Suggestions for Beginner Metal Detector?

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  Barberian Posts: 3,039 ✭✭✭✭✭

  August 23, 2020 9:32PM Answer ✓

  I'm getting back into MD'ing after a 30-year layoff and purchased a used Minelab Excaliber ($860) for underwater detecting as well as dry land hunting. It's a nice, simple machine with notably greater depth than my 32 yo Garrett MH7 ADS.
  However, I wouldn't recommend it to someone starting out unless they're beach hunting because it has no visual display and one has to do a lot of digging to learn to interpret what the changing tones mean when it detects metal. In other words, a beginner probably would like a detector with visual display to help them more easily interpret what they're finding.

  I also bought my gf's father a Fisher 22 as a Xmas present ($200). Of course, I had to try it out first so I could show him how to operate it. It's quite different from the old analog machines I had but I was impressed the first time I tried it out! From what I see over 43 years, detectors have come a long way in terms of depth and discrimination ability. For an inexpensive machine, it's lightweight, worked very well, and I was digging coins up to at least 6 inches deep. I've just 'planted' a coin garden so I'll have to test it further when my gf's father comes over. I expect it will go deeper than 6-inches for a copper cent, and 8 inches for a quarter.

  3 rim nicks away from Good

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