1st metal detector advice

[Randy25]

long time reader 1st time thread starter yeah!!
This forum is full of great info, but i have to admit that with all the info i'm left a bit indecisive. It will be my first MD, with my birthday around the corner i figure i'll finally buy myself something that i always wanted and never got When I say indecisive, the etrac wasnt even out yet when i started looking into detectors. I've read up on pretty much every detector and maker. Recently i narrowed things down to the v3i and etrac and was leaning towards the etrac because of being more pick up and go. Then that indecisiveness starts up, thinking are these a bit much for 1st MD, i'm tech savy but? so i start thinking the safari or other $1000 and under models. Then to really mix me up more, i come across the Nokta goldgate 3D. Now thats an interesting machine, but 4k and same VLF tech i figure not a good 1st MD choice. I don't have a min/max $$ to spend but no need to go $$ crazy. I live in Northern California, originally NJ and unfamiliar with local history so i'm not sure what i'll even be looking for. So i figure i want something that does it all, relics, gold, silver, coins whatever, i just know i want to find em, lol. So any 1st MD purchase advice (and any must have accessaries i dont know i need) for a NorCal newb would be greatly appreciated

[Kansas Dave]

Welcome to the forum! If I were you I would contact our forum sponsors and talk with them over the phone.


Call Andrew at 1-888-734-1544

[Patton]

Welcome from Kansas!
Agrre with Dave. Our sponsers can be a big help!

[stewart73]

Lots of good advice and reviews out there. I have never used the V3i but I am pretty darn happy with my Etrac. If you can afford one I say do it! Of course the type of hunting you'll be doing and the kinds of areas you'll be in should also have some bearing on your decision but I've yet to find a place that the Etrac doesn't do well in. Definitely give one of our sponsors a call. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you want to chat about the Etrac.

[vanstheman3]

I'm a Newbie and just went through about what you are going through now. I bought the Minelab Xterra 705 Gold for my first MD And so far I love it.There was and still is so many things I didn't know. The main thing I had no Idea of was the major amount of search sites that are Illegal or a major Pain to get permission to search. I say get a Mid level MD, in the price range, comfortable to you, (price wise) to start. Once you get detecting it won't take long for you to realize what you personally want and Need. As mentioned the Sponsors here will be more than happy to help you get started in the right direction. Have you been to this site and read the entire home page??? http://metaldetectorreviews.net/ Again welcome from Texas, Good Luck and Happy Hunting...Vans/Mouse/Pat...

[Weezbad]

removed

[Weezbad]

Originally Posted by stewart73

I've yet to find a place that the Etrac doesn't do well in.

it doesn't work in Hartsville S.C. USA on power line Dr.and neither does a teknetics, But my AT pro and whites coin master did. and my friends just

[Dirty Money]

The MineLab e-trac is a silver seeking magnet. It's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness. If you want to search all areas of the hobby, you'll probably be happier with the White's. Since, you seem to be looking for something more in a grab and go, maybe check out the VX3. Same do it all technology, without all the adjustments.

For equipment, figure on headphones(something with one ear cup so you can hear whats around you), ProPointer, a Lesche digger(or good Hori-Hori), a Lesche shovel for relic hunting, a two pocket pouch for finds and junk, a cell phone, and just maybe a GPS and small, close focusing camera.

Your most important items will be your curiosity and enjoyment of the hobby.

BoL & HH

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Originally Posted by Randy25

long time reader 1st time thread starter yeah!!
This forum is full of great info, but i have to admit that with all the info i'm left a bit indecisive. It will be my first MD, with my birthday around the corner i figure i'll finally buy myself something that i always wanted and never got When I say indecisive, the etrac wasnt even out yet when i started looking into detectors. I've read up on pretty much every detector and maker. Recently i narrowed things down to the v3i and etrac and was leaning towards the etrac because of being more pick up and go. Then that indecisiveness starts up, thinking are these a bit much for 1st MD, i'm tech savy but? so i start thinking the safari or other $1000 and under models. Then to really mix me up more, i come across the Nokta goldgate 3D. Now thats an interesting machine, but 4k and same VLF tech i figure not a good 1st MD choice. I don't have a min/max $$ to spend but no need to go $$ crazy. I live in Northern California, originally NJ and unfamiliar with local history so i'm not sure what i'll even be looking for. So i figure i want something that does it all, relics, gold, silver, coins whatever, i just know i want to find em, lol. So any 1st MD purchase advice (and any must have accessaries i dont know i need) for a NorCal newb would be greatly appreciated

Hi Randy!

You picked out a couple great machines! Feel free to give me a call and we can discuss both and all the options you have. Love to give you a friendly forum deal!

Thanks, Bart.

[ez4sure]

welcome randy where in ca are you i live in crescent city ca near the oregon border, good luck on whatever you decide to get let us know hh

[JohnH]

Like others said, call one of the helpful sponsers, personally I like Big Boy's but that's me. The two already mentioned are both great to deal with and will pretty much find great comments about them. Don't forget to also talk to them about digging tools and a pointer, you will need both for the most part.

[Terry Soloman]

Hi Randy! By now every dealer on the forum has PM'd you, as well as a few others In Northern Cali, you really have a lot of choices, from beaches to gold nugget shooting. You'll learn over time that you need a couple of different types of metal detectors.

Try not to let yourself get wound up in bells and whistles, VDI numbers and read-out screens... It's all !!!!. The important things to think about are:

1) What do I want to find today?
2) Where is it most likely to be, and how deep?
3) What is the best detector for the job?

If you are hunting in saltwater and on a WET saltwater beach, you may want to use a pulse induction detector, or a hybrid multi-frequency model. If you are looking for gold nuggets, pulse induction is king. If you are searching DRY sand or dirt for coins and jewelry, you probably want to use a very low frequency detector. Do your due diligence and don't let someone's profit margin put the wrong machine in your hands.. Good Luck!

Originally Posted by Randy25

long time reader 1st time thread starter yeah!!
This forum is full of great info, but i have to admit that with all the info i'm left a bit indecisive. It will be my first MD, with my birthday around the corner i figure i'll finally buy myself something that i always wanted and never got When I say indecisive, the etrac wasnt even out yet when i started looking into detectors. I've read up on pretty much every detector and maker. Recently i narrowed things down to the v3i and etrac and was leaning towards the etrac because of being more pick up and go. Then that indecisiveness starts up, thinking are these a bit much for 1st MD, i'm tech savy but? so i start thinking the safari or other $1000 and under models. Then to really mix me up more, i come across the Nokta goldgate 3D. Now thats an interesting machine, but 4k and same VLF tech i figure not a good 1st MD choice. I don't have a min/max $$ to spend but no need to go $$ crazy. I live in Northern California, originally NJ and unfamiliar with local history so i'm not sure what i'll even be looking for. So i figure i want something that does it all, relics, gold, silver, coins whatever, i just know i want to find em, lol. So any 1st MD purchase advice (and any must have accessaries i dont know i need) for a NorCal newb would be greatly appreciated