Good cheap metal detector for first time.

Originally Posted by wayne1956

I also have been detecting for quite a few years. The Ace 250 and 350 are good machines, but another Garrett machine you might want to look at is the AT Pro. it is more expensive than $300, but it is a good land machine, and can be used in the water up to the earphones (the control box can be fully submerged). I have a whites Vision (high end, $1000+) and an AT Pro. The Whites is my main land machine, and the AT Pro is my backup land machine and main water machine.

I have a Garret 1500 GTI and I like it haven't found anything "cool" with it yet but one day I hope too.

I was thinking of getting my kids the Garret 250 to play with too.

Eric

Originally Posted by wayne1956

You can't go wrong with the "yella fella" (nickname for the Ace 250). It is reliable, and if your kids get tired of it you can loan it out to a friend who might want to go dirtfishing with you. They last a long time on one set of batteries.

The GTI is also a good machine. Just keep at it, and the good stuff will come.

I have done the same(loaned detectors and was loaned detectors) myself. In fact I have had the same with ham radio, there's nothing like getting to use the real thing and then buying one.

As noted by someone else if you are detecting in a salt water environment you need special detectors. Take the time to read the forum I pointed out earlier and you will get lots of info. That forum is like this one, the best information with great sharing members. Mike

Been a Dirtfisher for a long time.

There are no cheap good metal detectors.

If you are serious about turf hunting I suggest a Minelab Explorer. Model II and up.
That's the only machine that here at the West Coast gives you a chance at the deep silver coins.

If you just want to pick surface chance and junk then yeah, any cheapo will do.
For straight coin shooting (surface coin hunting) I used my ex stepdaughter's Tesoro Compadre. Was $135 or so brandnew at a show.
Set the discrimination past pulltabs and you will find many many coins in parks etc. Also the occasional jewelry.

In the water I started with a Tesoro Tigershark (about $550 new these days). Fully submergible, great solid machine.
Did well for a few years. Then I felt the need to 'upgrade'. Bought a Minelab Excalibur. Hated it. It's shaped like a paddle and hard to swing in the water.
My finds were down but i thought it was just that I hunted out a lot of my spots and the replenishing takes time.

One day my Excali ran out of juice and I used the Tighershark which was my backup.
Instantly I started picking up targets all over.

Never went back to the Excali.

Just my humble opinion.