I have read tons and need some advice

[shaggnastie]

Ok ,, I know, I am asking a question that can and probably will get several different answers. I have been reading and trying to learn as much as possible before buying. I am limited on time as we are going to Silverton Co at the end of July 2012. But with that said I am trying to get enough info and the right info to make the 'best' decision for a 'best' for my uses.

I am a 'NEWBIE' to detecting but have always thought I would enjoy it. I have been Jeeping, 'Rock Crawling', Photographing and spending time in the outdoors for many many years(30+), so I don't think that I will ever leave the outdoor life. I doubt this will be a hobby that will just fade away over time. I think me and the wife will enjoy searching for many years to come.

Here is what I am looking to do with it(if I can do all).
1: Hunt the beach to 2-3 times a year. Dry and in the shallows.(1-2 foot saltwater)
2: Colorado ghost towns and back country. Plus some of the shallow rivers and river banks.
3: Back country in Ark Hot Springs area, East Texas back country, Moab back country.
4: Areas around my grand parents house/farm and other old sites.

So that gives you an idea of what/where.

I am looking to spend $300-400 total(hopefully headphones, pinpointer, bag, digger, etc). From the prices on Kelly Co I think most of these are doable.
Unless there is another/better place ...maybe a sponsor to spend my money at.

I have been looking and reading on these:
a: Garrett 250 or just go 350 --Why/why not? Wet, Dry, Both?
b: Fisher F2 -- Why/Why not? Wet, Dry, Both?
c: Tesoro Compadra -- Why/why not? Wet, Dry, Both?
d: Bounty Hunter Pioneer 505

Maybe be able to save an extra $100 for a Fisher f4 .... is it worth the extra and why?

I am reading so please excuse the newbie questions as I have yet to understand what I am read on some of these.
1: What is ground balance?
2: How do I know which coils to look for or buy?
3: What does it take to hunt shallow salt water? keeping the detector safe clean.
4: Do all pinpoints work with any detector and is there a better brand/model of those?

THANKS so much to those that will read this whole note and respond. I appreciate it SOOOO much. I don't expect everyone/anyone to respond to all or most of my newbie question but any info --->Little or alot is appreciated

I hope you guys are as helpful and friendly as the Lone Star Jeep Club crowd. I figure y'all probably are/will be.

Did I forget anything?
I will pass any help on forward when I can with knowledge as I know it helps the sport/hobby on down the road, again thanks, Bobby

REALLY REALLY THANKS

[gordonquixote]

Forgive the short reply. None of those detectors will work in salt water ....all are fine for dry sand. All of the detectors you listed will serve you well.

Get off the fence and buy one....a cheap detector in the hands of a person who knows their machine will 'find'you more stuff than an inexperienced detectorist with a top-dollar machine.

My vote is F2 (bells/whistles) or Compadre (no screen or ID, but tried and true).

Good luck.

[RWJR13]

pm sent

[norbyx]

Well there is a lot of more reading you need to do... that is for sure.
The detectors you listed aren't good for salt water, nor are good for wet sand. In your price range there is no detector (new) that will work with what you would like to do.
I see that in the classified section of this forum there is a DetectorPro Pirate on sale at the moment. I think that is your best chance in having a detector that will work on land, and on salt water. If I were you I would jump on it inmediately before it's gone. I have a DetectorPro Wader and I like it very much, it is very compact and you can hunt in the water as long as you don't get water over your head....
Just

[marcus118]

Agree with everyone above - you won't find anything for salt water in that range. Most salt water hunters have a 2nd machine just for the beach.

This tool might help you a bit: http://www.hollandsbrook.com/metal-detector-selector

Feel free to give me a call tomorrow and I can walk you through the options and get you the best value.

[Dark Chameleon]

We'd all like the machine that does all that for that much money...youd be looking at two machines, a water machine and a dry machine....you have to decide...unless you want to break $1000 for a deus lite or want to really spend some money for the ctx 3030 youd be looking at two machines and youd need to spend at least $900 for anything even half decent just for the machines...best bet is an F2 or ACE 250 but then youd need a propointer which is going to be a cheapy if you want the lesche os your be betetr off getting a cheap digger and then a semi cheap probe.

Or you could rent one out and get a cheap digger and no pp for a week or two and see what you find or if your interested in that type of machine

[shaggnastie]

Thanks for the PMs RWJR13.

Marcus118 I will probably be calling you tomorrow or Thrusday to pick your brain.

Also thanks guys for the quick and honest replies ..... I need to know the truth of what will and will not work. I thanks you guys for not sugar coating ,,,AND I mean that is a nice way for sure.

I am still listening(between readings) if someone has any more helpful info.

again Thanks so much for help and I am SO looking forward to being a part of MDF

later, Bobby

[vanstheman3]

Welcome to the FMDF from Lake Dallas Texas! You can also contact Bart at Big Boys Hobbies, He is just up in OK and I got my Garrett Pro Pointer from him. I ordered it at 10am Tuesday and had it in my hand at 5pm Wednesday! You need to call the sponsors for the best price......Good Luck and Happy Hunting,,,,,Pat

[DonM17]

Well if you could increase your spending amount to $500 - there are some good used ones out there in the various forums....for example, I see that there are a couple of CZ 3D units for sale at that price point.....pm me if you want details on where to look for them.

CZ models are terrific for beach hunting and coin shooting in my opinion.

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Originally Posted by vanstheman3

Welcome to the FMDF from Lake Dallas Texas! You can also contact Bart at Big Boys Hobbies, He is just up in OK and I got my Garrett Pro Pointer from him. I ordered it at 10am Tuesday and had it in my hand at 5pm Wednesday! You need to call the sponsors for the best price......Good Luck and Happy Hunting,,,,,Pat

Thanks Pat!
Feel free to give me a ring. I will help you any way I can! Thanks, Bart!

[shaggnastie]

OK guys ... Finally settled on the Garrett AT Pro ,,, after all the reading and talking with a couple of people I decided to step a little bit more cash and get the AT Pro to fill the needs for a longer period of time. I did go by and talk to a local dealer Robert & Ed at American Detector Distributors here in Bedford Tx .... I believe in support of the sponsors and the local people when I can. I thank all you other guys and other Sponsors that chimed in on the thread, I will remember you guys for future purchases. I needed to talk to someone in person and Robert was close and SUPER nice and he schooled me and listened to me for a while Saturday. I think I got a good deal compared to any internet price I could find.Well worth the knowledge and the product that I received imo.

Now it is time for me to put the Time under the Headphones and see what I can learn and figure out with the AT Pro ... First read the book then start testing/playing in the yard ,,, then probably the lake just 5 miles away .


Again thanks, Bobby

[hillbillydigger]

None of the detectors you mentioned are safe for beach hunting. As a F2 owner I love my machine, but one splash from a wave on the control box will kill it. It also doesn't read well in sand is my experience. The cheapest Fisher that is safe for beach detecting is the 1280X or else I would recommend the Tesoro Tiger Shark or Sand Shark or Garrett AT Pro. My F2 out hunts my friend's Garrett 150 & 250, but a lot of people here recommend the AT Pro.

[Dark Chameleon]

Originally Posted by shaggnastie

OK guys ... Finally settled on the Garrett AT Pro ,,, after all the reading and talking with a couple of people I decided to step a little bit more cash and get the AT Pro to fill the needs for a longer period of time. I did go by and talk to a local dealer Robert & Ed at American Detector Distributors here in Bedford Tx .... I believe in support of the sponsors and the local people when I can. I thank all you other guys and other Sponsors that chimed in on the thread, I will remember you guys for future purchases. I needed to talk to someone in person and Robert was close and SUPER nice and he schooled me and listened to me for a while Saturday. I think I got a good deal compared to any internet price I could find.Well worth the knowledge and the product that I received imo.

Now it is time for me to put the Time under the Headphones and see what I can learn and figure out with the AT Pro ... First read the book then start testing/playing in the yard ,,, then probably the lake just 5 miles away .


Again thanks, Bobby

I just started detecting withint the last two months and used the at pro..its a quick learner for the basic setup, factory settings for std coins and your swinging with little more then the assembly and ground balancing, which is just press and hold the GB button and pump the coil from 6" to ground level and back a few times until the numbers come up on the screen, then its just low an slow, when you get a number then swing over it again pinpointing from a right angle to where you started and make sure the numbers are the same and where they are on the guide and then dig

[RWJR13]

Good score Bobby......Yes, Robert @ ADD is a great guy......very knowledgeable...you got a great deal from a great dealer...Good Hunts to you....

[MadTownScoop]

PM sent. Hope the info helps you with that ATP.