Anyone use a metal detector?

[ddrumman2004]

My wife and I are interested in buying a metal detector to use on her house place as well as the surrounding land that's in the family. An old civil war cannon "ball" was found in a tree on the property about 100 years ago by her great-grandmother so we hope to find other things on the property.

If you own one, what brand is it and how well does it work? I have no idea what to look for in one and bear in mind, I don't want to spend more than a couple hundred bucks.

Any advice one can give will be greatly appreciated!

Richard

 

[Steve S]

I would go to stores that sell the detectors and see what they try to sell you I am sure the higher the price the better.

 

[ddrumman2004]

Good idea but my problem is that there aren't many, if any, stores around me that sell them unless I drive to Memphis or some other large city. Memphis? No way.

So I'm looking to buy online.

 

[Chris142]

I asked this same question a few months ago. I did a bunch of research and it looks like Whites makes the best ones. Also very expensive.

I bought a Fortune Hunter on sale @ Big 5.

It was fun for about 15 minutes then I lost interest in digging up nails and old beer can tops. Have not touched it since then except a minute ago when I had to go see what brand it is.

 

[ddrumman2004]

I read a good review on the Garrett Ace 250 detector for about 212 bucks online.
I have a feeling where we will hunt, there won't be any pull tops or cans unless we go under my wife's 140 year old home. LOL!

There are two old home spots on the 230 acres we have access too and I'm sure my 11 year old son will get a kick out of it.

We'll see!

 

[andrewg]

I've only used a Bounty Hunter brand. It's not 'top of the line', but it certainly worked for me very well indeed. They price very low to well over $300. A middle range model would work just fine. If you get a White's or a Garrett you may not get as much for your money compared to a Bounty Hunter. But if you want a higher quality one, and plan to use it very often, they are a better way to go. But like somebody said.....pay more, get more. If I had my choice and was willing to pay over $300 or more? I'd get a Garrett.

 

[ddrumman2004]

The review I read spoke highly of the Garrett Ace 250 stating that it had a lot of features for the money. Here is the link:

http://www.metaldetector.cc/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=83

Watching the show "Meteorite Men" on television got me interested in a metal detector, not for finding meteorites mind you.....just for finding no telling what around these old home sites. Maybe even some old coins or similar. It will help keep the "boy" and me busy when he's out of school for the summer.....or him anyway. He wants to spend way too much time in front of the television and hopefully he might find something with it to peak his interest.

Who knows, I may find a valuable coin or something! LOL!

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[Schmoe]

Bounty Hunter is a good start to see if you really want to do this. It gets boring when you get no hits or you did up nothing. But, the "meat and bones" of a detector are the coils. Invest in good coils and most electronics can handle processing the signal.