Myers Depot Metal Detectors

New Member Looking for Help

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TheMaskedDetector

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2024
Messages
4
Hello everyone,

New member from the UK here. I am yet to buy myself a metal detector, and before I need some opinions.
My main interest at the moment is the Reflex G6, apparently detecting up to a meter, and on sale at the moment for 250 GBP, down from 399.95, which sounds like a good deal to me.

My other interest was the Lander XD50, the cheapest one I found. I figure if the hobby turns out to be too much of a pain where I live I would not be losing too much if I stick to the lower end for now, since all land in the UK is private and I need permission to do anything.

Any recommendations on either of these?

Thank you in advance
 
Hi MaskedDetector! Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you came here looking for advice before jumping into a purchase - too many folks make the mistake of buying a random metal detector when they are first starting out in the hobby, and unfortunately, there is a lot of junk out there. As with most things, you generally get what you pay for in a metal detector, and going too cheap or buying an unknown brand usually leads to disappointment.

I've never heard of those two metal detectors that you listed, which isn't a good sign right off the bat. When I searched for them online, the only place I found them listed for sale was on a website called "UK metal detectors". The site doesn't have any known brand of metal detector listed for sale (Minelab, Nokta, XP, Garrett, etc.), and worse, they have a heavy selection of Long Range Locator (LRL) devices in their "Mega detector" section. LRLs are nothing more than pseudoscience scams sold for outrageous amounts of money. Long story short, I would highly recommend staying away from the two detectors that you listed, and I certainly wouldn't recommend buying anything from that particular website. And as a side note, there is absolutely no way you are detecting coins or jewelry to 1 meter with the Reflex G6 - that's extremely unrealistic. Maybe something very large, like a small car?? :D Extremely expensive, name brand, flagship metal detectors are lucky to hit coins at 0.3 meters.

You're right, it's sometimes wise to avoid buying very expensive gear just to try a hobby that you're not sure you'll stay interested in pursuing. At the same time, buying an extremely cheap, off brand detector can lead to enough frustration that you'll end up quitting the hobby because the equipment performs so poorly and doesn't adequately represent the fun that can be had in the hobby. Keep in mind, if you buy a more known brand metal detector, if you find that the hobby isn't for you, you'll be able to sell the machine much more easily, and with minimal loss. An off-brand detector like the two you listed may as well just get chucked in the bin.

Rather than those two machines, I would point you in the direction of either a Minelab Vanquish, Nokta Simplex, or Minelab Xterra Pro. These are all relatively inexpensive beginner machines with very good performance made by reputable detector companies. Each will be much more likely to give a more enjoyable metal detecting experience - but if you change your mind, you can definitely sell them to someone else to minimize your loss.

Not that I recommend buying a machine from Amazon, but this will give you an idea of prices in USD as well as features:

Amazon Listing: Minelab Xterra Pro ($269 USD...$214 GBP?)

Amazon Link: Minelab Vanquish 340 ($199 USD...$158 GBP??)

Amazon Link: Minelab Vanquish 440 ($299 USD...$237 GBP??)

Amazon Link: Nokta Simplex BT ($279 USD...221 GBP??)
 
Last edited:
AirmetTango said:
Hi MaskedDetector! Welcome to the forum! I'm glad you came here looking for advice before jumping into a purchase - too many folks make the mistake of buying a random metal detector when they are first starting out in the hobby, and unfortunately, there is a lot of junk out there. As with most things, you generally get what you pay for in a metal detector, and going too cheap or buying an unknown brand usually leads to disappointment.

I've never heard of those two metal detectors that you listed, which isn't a good sign right off the bat. When I searched for them online, the only place I found them listed for sale was on a website called "UK metal detectors". The site doesn't have any known brand of metal detector listed for sale (Minelab, Nokta, XP, Garrett, etc.), and worse, they have a heavy selection of Long Range Locator (LRL) devices in their "Mega detector" section. LRLs are nothing more than pseudoscience scams sold for outrageous amounts of money. Long story short, I would highly recommend staying away from the two detectors that you listed, and I certainly wouldn't recommend buying anything from that particular website. And as a side note, there is absolutely no way you are detecting coins or jewelry to 1 meter with the Reflex G6 - that's extremely unrealistic. Maybe something very large, like a small car?? :D Extremely expensive, name brand, flagship metal detectors are lucky to hit coins at 0.3 meters.

You're right, it's sometimes wise to avoid buying very expensive gear just to try a hobby that you're not sure you'll stay interested in pursuing. At the same time, buying an extremely cheap, off brand detector can lead to enough frustration that you'll end up quitting the hobby because the equipment performs so poorly and doesn't adequately represent the fun that can be had in the hobby. Keep in mind, if you buy a more known brand metal detector, if you find that the hobby isn't for you, you'll be able to sell the machine much more easily, and with minimal loss. An off-brand detector like the two you listed may as well just get chucked in the bin.

Rather than those two machines, I would point you in the direction of either a Minelab Vanquish, Nokta Simplex, or Minelab Xterra Pro. These are all relatively inexpensive beginner machines with very good performance made by reputable detector companies. Each will be much more likely to give a more enjoyable metal detecting experience - but if you change your mind, you can definitely sell them to someone else to minimize your loss.

Not that I recommend buying a machine from Amazon, but this will give you an idea of prices in USD as well as features:

Amazon Listing: Minelab Xterra Pro ($269 USD...$214 GBP?)

Amazon Link: Minelab Vanquish 340 ($199 USD...$158 GBP??)

Amazon Link: Minelab Vanquish 440 ($299 USD...$237 GBP??)

Amazon Link: Nokta Simplex BT ($279 USD...221 GBP??)
Click to expand...
Thank you.

I completely discarded my searching on that website after seeing this. I thought it was a bit strange having looked on YouTube and Google for the more expensive of those 2 and having absolutely nothing come up apart from that 1 website, on which most of the reviews look outdated.

I think these 2 are the most interest for me, and Amazon has the best prices for where I am.



Is anybody able to tell me how far the Vanquish 440 and the Simplex BT can detect under the ground? And the Simplex says waterproof in the Amazon title but is that real or is it more water resistant than truly waterproof? Which one would be better for a complete beginner?

Thank you again. The advice is much appreciated
 
TheMaskedDetector said:
Thank you.

I completely discarded my searching on that website after seeing this. I thought it was a bit strange having looked on YouTube and Google for the more expensive of those 2 and having absolutely nothing come up apart from that 1 website, on which most of the reviews look outdated.

I think these 2 are the most interest for me, and Amazon has the best prices for where I am.



Is anybody able to tell me how far the Vanquish 440 and the Simplex BT can detect under the ground? And the Simplex says waterproof in the Amazon title but is that real or is it more water resistant than truly waterproof? Which one would be better for a complete beginner?

Thank you again. The advice is much appreciated
Click to expand...
I definitely suggest sticking to one of the better known reputable brands. It sounds like the others are basically dowsing rods with a battery and some LEDs attached.

To add to what AirmetTango mentioned, when you get ready to make your purchase I would look at the website of the manufacturer to find out their local resellers in your area. I would recommend one of the sponsors of this forum, but you would be better served by finding a reputable local reseller that can also do repairs and possibly maintain your detector. Maybe see if there is a local club or hobby group in your area to talk to some people with experience face to face?
 
Welcome aboard from Michigan, have you ever detected before? Most people here have their favorite machine but it really breaks down to is location and experience with your machine. Buy once, cry once. Don't buy a cheap unit and then have to upgrade after you're hooked and realize you want a better detector.

Don't expect your detector to pay for itself (although the Nokta Legend has X5) it's really about having fun and enjoying the moment. Let us know what you decide.

Mark in Michigan
 
Welcome from Northern Michigan. Good to have you here and even better you posted this query before pulling the trigger on a machine that you would not be happy with. I agree with all the other folks input. Only advice I could give is buy the best detector that your budget will allow. Pick a couple from the list and watch the vids on YT to see them in action. Good luck and Happy Hunting.
 
Welcome aboard from sunny Florida! MaskedDetector, the first thing you need to ask yourself is what kind of metal detecting are you going to do? There are three main categories, and which detector you get would depend on what you're after: 1) ground-based coin and relic hunting (some would separate those into two categories); 2) beach hunting, and 3) gold-field hunting. I'll tackle the last one first: gold-field hunting uses a different technology (Pulse Induction (PI)) versus all the other modern machines (which use Very Low Frequency (VLF)). PI is needed to find the tiny gold nuggets, but will drive you nuts in a trashy park. My guess is that you'll probably not fit into this category, as there isn't much in the way gold-fields in GB. Beach hunting requires a machine that can handle salty ground. Some are better than others for this. In general, you'd want a Multi-Frequency machine (as opposed to a Single Frequency machine) for beach hunting. Also, you'd probably one that's waterproof if at the beach, even if you're not diving with it. Lastly, coin/relic hunting not-at-the-beach: for here you'll not care so much about waterproof, but rain-proof is handy. On the ground, the most important features are those that help you discern what's under the coil, so you can make better informed dig/no-dig decisions. The two most important characteristics in my opinion are good target identification (both via sound and a numeric output), and the ability to separate the signals coming from a good target lying next to a piece of trash (cheaper machines will indicate trash, and not "see" the good target).

Bottom line is that, IMHO, pretty much all the mainstream machines available today will "see" the metal under your coil. The difference between the cheap ones and the expensive ones are the features that allow you to better decide whether that metal is worth digging up or not. But also, the more expensive ones give you more opportunities to tweak how the signals are processed and how the information is presented to you. Great for experts, but makes the learning curve for a beginner much more difficult, maybe even taking the fun out of it. The cheaper machines will have a standard set of features that fit most circumstances. Sort of like the difference between an automatic transmission and a manual one.

So, take some time to read up on the machines that interest you, then watch some you screwb videos of people using that machine. I'm sure you'll find one that will fit your needs and hunting style.

Finally, I endorse all of the machines that AirMetTango and TheMaskedDetector recommended above. To that list, I'd add the Garrett Apex, which is easy to learn and is very versatile. It's great on the beach (although not waterproof), and does great in areas where there is a lot of electromagnetic interference.

P.S.: Once you've picked your machine, you'll want a pinpointer, and I find it awfully handy to have a headset that can link to both the detector and the pinpointer at the same time. All of the major brands have such offerings, and often offer bundles which have all 3. Note that headsets are proprietary - one brand will not work with another brand's detector.

Good luck, and happy hunting! Let us know how you fare
 
markinmichigan said:
Welcome aboard from Michigan, have you ever detected before? Most people here have their favorite machine but it really breaks down to is location and experience with your machine. Buy once, cry once. Don't buy a cheap unit and then have to upgrade after you're hooked and realize you want a better detector.

Don't expect your detector to pay for itself (although the Nokta Legend has X5) it's really about having fun and enjoying the moment. Let us know what you decide.

Mark in Michigan
Click to expand...
I have no detecting experience but I do already have one of those hand held stick detectors. Where I would hope to be detecting would primarily be grassy areas and hopefully a beach or two at some point, if I can work out how to get permission to do that kind of thing.
 
RgnFn said:
Welcome aboard from sunny Florida! MaskedDetector, the first thing you need to ask yourself is what kind of metal detecting are you going to do? There are three main categories, and which detector you get would depend on what you're after: 1) ground-based coin and relic hunting (some would separate those into two categories); 2) beach hunting, and 3) gold-field hunting. I'll tackle the last one first: gold-field hunting uses a different technology (Pulse Induction (PI)) versus all the other modern machines (which use Very Low Frequency (VLF)). PI is needed to find the tiny gold nuggets, but will drive you nuts in a trashy park. My guess is that you'll probably not fit into this category, as there isn't much in the way gold-fields in GB. Beach hunting requires a machine that can handle salty ground. Some are better than others for this. In general, you'd want a Multi-Frequency machine (as opposed to a Single Frequency machine) for beach hunting. Also, you'd probably one that's waterproof if at the beach, even if you're not diving with it. Lastly, coin/relic hunting not-at-the-beach: for here you'll not care so much about waterproof, but rain-proof is handy. On the ground, the most important features are those that help you discern what's under the coil, so you can make better informed dig/no-dig decisions. The two most important characteristics in my opinion are good target identification (both via sound and a numeric output), and the ability to separate the signals coming from a good target lying next to a piece of trash (cheaper machines will indicate trash, and not "see" the good target).

Bottom line is that, IMHO, pretty much all the mainstream machines available today will "see" the metal under your coil. The difference between the cheap ones and the expensive ones are the features that allow you to better decide whether that metal is worth digging up or not. But also, the more expensive ones give you more opportunities to tweak how the signals are processed and how the information is presented to you. Great for experts, but makes the learning curve for a beginner much more difficult, maybe even taking the fun out of it. The cheaper machines will have a standard set of features that fit most circumstances. Sort of like the difference between an automatic transmission and a manual one.

So, take some time to read up on the machines that interest you, then watch some you screwb videos of people using that machine. I'm sure you'll find one that will fit your needs and hunting style.

Finally, I endorse all of the machines that AirMetTango and TheMaskedDetector recommended above. To that list, I'd add the Garrett Apex, which is easy to learn and is very versatile. It's great on the beach (although not waterproof), and does great in areas where there is a lot of electromagnetic interference.

P.S.: Once you've picked your machine, you'll want a pinpointer, and I find it awfully handy to have a headset that can link to both the detector and the pinpointer at the same time. All of the major brands have such offerings, and often offer bundles which have all 3. Note that headsets are proprietary - one brand will not work with another brand's detector.

Good luck, and happy hunting! Let us know how you fare
Click to expand...
My main interests for detecting would be coin detecting and beach detecting, so I would like something that can do both, and something waterproof so I can take it out in the rain or detect in water. I already have a pinpointer (I can say with all honesty I have no idea what brand it is).

From what I see on Amazon I think these two are my current preference



I already looked on all the reviews and the headphones one sounds quite good, and the waterproof aspect sounds good to me.
The price on the other one is quite good though so not sure.

At the moment I think I would like to look at more reviews but I think the Simplex is my preference.

Any thoughts?
 
markinmichigan said:
Welcome aboard from Michigan, have you ever detected before? Most people here have their favorite machine but it really breaks down to is location and experience with your machine. Buy once, cry once. Don't buy a cheap unit and then have to upgrade after you're hooked and realize you want a better detector.

Don't expect your detector to pay for itself (although the Nokta Legend has X5) it's really about having fun and enjoying the moment. Let us know what you decide.

Mark in Michigan
Click to expand...
Any detector can pay for itself, based on the used price I paid for my Surf PI, it has paid for itself 7 or 8 times over. If I had bought it new, it may only have paid for itself twice. I have had 9 machines since 2011, my first was an ACE250 (I traded an old rifle for it at a sporting goods store) that paid for the Surf which paid for my used Sovereign Elite. I sold the ACE in 2014 and with finds from the other two machines I bought my E-Trac. I sat on all my Gold finds, rewards and fees for recoveries (37 and counting), and coins for 6 years and when Gold went to $1850 I cashed in and bought my Equinox 800 with 6 and 15 in coils and waterproof headphones, an MX Sport, a used DFX, and a Nokta Pulsedive with the proceeds. In December 2022 I sold a rifle, my DFX, and finds again and bought my CTX3030 with a 6 and 17 inch coils...

Not a penny has come from paychecks or "house" funds... detecting IS supporting my detecting. It took determination (I spent nearly 6 hours a day, 4 days a week on the beach or in the water), patience (I sat on all my finds for 6 years), and a good beach with lots of tourism but it can be done! An understanding and supportive non-detectorist wife helps a ton too... :cool3:

CP Finds (2).jpg




IMAG0388.jpg


P5080027.JPG

This watch is my first find with my new E-Trac back in May 2014, still wearing it today!

20231119_223958.jpg

My 'Nox 800's first find! The stones are real, White Gold...

20231119_223908.jpg
​
Yes, it WAS a good month...
 
Last edited:
hoser said:
Welcome from Northern Michigan. Good to have you here and even better you posted this query before pulling the trigger on a machine that you would not be happy with. I agree with all the other folks input. Only advice I could give is buy the best detector that your budget will allow. Pick a couple from the list and watch the vids on YT to see them in action. Good luck and Happy Hunting.
Click to expand...
Hey, old man LOL Happy birthday. Glad I am only 20, lol
too_
 
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