Used detector advice

[stargazerdood]

I am purchasing my first detector and my initial thought was get a used old school detector and hopefull get some bang for my buck, maybe a better detector than a low end new one. I am interested in general hunting, including coins, relics, and even meteorites. Right now I am looking at a few and some advice on these would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any assistance and advice.

Garret Groundhog, has a Co-planar coil.
BOUNTY HUNTER AUTOMATIC 840 metal detector vlf / tr discriminator.
TEKNETICS ALPHA METAL DETECTOR
Lone Star
Bounty hunter quick silver with an 8" and 4" concentric coils
White coinmaster TR series 3
Bounty hunter sharp shooter 2

 

[DIGGER27]

I am purchasing my first detector and my initial thought was get a used old school detector and hopefull get some bang for my buck, maybe a better detector than a low end new one. I am interested in general hunting, including coins, relics, and even meteorites. Right now I am looking at a few and some advice on these would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any assistance and advice.

Garret Groundhog, has a Co-planar coil.
BOUNTY HUNTER AUTOMATIC 840 metal detector vlf / tr discriminator.
TEKNETICS ALPHA METAL DETECTOR
Lone Star
Bounty hunter quick silver with an 8" and 4" concentric coils
White coinmaster TR series 3
Bounty hunter sharp shooter 2

The lone star is the most modern out of this bunch, and would probably work well for a newb.
Those TR units are old technology, and they have their place in iron infested sites even in this day, but they are not like the modern units of today.
That Quicksilver is garbage.
I started with that one, hated it, met a guy today on a hunt that had one and we traded for a bit.
You know what?
I still hate it.

What is your price range?
I am sure we can recommend something that works and is value oriented if we knew.
For instance along with a Vaquero, a Quicksilver and a Compass TR unit I also have a Compadre and an F2, and both have found me tons of coins plus lots of silver and gold.
Both are highly recommended around here for those just starting in this hobby.
Low end...sure...but they are much fun, and they work and work well just like the big boys.

 

[stargazerdood]

I am willing to spend up to 150 on a used unit. I am also looking at a BH de280 outlaw.

 

[EvilVOG]

I've been looking in a similar price range a couple posts down...

i'd drop the quick silver off the list, that's thier bottom dollar one.

You'l' find a lot of bounty hunter haters around here, and a few that like theirs but will only pm you that they like them because the hate is so aggressive.

I was also originally just looking to go with a BH myself, but between the people around me not willing to negotiate their prices, and the reputation has steered me to one of two options, although rarely you will find them used, the Fisher F2 (new $200) or the Tesoro Compadre (new $160). On paper, they seem like the best options around the money.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Spend $170 and get a brand new Tesoro Compadre http://www.tesoro.com/product/detectors/compadre/index.html You'll get TWICE the bang for your bucks..

 

[richbat]

Spend $170 and get a brand new Tesoro Compadre http://www.tesoro.com/product/detectors/compadre/index.html You'll get TWICE the bang for your bucks..

Can't agree more.Compadre is your best bang for your buck and once you had it for awhile and decide to upgrade you should be able to get most of your money back on resale.

 

[DIGGER27]

I am willing to spend up to 150 on a used unit. I am also looking at a BH de280 outlaw.

About $10 more gets you a Compadre.
That is your best choice for now.

 

[stargazerdood]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Duly noted and much appreciated.

 

[DIGGER27]

Can't agree more.Compadre is your best bang for your buck and once you had it for awhile and decide to upgrade you should be able to get most of your money back on resale.

Yea, you're not going to want to sell this after you see what I can find.
Mine has found me about 3 times it's cost so far...maybe more.
If you get good with it, it should finance the purchase of your next one.

 

[stargazerdood]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Cant begin to tell you how excited I am. Been wanting to do this for years and never did. Ive been geocaching for quite some time and have come across some really cool spots that got me thinking Ive been cruising the forum soaking up the information. Looks like a decent weekend coming up so me and my youngster are going to head out and have some fun, assuming my new detector is in.

 

[Milhaus]

I'm not a Compadre superfan but they really are the best value. Keep in mind they have a lifetime warranty as well, and run on a single 9v battery. You can also get a rechargable 9v battery and a charger (that accepts 2 9v at the same time for your pinpointer) and it won't be long before it pays for itself many times over.

You will find out right away that hunting without a pinpointer is a major PITA. Harbor Freight sells an $18 pinpointer. It works ok, but just ok. I have one, but it broke. Save up for a Garrett ProPointer asap.

Please follow the Code of Ethics, learn proper plug cutting and other target recovery techniques, always leave parks the way you found them, no shovels, and good luck!