BH Platimun Purchase Advice

[Long2bhiking]

I'm coming back to this hobby after being away for years, and all of the equipment has really changed a LOT. I live in North Georgia with higher soil mineralization and am I'm interested in hunting for relics, coins, old stuff in general, and some beach hunting on occasion. I'm looking for something in the $300 range and keep coming back to the BH Platinum, but in reading a lot of your comments, many people do not recommend BH and I don’t understand why. Can someone explain why? Thanks for your help!

[Curbdog]

For $300 you can do better than a BH. Kind of like looking for a luxury car and settling on a top of the line Kia. They specialize in cheaper units so I wouldn't head to them for a higher quality detector.

Maybe look at a Tesoro Silver Umax or a Fisher F2/DD coil package. Your budget can net you a slightly better unit than those deemed "starter" detectors. Heck, for $100 more you could get a Minelab 305!

Good luck in whichever you decide!

[DIGGER27]

Originally Posted by Long2bhiking

I'm coming back to this hobby after being away for years, and all of the equipment has really changed a LOT. I live in North Georgia with higher soil mineralization and am I'm interested in hunting for relics, coins, old stuff in general, and some beach hunting on occasion. I'm looking for something in the $300 range and keep coming back to the BH Platinum, but in reading a lot of your comments, many people do not recommend BH and I don’t understand why. Can someone explain why? Thanks for your help!

For the best shot at depth in highly mineralized soil, manual ground balance is suggested.
Fisher F4 or F5, or the Minelab Xterras have screens, or the one I chose for hunting in bad soil in Alabama, Tesoro Vaquero, but no screen.

[Dig-on]

The platinum is almost identical to the teknetics Gamma 6000. Designed by the same engineer, and built by the same people. At half the price it is a great deal. I wouldn't let anyone discourage you. It also does have ground balance.

[Gib]

Some people will tell you it isn't any good just because it says "Bounty Hunter" on it.

As Bucksport pointed out, the Platinum is closely related to the Teknetics Gamma 6000. It has great features for the price, plus it has a nice 5 year warranty.

[Charlives]

Originally Posted by Bucksport

The platinum is almost identical to the teknetics Gamma 6000. Designed by the same engineer, and built by the same people. At half the price it is a great deal. I wouldn't let anyone discourage you. It also does have ground balance.

This is why I bought one.
Then had to exchange it after a few days because it had electronic problems. The second one also had electronic issues. So I traded for something else. Maybe yours will be in fine working order.

[bugeyed]

Originally Posted by Charlives

This is why I bought one.
Then had to exchange it after a few days because it had electronic problems. The second one also had electronic issues. So I traded for something else. Maybe yours will be in fine working order.

Can you elaborate? How long ago was your purchase? Would be nice to test a new one for the same problems that you had. In fact, for a noob, it would be nice to have a basic "check-out" procedure to identify any possible issues & also to get familiar with a new acquisition.

Thanks,
kev

[ecurb_1160]

I find it very funny that just because Bounty Hunter has dissided by mass producing metal detectors,making the cost to produce cheaper,and selling them thru big box stores at a cheaper price they get bashed as being cheap play toys! As with any detector once you learn to use it and learn what it is telling you you will find many things.I have 2 Bounty Hunters and know a few others with them as well as a few with high dollar machines,we all hunt together and all find great items,no one detector is going to find everything,they all have limitations. Just buy what you can afford and go have some fun!!!! Sorry if this offends anyone but I don't come here to bash anyones choice in a machine, I'm here to see all the great finds and to make friends to have great times out in the wild finding our past history!!!! Happy Hunting Bruce

[lawman711]

I too was looking at the Platinum for a while last year but opted for the AT Pro. I have used Teknetics and have to agree, being they are basically the same machine, I would go with the Tek Gamma. Teks are pretty decent and won't bust the bank. HH

[Charlives]

Originally Posted by bugeyed

Can you elaborate? How long ago was your purchase? Would be nice to test a new one for the same problems that you had. In fact, for a noob, it would be nice to have a basic "check-out" procedure to identify any possible issues & also to get familiar with a new acquisition.

Thanks,
kev

The first machine's screen would go blank once every hour.... also, intermittently wouldn't detect metal. not kidding. Thankfully it happened when I brought it to the shop. The second one's battery level was always blank. It worked, but you never knew how much battery was left.
This was a two week odyssey this past summer.