• Forum server maintanace Friday night.(around 7PM Centeral time)
    Website will be off line for a short while.

    You may need to log out, log back in after we're back online.

I'm new to metal detecting and I need to know what to buy.

What I find a bit annoying is that we all know the manufacturers have the option to turn up or down the performance of any of their detectors. Their entry level detectors could have the same performance as their top end if they wanted. They probably all use the same basic chipset just with different options enabled. They chose to turn up the performance of the X-Terra for the sole purpose to kill the Simplex+ market. I guess you can't blame them business wise, but it just seems a sleazy thing to do character wise.
 
As a newbie I believe that joining a club/group 1 to meet people with similar interests, and 2 to encourage participation in the sport/hobby and to learn from more experienced folks is and would be a benefit for any person starting out,

in my area there are two groups I am aware of, I myself will likely join/participate in both.
 
As a newbie I believe that joining a club/group 1 to meet people with similar interests, and 2 to encourage participation in the sport/hobby and to learn from more experienced folks is and would be a benefit for any person starting out,

in my area there are two groups I am aware of, I myself will likely join/participate in both.
I think the first lesson a newbie should learn is how to retrieve a target without digging a humongous hole, how to first pull out a pin pointer to check to see if the target is at or just below the surface instead of pulling out a dang shovel and just start digging these huge holes LOL
 
I think the first lesson a newbie should learn is how to retrieve a target without digging a humongous hole, how to first pull out a pin pointer to check to see if the target is at or just below the surface instead of pulling out a dang shovel and just start digging these huge holes LOL
Agreed, the park I go to, I've seen another person detecting a couple times, and he uses a big old full size spade, doesn't pinpoint at all, he just goes for it with the shovel. Very embarrassing to witness, both times I've seen him, I've packed my stuff up and left so no one associates him with me.
 
one of the first places I tried my new detector was a park I only took and used my hand trowel, I had one hole about 4 " in diameter and deeper then my pin pointer, being a brand-new newbie I was a bit confused, false signal ? I don't know, I gave up on it, perhaps one day I will go back there and try again as I get a little more experience, it was the very first time outside with my detector, I spread a bunch of coins metal stuff brass etc. to practice with, oh the hole I filled fluffed and brushed over wouldn't even know I was there,

I picked up in one of the videos I had watched using the pin pointer to check the surface for the target before digging, could possibly save a lot of time and effort.
at the ct. river beach area that I tried my luck I did use a shovel but filled each hole I dug and fluffed it over wouldn't even know I was there, leave it as you found it, clean up after yourself,
 
Agreed, the park I go to, I've seen another person detecting a couple times, and he uses a big old full size spade, doesn't pinpoint at all, he just goes for it with the shovel. Very embarrassing to witness, both times I've seen him, I've packed my stuff up and left so no one associates him with me.
There is a guy that lives in a town about 35 miles away that comes to dodge now and then. I can always tell because he leaves a mess and I end up spending a lot of my time fixing his holes so people don't think I did it. The only time I will use a shovel in the park is if no one is able to see me. To be honest, generally, I leave much less of a sign I was there with the shovel. If done right, you flip over a nice plug that fits right back in. I've come back days later and they still look good. I've used nothing but a flathead screwdriver for 45 years. Only in the last couple of years, since my health went to crap, have I started using a Lesche or shovel.
 
I started in 1980.. Every detectorI I owned paid for itself. It wasn't hard to get hooked on detecting in 1980. Silver everywhere. pockets full of coins everyday. I haven't been in a park or school for 20 years. Many days I only get 1-2 coins, maybe a few Civil War bullets. I hunt the woods, valleys, fields, streams and areas that I researched for past activities. In my town where would I tell a newbie to hunt? Good luck with that. Private permissions is about it.
But advice on what to buy, Buy cheap knowing you could never sell the junk, or pay enough so you have something to sell if you don't take to detecting. These days me being in the woods with the deer, the streams and trees are the biggest treasure I find.
 
There is a guy that lives in a town about 35 miles away that comes to dodge now and then. I can always tell because he leaves a mess and I end up spending a lot of my time fixing his holes so people don't think I did it. The only time I will use a shovel in the park is if no one is able to see me. To be honest, generally, I leave much less of a sign I was there with the shovel. If done right, you flip over a nice plug that fits right back in. I've come back days later and they still look good. I've used nothing but a flathead screwdriver for 45 years. Only in the last couple of years, since my health went to crap, have I started using a Lesche or shovel.
I have showed new people who seen the AT machines on youtube, had their shovels. Big shovels, big holes, no need to learn how to pinpoint (with the detector) yes we used screwdrivers, We know HOW to pinpoint with the detector alone. I made the mistake of showing them some of my "Go to spots" for civil war relics. Soon after I was filling in holes, everywhere, they really messed the area up. I often would find the target right next to the pile of dug dirt, They missed it and they gave up. I have had people ask about detecting, I no longer share what my finds are, I act stupid and hope they just go away.
 
There is no best detector for every person just starting or with years of experience. It has a lot to do with the person, their location and their targets.
 
Detector I hear what you're saying, but if you remember when we first started into this hobby we didn't have the resources people have today with the internet. Back then you and I had to rely on treasure magazines and catalogs you got through the mail. If we were lucky we could go to a detector dealer and get a hands on feel with more than one machine. When I got my first Garrett I had no other person to help me learn. Having a resource like the Friendly Metal detecting forum is actually a gold mine of experienced information for new people. All that being said, I agree that someone just starting out would be better off with an entry level machine to get them acquainted with the hobby. Something as simple as the Ace series or the Minelab Go Find series would be a good start. One thing I think we all would agree on is steering new folks clear of the cheap Chinese junk machines.
I'd suggest a Vanquish 340 over any Go-Find machine who's primary feature is how small it folds up.
 
How many times have we seen this question? Over my 50 years I've given advice to people new to metal detecting and now realize it probably was not as good as I thought. I used to say "buy the best you can afford", which seemed like good advice until you start thinking about it. It is only good advice to someone you expect to remain in the hobby. Out of all the people new to detecting I have given this advice, only about 2-3, that I know of, are still metal detecting.

The first thing we generally see as an answer to this question is people spitting out detector models without even knowing what they will be looking for, where they will be hunting, and if they will be learning alone or with help from a fellow detectorist. All are very important as they will help determine the best choice. Is suggesting that buying a $700 detector to someone new to metal detecting that will be learning on their own a good idea? That is good advice for someone who has help in the field learning, but on your own would be overwhelming. I'm as guilty as anyone, but now I realize, especially with todays detectors, that suggesting a good $250-$300 starter is probably a better idea. After all, first you must learn the basics of metal detecting and how they work to even make use of all those confusing features like Iron Bias, Frequency Shift, and Silencer. The lone starter needs a good simple turn-on and swing detector to get a feel for the hobby. No whistle, no tweet, no whizzing tones, but a plain and simple tone.

We have good intentions when we suggest a model that has done us well, but that isn't always the best choice.
In my opinion you are right on this topic. I went from an AT Pro to the more advanced Equinox 800. Went crazy trying to use all those advanced features when I did not have the experience to use the properly. The 800 is a very sensitive detector of very small pieces of metal. So hunting in North Atlanta with plenty of metal trash, the 800 was very noisy when you really didn't know how to tame it. Kept it for about 1.5 years and then bought a used, but never used CTX3030 for $1,900. Sweet machine, but I took the time to really learn it and understand the CTX3030. Newbies should stick to an Ace or Vanquish and have fun and find a lot of good stuff. Both very capable detectors. Of course it always depends on the nature of the site you are hunting or if you need one for the ocean beach then go with the 900.
 
The lone starter needs a good simple turn-on and swing detector to get a feel for the hobby. No whistle, no tweet, no whizzing tones, but a plain and simple tone.
Wow, this is true to a degree I have seen quite the opposite happen. I've taken several people out and shown them the basics of a middle-grade machine and within 15-20 minutes they are literally out hunting me and everybody else. Some people, especially people with an Electronics background take to Detecting like a duck does to water. It's amazing to watch.
 
Ten years ago I would always suggest a machine like the Fisher F2 as a good starter unit. It was simple to use, decent performance at a good price. Nowadays, users can get a LOT of detector in that same $200-$300 price range. One that they can grow with. I still think that's the sweet spot for an entry level detector. The current detectors in that price range offer excellent performance compared to the old days, even with the basic turn on and go settings.. AND, new users won't be taking a huge loss if they decide the hobby just isn't for them.
 
Wow, this is true to a degree I have seen quite the opposite happen. I've taken several people out and shown them the basics of a middle-grade machine and within 15-20 minutes they are literally out hunting me and everybody else. Some people, especially people with an Electronics background take to Detecting like a duck does to water. It's amazing to watch.
I am one of those people who retired from electronics after 20 years before ever swinging a metal detector.
 
Wow, this is true to a degree I have seen quite the opposite happen. I've taken several people out and shown them the basics of a middle-grade machine and within 15-20 minutes they are literally out hunting me and everybody else. Some people, especially people with an Electronics background take to Detecting like a duck does to water. It's amazing to watch.
I keep forgetting times have changed from when I got started. I had no one to help me so I could advance my skills as fast as they could today. Getting a mid to high-end detector makes much more sense today than it did 40 years ago. I outgrew my Coinmaster pretty quick and my only option was to buy a better detector.
 
Some people, especially people with an Electronics background take to Detecting like a duck does to water.
one of those people who retired from electronics
I've been in & out of electronics most of my life, including amateur radio. When I got the urge to try MDing, I did some research. I decided to start with a Legend. I find, that if I start with low-end items, the frustration factor is very high. I've become more of a buy once; cry once type. The learning curve is steeper... sure, but the effort is worth it to me. YMMV.
 
I'm one person who YouTube videos helped me make my choice when deciding to get back into metal detecting after 35 years of not detecting. I liked The Hoover Boys and they all used the AT Pro. It looked fairly simple to work, they found a lot of good stuff with that machine, I watched the Garrett tutorial videos, and bought my machine in March 2017. Still have it and it is my only detector. All my detecting friends use the Nox 600, 800, or the Manticore.
 
I've been in & out of electronics most of my life, including amateur radio. When I got the urge to try MDing, I did some research. I decided to start with a Legend. I find, that if I start with low-end items, the frustration factor is very high. I've become more of a buy once; cry once type. The learning curve is steeper... sure, but the effort is worth it to me. YMMV.
I used to buy something super cheap, like the hobby, then buy an upgrade almost immediately later.

Now I just research a topic before jumping in with a cost effective but functional piece of equipment for
whatever the latest shiny thing to catch my attention is rather than getting started for the cheapest cost
possible.
 
Back
Top Bottom