Does anyone use a metal detector?

[mikel]

Hi gang,



My wife and I are thinking about getting my parents a metal detector for Christmas this year, but we don't know a thing about them.



Does anyone here have any experience with these things?



Any features we should list as "must have"?



What are the "nice to have" features?





Thanks,

Mike

 

[Champane Flight]

Depends

It depends on what you looking for. A good all around metal detecter with discrimination and auto balance is the Whites. There are many good brands on the market, I use mine for Gold prospecting and a little bit of coin hunting. I have a Whites 950 Spectrum. You have to get a set of headphones with whatever you get for battery purposes. It is fun, but I have never found anything of great value, maybe someday. I have covered the Sante fe trail, several homesteads, and many miles of Stage road, all I have found out is that people were and are litter bugs. Lots of old tin cans, nails, spoons, and trash.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

www.whiteselectronics.com They make some really nice detectors with all sorts of options. Most of the versions i have seen are reasonabaly priced. They can EASILY pay for themselves in one good find of "Treasure".

 

[sdalton]

What kind of things have ya'll found with your Metal Detectors??

Anything really good??

 

[lgibson]

I was given a "goldbug"( I believe that was the name) and took it outside Downieville, Ca. one summer. I found a spot with the detector and started panning and found some color. I bought a 4" dredge and used it. I found almost 3 oz in small nuggets, the largest was the size of my fingernail, and about 2 oz of fine gold. It was a fun summer.

BTW I was on a friends claim and it was all legal.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Metal detector

I have a White, no extensive use but have used it to find survey markers at corner of lots, my pocket knife on the deer lease and a few other things. Be sure and check the laws regarding use of same, can get in deep do do on goverment property. bg

 

[COBRAJET]

My son got a Garrett Predator 3 for Christmas. He absolutely has a ball with it. He has found a couple of pieces of jewelry and a bunch of old coins in his adventures. We purcahsed it from www.kellycodetectors.com The unit came with a video and a bunch of other free stuff. I would suggest headphones, this model came with them if I am remembering right... . CJ

 

[mikel]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I'll contact the manufacturers and get information of their products so we can look over it all.





Mike

 

[WadePatton]

Any more input?

There are plenty of Civil War artifacts around here, and I go to the beach a couple of times each year, have hundreds of acres to poke around on, need to find my knife, etc.



I'm looking at getting a detector soon. What can I get for 500-700 USD? I'm looking at Whites and Garrett right now, what else?