Detector recommendation please

[webphut]

I am considering returning to the hobby of metal detecting at local parks, my backyard, horse trails and possibly some of the nearby schools. The last detector I owned was a Whites Gold Master III from 1997. Two things that I think I could learn to love is automatic simultaneous multi frequency and automatic ground balancing. The Garrett Ace 150, 200, and 250 have my attention. I absolutely love the simplicity of them. I am not sure if these come with automatic simultaneous multi frequency and auto ground balancing though. All recommendations for me would be appreciated.

 

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[KSDirtfisher77]

I am considering returning to the hobby of metal detecting at local parks, my backyard, horse trails and possibly some of the nearby schools. The last detector I owned was a Whites Gold Master III from 1997. Two things that I think I could learn to love is automatic simultaneous multi frequency and automatic ground balancing. The Garrett Ace 150, 200, and 250 have my attention. I absolutely love the simplicity of them. I am not sure if these come with automatic simultaneous multi frequency and auto ground balancing though. All recommendations for me would be appreciated.

I would look into the Xterra Pro, or the Xterra Elite, or even the Nokta Double & Triple Score metal detectors.

 

[TORRERO]

I would look into the Xterra Pro, or the Xterra Elite, or even the Nokta Double & Triple Score metal detectors.

I've had good luck with the DEUS machines, if just for parks and such the DEUS I would do.
They can be kinda expensive though..

Years ago me and my hunting partner swore off Garrets just too unreliable, whites were great machines in their day but gone out of business
Tesoro also was a good machine, but now gone

 

[l.cutler]

Those Garrett detectors do not have multi frequency, they do make a couple models that do though. I would look at Nokta, Minelab and XP detectors.

 

[Gare]

There is a lot of answers you could give us and that would help with a sugestion.
Age
Physical condition
Ability understand computer technecology
WHat type of area you will mainly be detecting
Amount you are able to spend

 

[webphut]

Thank you.
I am 50 years old, in good decent physical condition. I live in Magnolia, Texas. That is about 45 minutes North West of Houston. My ability to understand computer and cell phone technology is slow at first, but once I understand and know it, I am pretty fast at it.

As for what I will be detecting, to begin, my backyard. Then once I get burned out on digging up the old bear can tabs and nails I will move on to the local parks and horse trails. Eventually I will branch out to locations more isolated and off the beaten path. Places which will require more driving to get to. My research is telling me that the only gold nuggets I may find in Houston are a necklace, bracelet or ring. I guess this narrows it down to coin/relic detector.

 

[webphut]

WOW, DEUS looks really nice.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Thank you.
I am 50 years old, in good decent physical condition. I live in Magnolia, Texas. That is about 45 minutes North West of Houston. My ability to understand computer and cell phone technology is slow at first, but once I understand and know it, I am pretty fast at it.

As for what I will be detecting, to begin, my backyard. Then once I get burned out on digging up the old bear can tabs and nails I will move on to the local parks and horse trails. Eventually I will branch out to locations more isolated and off the beaten path. Places which will require more driving to get to. My research is telling me that the only gold nuggets I may find in Houston are a necklace, bracelet or ring. I guess this narrows it down to coin/relic detector.

You might consider getting a NOkta Legend, at least watch some videos with them being used
I use the NOkta Makro Simplex, that has more features than I can use but does just fine - short learning curve
Have fun!

 

[Bucket Lister]

As for what I will be detecting, to begin, my backyard. Then once I get burned out on digging up the old bear can tabs and nails I will move on to the local parks and horse trails.

At first I thought this must have been a mistake, but...

Apparently, there ARE bear can tabs! 😁🤣

 

[Linesider]

Xterra elite for more simple options in menu. Equinox for more detailed options in menu. More details sound,tighter TDI numbers more options on changing tones and volumes for specific tones. Changing the actual tones etc etc I’d check out some menu videos so u have an idea. When i have both machines out running I’ll swing my 900 then have GF swing the elite. There really hasn’t been much the elite cant find that the 900 does. vise versa. I feel like the v12/elite coil gets a tad deeper than my 900s eqx11’’

 

[pepperj]

I am considering returning to the hobby of metal detecting at local parks, my backyard, horse trails and possibly some of the nearby schools. The last detector I owned was a Whites Gold Master III from 1997. Two things that I think I could learn to love is automatic simultaneous multi frequency and automatic ground balancing. The Garrett Ace 150, 200, and 250 have my attention. I absolutely love the simplicity of them. I am not sure if these come with automatic simultaneous multi frequency and auto ground balancing though. All recommendations for me would be appreciated.

Welcome back to the greatest passion one can have. (just my own thoughts on that).

First off @ 50 and in good shape consider a few options for the machine.
Time detecting, weight starts to be an issue after min. 4+ hrs.
Most of the newer machines have reduced this issue, though some machines the ergonomics are not the greatest.

Price point: Now this is biggest factor in deciding on what to buy vs time and what one wants to get in return.

I know just in my rural area 4 yellow machines hang on a nail or sit in the closet.
Why? The performance of the machine didn't live up to the expectation of the users.

My one permission spent days digging around the cellar site in the field-1 button was the reward.
The G250 hangs on the wall in the garage.
I'm at 40+ buttons plus some coins and relics for the same amount of time.

Granted I have a lot experience and probably one of the best machines for this type of detecting.

You are thinking parks and relic hunting.
Parks pretty well have been explored for 50+ yrs, same as any public/urban location.
Granted there be one that has been missed and it will produce many recoveries.
Further out of the urban produces these venues.

Relic hunting or detecting around old homesteads/cellar holes/ghost towns = nails/fence wire/iron.
This now brings in the machines ability to separate iron from nonferrous or noble targets.
More iron it is harder for get the separation ratio in lower priced machines.

Yes any beep and dig machine will find a target. It's the ratio of good targets to bad targets digging.
At the end of the day's hunt one looks and finds 3 targets that are nonferrous, and 30 iron targets.
This a lot of digging for the rewards.

Higher end machines will knock that ratio around to the point of it's a rewarding day out.
Yes high end machine detect iron very well also-the operator just has to learn what the machine is stating.

So the big question what to buy. $250 machine will detect and there's a good chance it will become a wall hanger/closet machine.
The price point will offer up more options in programming also.

Look at the used machine market also as there's many guys out there that buy-try-sell-buy-try-sell.
This option is getting a higher end machine with a warranty at a price point of a lower end new machine price.

I have seen Deus l machines being offered up for the price of a Garrett 350 or lower.

There's so many options out there and it boils down to time/$$ you want to spend on renewing the passion.
Best of luck.

 

[webphut]

You might consider getting a NOkta Legend, at least watch some videos with them being used
I use the NOkta Makro Simplex, that has more features than I can use but does just fine - short learning curve
Have fun!

lol

 

[cudamark]

If price and weight isn't an issue, these are the ones I would choose.....starting from my 1st choice and going down from there.
Minelab Manticore, Equinox 900, Notka Legend, XP Deus 2. Currently, I don't see any others in the same class. Will lesser models work? Sure, but, usually there is a price for that in lost targets. Even getting one of those Ace models will find maybe 90% of what a Manticore will find, but, that 10% is important to me as most of the good old stuff is either down deep, or, masked by junk targets that a fast multifrequency machine can find amongst the trash.

 

[webphut]

so much great input. Thank you all.
you have probably a better idea of how much money your information has saved me today. This is great. Things I have forgotten about too. What I honestly need to do is reconsider where I should plan to use my detector. I have some google map searching to do now.

 

[Richard Guy]

If multi-freq is an option that you can live without, take a look at the Nokta Simplex Ultra, you won't be sorry. It hits deep, is lightweight and very, very easy to use. I've got three Nokta machines, one Simplex + and a Legend that cost almost 3x the cost of the Simplex Ultra. The Legend has a steep learning curve that can be frustrating. I just want to find good stuff and have fun. The Simplex Ultra hits all the marks for me

 

[cudamark]

All the machines I mentioned above have turn-on-and-go programs, so, you can make it as simple or complex as you like. Sometimes certain sites NEED the extra adjustments and coil choices that the higher end machines give you.

 

[Terry Soloman]

startmetaldetecting.com

 

[Gare]

After the information you told us. I would consider a XP Deus, Nokta Legend either a Simplex or a legend or a Minelab Manticore. I have not used Garrett or a Fisher in a long time

 

[mtdoramike]

WOW, you have been out of the hobby since 1997 ? You need to go to a local metal detector dealer in your area to try out all the new fangled machines. You about to be amazed and think there is some kind of black magic going on when you compare what is out there now to what you were used to back then. But there is one constant here, they all still beep.