:blink:

Prety much the same old story. I loved metal detecting when I was a kid, had some radio shack special that I got for my 9th birthday. Now my doctor says I need to get more exercise and I thought why not get back into metal detecting. I live near San Francisco and have access to plenty of beach areas.
My question is, is it worth my time to get either a Bounty Hunter prospector or Famous Trails Discriminator II? A local store has both of them on sale for $99 right now for Christmas. The BHP normally lists for $199 and the Discrimiator lists for around $249. Are either of these suitable for starting out again?

I don't Know if money is an issue with you , but I would go with at least a tesoro Vaquero $425.00.Good all around machine for around here. Lifetime guarantee, 1 drop in 9volt , ground balance it yourself and lightweight. It goes deep would be ok on dry sand at the beach (I don't know about the black sand).If you already like detecting you're probably going to get Super addicted and want to upgrade anyway.With this machine you may never upgrade. If you don't have that kind of money.I'd go with a used,older simpler , machine find a bunch of clad and then buy the machine of your dreams. Sometimes the folks on this forum sell some good machines at good prices. I know there's a few dealers out there that have a few 'oldies but goodies" they might give you a deal on in hopes that when you have the bucks to step up you will remember them. They will also be glad to "Show you the ropes " with it. Also there are guys and gals on this forum who are way more knowledgeable about this than me,hopefully they will post . I would pass on a new machine that can be reduced from $199.00 to $99.00. Good Luck and Happy Hunting !! ;)

Storm, I forgot to welcome to the forum!! :D

For a low end detector that WILL work-the White's Prizim II or the Garrett? Ace 250. Both are the best of the bottom end. Don't go wallmart or radio shack! B)

Welcome to the forum . If you are really going to enjoy this sport , the lowest priced detectors probably wont do it for you . For alittle more you can buy a machine from a company that really backs ther products and wont leave you completely Frustrated . I use Whites and I am very happy . In alittle over a year I saved enough to upgrade to a better machine . This is a fun hobby and it pays for itself . Hope you find a good machine at a good price , try to stay away from the really low end detectors . Get the best you can afford and you wont be disapointed . ;) happy hunting .

Thank you for the replys everyone. I have decided to wait a little bit and probably try and find a Garret Ace 250 used after christmas. I am hoping I will be able to find someone who got an upgrade from the fat man in the red suit and is willing to part with their used one.

Storm

My first and prob still one of my favs is the minelab musketeer advantage around $336.00 brand new and deep as hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im going on my first year as of Jan 24 and I have CLEANED up with this lil bute hope this helps HH Ride Um

I bought a Tesoro Compadre (around $150) for my Grandson last year after he started with a Radio Shack $50 detector. It's a really good machine. Lightweight, gets great depth. And the best part is I believe when he gets ready to upgrade, I can peddle it and get most if not all of the money back! OR I may just decide to keep it as a loaner for people who want to go detecting with us but don't have one!

Here's a pic of him (Austin) and his Compadre with his 6 year old Uncle Logan hunting in one of the fields here in Indiana last Spring. Loagn will probably "inherit" the Compadre come to think of it!

http://www.coinhunting.net/Austin2005field1.shtml

Those two kids digging in the dirt sure bring back some good memories. I only wish we had had something as good as the Compadre available to us back in the 60s when I first started detecting. Even with our old BFO machines back then, we managed to pick up some decent spending money around the local parks for the "necessities" of life......bubble gum, taco chips, beef jerkey, etc...... :lol:

Ralph

STORM, I WOULD GO WITH A WHITES PRIZM II. IT'S 199.00 WITH COUPON. MY NEXT DOOR NIEGHBOR GOT ONE AND IT WORKS GREAT. I OWN 2 WHITES MYSELF. AN IDX PRO AND DFX MY NEWEST DETECTOR. AWESOME! WELL THAT IS MY CHOICE OF DETECTORS. OH I HAVE ALSO USED A BOUNTY HUNTER SHARP SHOOTER. ALSO A GOOD DETECTOR. HH!