Author Topic: Detector $400 or so (Read 654 times)

Ben78 · « **on:** January 23, 2012, 20:48 »

Hi,

I have been reading the forum for a while and learning as much as I can about detectors. Since I was a kid I have wanted one to hunt for buried treasure. I now live in a minor gold bearing area and have been panning a little gold. I had heard of the odd nugget being found here although mostly fine gold. Old coins have always interested me too and in a previous job working as a bank teller i had quite a collection of round 50c coins going - I wish I knew then what I know now!

I am now looking for a detector to take with me when I go bush, mostly to have a look around the old gold towns for coins etc. However I would also like to poke around some of the diggings where nuggets were found and I wouldn't want to miss small nuggets in the top layers.

Has anybody got anything they can offer up for sale or suggestions that would fit the bill? I realistically have up to around $400 to spend. I have been watching ebay and see mostly old machines or very new machines in the used market.

Thanks

Ben

willy46 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2012, 20:59 »

Wow round 50c hey? Uh Oh what did you do with them?

2 detectors that are around your mark brand new are the:

Gold Snoop Pro - $279
Nugget Snoop Pro - $375
Ace 350 - $434

All work well for within your budget and I've even found a chinese coin with the Gold Snoop Pro. They will all handle gold field soils reasonably well. PM me if you need any info.

max705 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2012, 21:07 »

My first detector was a Bounty hunter tracker iv which i got for $150
They are great, found me a sixpence at 10 inches ! through 3 layers of dirt
Still have it !
Max

Ben78 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2012, 21:16 »

Willy, I struggle when it comes to spending money on cheap chinese products that have a branding image makeover. EuroAce/Ace 350 is on the list though as is X-terra 305, Fisher F2 and the Tracker IV. Was just hoping someone might have 'the next level up' in a used example

Thanks Max, had looked at the Tracker too.

Ben

Jazza · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2012, 21:30 »

Hey mate, for the money, the x-terra 305 is a fantastic machine for the money ($395) , it also has ground balance, which may help for the mineralisation on the goldfields.

Ben78 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2012, 21:38 »

Would a 305 be fine for small gold with the 6" 18.75khz coil as a future purchase?

willy46 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2012, 21:50 »

When I took my 305 & F2 on the golfields they went nuts due to soil minerlisation.
The Euroace is not an Ace 350, don't get the 2 confused as this will leave you disappointed, Euroace is the UK model & is not good on goldfields. This is why garrett made the Ace 350 to be used on goldfields in the US & Aust.
Keep researching & looking on Ebay. Try Gumtree as well, somtimes there's some good bargains on there. Best of luck & it will be interesting to see what you come up with

Rwork · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2012, 22:36 »

A mate just purchased a Sov. during the week for under $400 US. xs2pro (plus freight or is it frieght

)
Ok for goldfields relics but no good for gold.

Ben78 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2012, 19:36 »

Might be looking at a tracker iv, wifey has gone soft on the idea...

Is there any retailers of Tracker IV's in Australia or is it all through ebay and USA direct? I note there is currently one on ebay but the listing says the user manual is available online.... Is fakes an issue with even lower end detectors?

Anyone got a slightly soiled version they want to offload?

willy46 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2012, 19:43 »

Ben I should be able to help you out with the tracker IV. send me a pm

ivanll · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2012, 19:58 »

Quote from: Ben78 on January 23, 2012, 20:48

Hi,

I have been reading the forum for a while and learning as much as I can about detectors. Since I was a kid I have wanted one to hunt for buried treasure. I now live in a minor gold bearing area and have been panning a little gold. I had heard of the odd nugget being found here although mostly fine gold. Old coins have always interested me too and in a previous job working as a bank teller i had quite a collection of round 50c coins going - I wish I knew then what I know now!

I am now looking for a detector to take with me when I go bush, mostly to have a look around the old gold towns for coins etc. However I would also like to poke around some of the diggings where nuggets were found and I wouldn't want to miss small nuggets in the top layers.

Has anybody got anything they can offer up for sale or suggestions that would fit the bill? I realistically have up to around $400 to spend. I have been watching ebay and see mostly old machines or very new machines in the used market.

Thanks

Ben

Snap out of the banking world thinking, this is metal detecting reality, so Get a tool that can do the job.
This is about as low in price as one can go and still get a detector that Will do what you mentioned + more.
http://www.colonialmetaldetectors.com/Fisher-Gold-Bug-PRO_p_321.html

As a former bank teller you would know when to take advantage of a strong A$

ivanll

Ben78 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2012, 07:10 »

Lol Ivanll, I like your style...

Pre kids I probably would have just spent the $$$ and bought the best. The wife is just worried that it is another passing phase (probably justifiable too..). To be honest, the gold side of things isn't a concern more a bonus, more interested in coins etc really.

GemQ · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2012, 07:25 »

Ben

Have a look at my finds over the last year or two including YouTube ( gemq1). All found with a mine lab musketeer. You can usually pick these up for about $250-$300, however don't come up that often.
Great first machine and would pay for itself in a couple weeks at a good park or beach.

Good luck with your search mate, just remember that you have to swing the coil over it to find it.

Rwork · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2012, 09:12 »

I typed in just the word Minelab into Ebay last weekend and a lot of 700 and 705 were for sale. There was also a muscateer then, but if it hasn't been sold time would be up soon.

Fatchook · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2012, 13:50 »

Ben, looks like you and I are on the same track, let me know what you decide.

Looking Man · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2012, 16:31 »

Get second hand. You need a proper gold detector, for the price you want get a second hand GMT or Gold Bug 2.

tailofdog · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2012, 06:38 »

Quote from: Ben78 on January 26, 2012, 07:10

Lol Ivanll, I like your style...

Pre kids I probably would have just spent the $$$ and bought the best. The wife is just worried that it is another passing phase (probably justifiable too..). To be honest, the gold side of things isn't a concern more a bonus, more interested in coins etc really.

What you want to remember is resale value. If you buy something decent you will have good resale value. I have sold a couple of detectors here easily.
If you buy something crappy i, think you will find you will not get anybody interested in buying it if, you want to upgrade or tire of the hobby.

Ben78 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2012, 21:06 »

At this stage it looks like a Gold Bug Pro will shortly be in my hands! Just need to pay for it

Rwork · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2012, 22:01 »

Is there only one current version of the machine or a retuned one for Oz. ?

tailofdog · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2012, 06:14 »

Quote from: Rwork on January 27, 2012, 22:01

Is there only one current version of the machine or a retuned one for Oz. ?

I think that is one of the detectors Ivanall uses. So it must work here. It gets good reviews.

PsePete · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2012, 22:30 »

I have been lurking here for a bit and have been looking at getting the Ace 350. looking to search a few parks and a few old houses in the area.
Any tips on the ACE 350?
Cheers

P.S sorry to hijack the post.

parsec · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2012, 22:51 »

PsePete, have a think about the x-terra 305. I used Btracer's for a while and it was a great machine. Only $400 new and I have seen good ones for $250 second hand. The 99 tones, noise reduction, ground ballancing, depth and pin pointing is awesome for the money.

Personally, I use a tesoro silver for my little machine and love it

cheers,

PsePete · « **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2012, 08:23 »

Thanks mate. There are 2 305's on ebay and loads of 350's there is also a MINELAB MUSKATEER " COLT " going for $250 so far 12 hours to go with no bids. I was looking at a MINELAB XT 17000 but i think they are more for gold?? Also found a GARRETT GROUNDHOG ADS I do not know much about it though.
Thanks again Chaps.

tailofdog · « **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2012, 08:35 »

Quote from: PsePete on January 29, 2012, 08:23

Thanks mate. There are 2 305's on ebay and loads of 350's there is also a MINELAB MUSKATEER " COLT " going for $250 so far 12 hours to go with no bids. I was looking at a MINELAB XT 17000 but i think they are more for gold?? Also found a GARRETT GROUNDHOG ADS I do not know much about it though.
Thanks again Chaps.

the go is with the minelab 305

Rwork · « **Reply #24 on:** January 29, 2012, 09:59 »

Psepete,stay away from the groundhog and 1700 unless you are a historic electronics collector.They were allright in their time but that was a Long time ago.