Myers Depot Metal Detectors

please help.. overwhelmed!

M

mad gamer

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
43
Ok guys and gals, first off Im new to the forum (hello!) as well as metal detecting. Im looking for a new hobby to get me outside and something I can do with my 3 year old daughter who loves digging. :D I'm looking for something in the price range of $400-$500 but am overwhelmed with all the choices and figured I would come to y'all for help.

What I will be using the detector for:

My first prospect is my moms 2 acre property in the Texas hill country, where the house was built in 1902. From what i remember from digging in the yard when I was a kid was the ground being hard with lots of small rocks just below the surface and always finding plenty of trash (cans, nails, bottle caps..etc). But I think I might be able to find some coins and whatnot there as well as get some practice.

I don't really plan on going to the beach for my detecting but would like to use it around rivers, if this helps. A lot of the rivers and streams here in Texas are dried up from the drought and I thought that might also be a good place to hunt. is it? and will most detectors pick up most metals such as gold and silver?

Here is one detector I found on ebay with extras and would like the forum's input or better suggestions suited for my needs in my price range....

It is a Minelab X-Terra 305 Powered by a 9" (7.5kHz) , Waterproof Search Coil?? (no idea what any of this means) lol!

and comes with...

3 Pocket Coin Pouch
FiberComp Scoop/Digger
Minelab Carry Bag
Automax V4 Pin Pointer
Audio 200 Headphones

Also comes with these but not important to me...

Spanish 8 Reale Treasure Coin Replica with Certificate of Authenticity
Collectors Edition Treasure Hunting Magazines
State by State Treasure Guide CD
Finder's Log
Trial Subscription Card to Lost Treasure Magazine

This is $400, but I would really like the forums opinion before I buy anything.

In short I'm just a noob to all this but very interested in picking it up as a hobby and figured I would ask the gurus for some help.

I'm excited and can't wait to pick one up and share my finds with the forum.

Thanx,
Matt F.
 
Most of the stuff that comes with "packages" are cheap and not worth their price because they really are not free.
You don't want or need most of that garbage.

If you want to do this right, the Garret propointer is the way to go for a handheld pinpointer.
That will set you back about $100.
You will need a decent digging tool, one of the best is a Lesche about $35.
A trash bag and maybe some knee pads are cheap and can be found at the big box stores.
$400 can get you several good units and the 305 is a good choice.
I personally think a better value would be a Fisher F4 if you want a screen like the Minelab, which is easier to deal with than units when you are totally new like the Tesoro line.
Add another $100 to your package and you will be in the next level up and the AT Pro is a great all around unit that you will not outgrow very quickly.
Keep researching and CALL the sponsors here Like Andrew at New England and Bart at Big boys and the other smaller dealers.
Kellyco is huge and they play games, but you can try them if you want.

If you call the good dealers like Bart and Andrew, they will actually try to give good advice and help you with your choice, and package deals on all the prime stuff you need could be hammered out very easily.
 
Like DIGGER 27 said, stay with the sponsors. They are top-rate and will treat you well. You also might consider a good used detector. With the money you save, you can then buy your digging tool, pouch, pinpointer, knee pads.

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=43474&highlight=digging+tools

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=78134&highlight=digging+tools

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=81720

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=74041&highlight=knee+pads

Also, don't forget headphones and extra batteries.

When you are close to a decision on your detector, check out:

http://metaldetectorreviews.net/

And with all of the great people on this forum, you will have huge support network.

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!
 
Hello from White Plains, New York!

Hi Matt! Isn't this a GREAT forum?! Almost everyone here really enjoys helping folks! I am going to throw you a curve ball!

Start with a lower cost (that does NOT mean "lower" quality!) detector, like a Tesoro Compadre, or a Garrett Ace 250. That will leave you enough money to get a quality digging tool (Lesche), and a "pinpointer" for locating small coins and objects in the hole you just dug. Maybe a set of kneepads, and a finds bag!

As you get more into the hobby, you will know what you need, and how bad you need it! The SPONSORS here, are tops! Work with one! Good Luck! :cool:
 
Terry Soloman said:
Hi Matt! Isn't this a GREAT forum?! Almost everyone here really enjoys helping folks! I am going to throw you a curve ball!

Start with a lower cost (that does NOT mean "lower" quality!) detector, like a Tesoro Compadre, or a Garrett Ace 250. That will leave you enough money to get a quality digging tool (Lesche), and a "pinpointer" for locating small coins and objects in the hole you just dug. Maybe a set of kneepads, and a finds bag!

As you get more into the hobby, you will know what you need, and how bad you need it! The SPONSORS here, are tops! Work with one! Good Luck! :cool:
Click to expand...


I would agree with Terry. I think it is best to start out with a quality beginners unit, Tesoro Compadre or a used Cutlass, Silver Sabre or Silver Umax, Fisher F2, Garrett Ace 250, are a few suggestions. Then if you decide to get serious after a few months, you can upgrade and give the first unit to your daughter when she is old enough. If you lose interest, you are only out a few bucks.

If you like gadgets and learning how to fiddle with settings, you may be more happy with an MD that has a readout and different tones. If you like things simple and have the patience to study minute differences in tones, a beep only machine like a Tesoro may be the better bet.

ADD and beep only detectors do not usually go together.

Lesche is a good digging tool for rocky ground. They are more expensive than something you will find in the local hardware store but it is almost impossible to break. A cheap digger won't last one day digging in rocky soil.

For grass over soft soil, I think the Ames digger (blue handle) is the best for the money. You can get it in Home Depot or Lowes for about $15.

I have a Garrett Propointer and like it a lot but really didn't think it was necessary at the beginning. My Tesoro pinpointed well enough. I think you will find opinions split about 50/50 on the necessity of pinpointers. They are certainly helpful but if your daughter is going to have fun just digging where you tell her to, a pinpointer purchase can be done later.

One thing that will change the advice I just gave is your soil. Check with other MD'ers in your area to make sure you don't have highly mineralized soil or hot rocks in your ground. If you do then you will want a detector with a manual ground balance and will cost you a little more. A Tesoro Vaquero is a good beep only choice or if you want something with a lot of settings, a used Whites XLT or MXT would also be good bets and be within your price range.
 
thanx for all the info! I can tell already by looking around this site that I will love this place. Everybody is helpful and full of knowledge. Now, I just have to sell some of the stuff from my last hobby and get started on my new one :grin:

I think I'm going to go with the Garret ATpro and I will get the Garret pro pointer, which is a little above my price range but I think I can sell all my other stuff and still have some money left over for other things I might need. I watched all the videos on the Garret website and think that is something I can work with.

Thanx,
Matt F.

P.S. Now my brother is interested also! lol!
 
Terry Soloman said:
Hi Matt! Isn't this a GREAT forum?! Almost everyone here really enjoys helping folks! I am going to throw you a curve ball!

Start with a lower cost (that does NOT mean "lower" quality!) detector, like a Tesoro Compadre, or a Garrett Ace 250. That will leave you enough money to get a quality digging tool (Lesche), and a "pinpointer" for locating small coins and objects in the hole you just dug. Maybe a set of kneepads, and a finds bag!

As you get more into the hobby, you will know what you need, and how bad you need it! The SPONSORS here, are tops! Work with one! Good Luck! :cool:
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you. Great advice for someone getting started!
 
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