Wow, I want to start detecting!

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kiyote
kiyote Posts: 5,633 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Metal Detecting
I collect modern coins, mostly, but the US mint has really left me feeling like a sheep on the way to the fleecing lately. I found an old wheat penny under a stair landing at my parent's farmhouse and it set my heart racing-- all over a VG 1944 cent. image

I'm sure it's been asked a million times, but I do have access to do some salt-water beach hunting in CA-- what's a good beginner detector? I plan to use it for a beach detector about 30% of the time. My primary interest is silver coins.
"I'll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!" -Gef the talking mongoose.

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  • CROCKofCOINS
    CROCKofCOINS Posts: 1,545 ✭
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    >>do some salt-water beach hunting in CA<<

    Hello, What part of CA are you in?

    $250 to $500 would get a good unit=NEW.
    Used--You can get Top of the line units for $600 to $800.

    I would find a local dealer and see what he has.

    Many of us have more than one detector. We have backup units and one for the kids or friend when needed.

    Jerry
    Oxnard CA
    CROCK of COINS
    imageimage
  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,338 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Salt-sand hunting presents more challenges, but as previously mentioned, most (decent) entry-level detectors will start in about the $200 range, new, and you can get a top of the line machine for as little as $600-800 if you shop around. You could even spend $1,000 for a metal detector, but there's no need for that, particularly for a novice. I did pretty well with middle of the line, $300-400 machines for the last decade and a half. Just got my first top of the line machine this summer.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • kiyote
    kiyote Posts: 5,633 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    << <i>>>do some salt-water beach hunting in CA<<

    Hello, What part of CA are you in?

    $250 to $500 would get a good unit=NEW.
    Used--You can get Top of the line units for $600 to $800.

    I would find a local dealer and see what he has.

    Many of us have more than one detector. We have backup units and one for the kids or friend when needed.

    Jerry
    Oxnard CA >>



    I'm in Sunnyvale, CA, near the SF beaches...

    I never thought of getting one used, but that's a good idea... I bet a lot have only been lightly used.
    "I'll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!" -Gef the talking mongoose.
  • kiyote
    kiyote Posts: 5,633 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    << <i>Salt-sand hunting presents more challenges, but as previously mentioned, most (decent) entry-level detectors will start in about the $200 range, new, and you can get a top of the line machine for as little as $600-800 if you shop around. You could even spend $1,000 for a metal detector, but there's no need for that, particularly for a novice. I did pretty well with middle of the line, $300-400 machines for the last decade and a half. Just got my first top of the line machine this summer. >>



    Thank you, M'Lord.. I've enjoyed reading about your exploits; you're one of the reasons I'm looking at getting one.
    "I'll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!" -Gef the talking mongoose.
  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,338 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I can't speak much for its performance on salt water beaches, but I do have a used Garrett GTAx-550 for sale or trade.

    I never used it on our beaches. In my brief beach hunting career, I used a fully-submersible Fisher 1280X Aquanaut, which was a great machine.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,338 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    PS- I found THE coin with the Fisher 1280-X, though I wasn't on the beach at the time.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • evilclay
    evilclay Posts: 173
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    WOW! That was quite a find! I am starting to get interested in this metal detecting thing. I am sure that Oklahoma has some great spots to detect. Great stuff!!!
    Hey, Im new at this so cut me some slack!!
  • CollectorBob
    CollectorBob Posts: 420 ✭✭
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    >I'm in Sunnyvale, CA, near the SF beaches...

    Hi. I'm in the Los Altos area (not far from you at all). Maybe we could do Half Moon Bay together.

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