But begging to look like one maybe coming my way soon.