The Best Metal Detector for Beginners
When looking for a beginner-friendly detector, ensure it has the features you need to help you start treasure hunting. If you choose a complex model, you will spend time trying to understand all its settings. And that can lead to failure in this hobby.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a home security system when you are starting. Some good models are not too expensive or too cheap. We will tell you about them here.
You need a friendly model to build a solid foundation. What you’ll learn with the detector will help you know what to look for when doing an upgrade. Some metal detectors have a few accessories, while others have many. You’ll have to consider the ones you need before purchasing.
Top Picks: Best Metal Detector for Beginners
Product Name | Product Image | Store |
|---|---|---|
The Best Metal Detector for Beginners
Fisher F22
Do you need a metal detector that can be used in all weather conditions and find narrow targets? If so, the Fisher F22 Weatherproof Metal Detector might be a good option for you. It has several features, some of which are good and some not so good.
The Fisher F22 Weatherproof Metal Detector has a 9-inch concentric waterproof search coil that is submersible. It has basic features like discrimination, sensitivity, pinpointing, and notch.
This detector can be used in parks, playgrounds, riversides, trails, and even at home. The Fisher F22 is very sensitive, so you can adjust the setting to what is best for your surroundings.
The Fisher F22 Weatherproof Metal Detector has a digital target id labeled 0-99. This means that you can use it to guess what kind of metal you have found. It is useful for finding silver, nickel, bronze, or other metals.
An audio feature adjusts the volume of non-ferrous items higher than the ferrous ones. This way, you can better hear treasure when hunting.
Pros
Cons
Garret Ace 300– Value pick
The Garrett Ace 300 Metal Detector has many great features, including discrimination mode, target ID, and fixed/automatic ground balance. Its target ID helps detectorists to distinguish between targets like brass and silver. Garrett Ace 300 has a fixed/automatic ground balance regarding ground balance. That means it tunes itself according to the soil mineralization levels.
The Garrett Ace 300 Metal Detector can find metals buried 12″ deep or more. This includes jewelry, nickels, and other objects. However, keep in mind that the detection depth may vary depending on the terrain, size of your object, etc.
The Ace 300 coil is waterproof. But never submerge the detector past 10 feet underwater. Garrett also mentions that you can use Garret Ace 300 on the beach, but you do not get the housing control wet.
Most customers feel Ace 300 works better on wet sand than dry.
Pros
Cons
SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector
Do you need the best beginner metal detector for the beach? The SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector might be the right machine for you. It has three modes: all-metal mode, Notch, and the REJ mode. This will help you find more metal.
There are three different modes for metal detecting: All-metal mode, Notch/motion mode, and DISC mode. Each mode has a different tone that makes it easier to detect metals. For example, the All-metal mode will make a sound when it detects any kind of metal. In contrast, the DISC mode will only make a sound when it detects valuable items.
SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector has a pinpoint function called the GND TRAC. This will help you to precisely locate your targets.
This machine has upgraded DSP chips and 10-inch search coils to help you find things better. You can use it outside on the beach, in your garden, or anywhere else.
The best part about SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector is its manual ground balance adjustment function. This helps to bypass errors caused by mineral content in different terrains.
Pros
Cons
Bounty Hunter TK4
Tracker IV Metal Detector
There are not many budget-friendly metal detectors that work well for collecting coins. Some detectors give false signals, and others get damaged very quickly. However, the Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector is a reliable option that will meet your needs.
This is one of the best metal detectors for finding treasure in tough conditions.
The machine has settings for adjusting the main settings like sensitivity, discrimination, and modes. It comes with discrimination, 2-tone audio, and motion in all metal modes. The knob control interface makes it easy to change these settings.
The DISC separates targets (like valuable objects) from the trash. The all-metal mode finds all kinds of metal. Different sounds tell you what kind of metal you’ve found.
To find metal, you can use the Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector. It will tell you what kind of metal it is. You can use it to find silver, gold, brass, aluminum, iron, and other metals.
The detector’s 8-inch coil is waterproof. You can use it in shallow water, but the housing isn’t waterproof, so don’t use it near waves.
Pros
Cons
Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D
The fact is, you can’t share one metal detector with your kids. They need a metal detector that is lightweight and fun to use. That’s where the Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D Metal Detector comes in.
This is a good model for hunting antiques, relics, coins, silver, gold, and jewelry that kids will enjoy.
The Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D Metal Detector has a 6” round concentric search coil. It comes with features like a DISC control, three target ID, and three-tone audios. This will help your kids identify different targets, whether gold, silver, or iron. The target ID category will also help them know the type of metal they’ve found. The three audio tones will assist them in this process as well.
The Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D Metal Detector also has a graphic depth display that shows how deep targets are buried.
This detector uses two AA batteries. You can use alkaline or rechargeable ones. We recommend Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries.
The battery life indicator also tells you when to charge the pen.
Pros
Cons
RM RICOMAX Metal Detector
You’re looking for a device to find coins and other treasures, right? There are many different devices out there, but the RM RICOMAX Metal Detector is one of the best.
This metal detector is tailored for teens who want to understand how it works. It has three detection modes: discrimination mode, full metal mode, and pinpoint mode. Discrimination mode means that you can find valuable things like coins without dealing with trash. Full metal mode detects all kinds of metals. Pinpoint mode is for precise target recovery.
The RM RICOMAX Metal Detector coil is waterproof, meaning you can use the device on the beach.
The RM RICOMAX Metal Detector has an automatic ground balance setting that cancels mineralization and makes it easier to find metal. It also has ten sensitivity level adjustments, so you can target metals more quickly and easily.
Pros
Cons
Metal Detector Buying Guide:
Accessories
It is always a good idea to buy equipment with the right accessories. This will make it easier for you to use the equipment. You’ll also save money by buying a detector with many accessories.
Some of the accessories that detectors can come with include a shovel, headphones, or a bag. For example, Fisher provides:
- A search coil cover.
- Protective housing cover.
- An arm strap for those who purchase the Fisher F22.
If you choose the Garret Ace 300, you’ll receive a housing cover, a plastic cover for the coil, and batteries pre-installed in your machine.
Number of modes
The number of modes in a detector determines what you can achieve. Maybe you prefer equipment with three, four, or five modes.
The SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector has three modes for beginners.
Some metal detectors have more modes than others. The Fisher F22 has four modes, and the Garret Ace 300 has five modes.
You should pick a device with the modes you’ll use more often.
Maximum depth detection
What kind of treasure are you looking for?
This is an important question to consider before you buy a detector. Many beginner detectors can find treasures that are 10-12 inches deep. Most valuable things, like coins and relics, are hidden.
Place of use
There are good detectors that can be used on land and sea. If you want a beginner-friendly machine at the beach, check out the SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector or Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector.
Weight
If you go treasure hunting for a while, you will start to enjoy it more and more. You will get excited when you find new treasures.
You need lightweight equipment that you can carry around, especially if you are elderly. This will help you avoid getting backaches and becoming fatigued quickly.
Ease of use
Most detectors for beginners are beginner-friendly and help you build a good foundation.
You’ll also get a guidebook to guide you through the process. If you get stuck, look for YouTube tutorials.
The Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector is easy for kids. It has a simple design that makes it easy to figure out how it works. Another model you might like to use for metal detecting is the Fisher F22.
Ease of assembly
Sometimes you might want to find treasure in camps or other distant places. And you’ll bring your detector with you. If your detector is hard to assemble or disassemble, you’ll ruin your expedition before it even starts.
Most detectors are easy to put together. You just need to follow a few steps in the manual.
Suppose you have trouble using your Garrett Ace 300 metal detector. In that case, you can get help from a forum or watch instructional videos from Garrett.
Batteries
Metal detectors use different types and numbers of batteries. For example, the Fisher F22 uses 2 AA batteries, while the Garrett Ace uses 4 AA. Before purchasing a detector, it is critical to determine how many batteries it will require. If your detector uses a few batteries, you will save money in the long run. So make sure you confirm if the manufacturer includes batteries or not.
Warranty
It is always a good idea to buy a warranty device. If the device has any defects, you can get a replacement. The longer the warranty is, the better.
The detectors we picked have warranties. The Fisher F22 has a 5-year warranty. The Garrett Ace 300 comes with a 3-year warranty. And the Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D has a 1-year warranty.
Ground balance
There are two types of beginner metal detectors – those with a fixed ground balance and those with a manual ground balance.
The SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector has manual ground balance adjustment settings. This means you can adjust it to work well in soils with minerals. This is helpful when searching for valuables on sandy beaches.
Some people like to use a gadget that automatically tunes the ground balance, while others prefer to do it manually.
Adjustable stem
If you want to be able to adjust the detector’s length to fit your height, you need an adjustable stem. This is important for short and tall people, who can then easily use the detector.
Purchasing a First Detector: The Essentials
It is crucial to recognize that there is no “ideal” detector for all scenarios.
Instead, you must choose a detector according to your skills, budget, preferred targets, and local location. Here is a guide for selecting your first machine.
Your Hunting Grounds
There are two important elements when selecting a metal detector: the hunting location and the sort of target being sought.
Let’s begin with the second question: what are you seeking?
The devices described in this article and all inexpensive detectors are designed for multipurpose hunting. They are ideal for searching parks, dry sand, and fields for jewelry, coins, and artifacts.
For the majority of beginners, this is sufficient.
They cannot search for gold nuggets and flakes, however. Beginner metal detectors can locate a gold bracelet in a park, but they lack the necessary features for gold prospecting.
For this, pricier models such as the Garrett AT Gold or Fisher Gold Bug 2 are required. Even these machines cannot match the performance of pricey gold detectors such as the Minelab GPZ 7000 for gold-seeking.
However, if you do not want to go gold-hunting, you do not need to get a gold detector. One of the starter models is the better option.
Depending on where you reside, the amount of ground mineralization varies. The more the mineralization, the more “falling” and “chatter” a detector will produce. To combat this, you must lessen the machine’s sensitivity, which diminishes depth.
Premium detectors are equipped with both automatic and manual ground balancing adjustment, allowing them to “ignore” mineralization while maintaining adequate depth.
However, the usual entry-level model is likely to struggle with high mineralization because its ground balance is often pre-set. This is calibrated for ordinary ground conditions and cannot be modified for highly mineralized soil.
Therefore, if you reside in an area with a high concentration of iron or if you want to search on wet sand (which creates similar concerns). Be prepared to pay extra for a metal detector that withstands these ground conditions.
The good news is that the detectors listed below can handle the low to moderate mineralization levels present in most soil.
Another factor to consider is whether or not you intend to hunt underwater. Almost every detector has a watertight coil, although the control box is frequently not.
As long as the control box is dry, you can operate the detector in shallow freshwater environments, such as the edge of creeks or rivers.
I would not normally recommend this. With only one slip, your detector will be rendered useless. Therefore, if you intend to hunt in water, you need to look for a submersible detector.
What Can You Expect to Find?
It is a frequent fallacy that only pricey metal detectors may be used to search for gold, silver, and other precious metals.
This is false. All ” genuine ” metal detectors can detect silver, tin, aluminum, lead, bronze, and nickel can be detected by all “genuine” metal detectors.
Thus, a novice detector is designed for individuals who wish to hunt coins, antiquities, and jewelry. In parks, woodlands, fields, and dry sand, these objects are frequently discovered at 6 to 8 inches.
Even though starter detectors can locate gold, they are not suited for the difficult ground conditions where nuggets are frequently found.
Additionally, the operating frequency of a detector might influence what it is likely to detect.
Lower frequencies provide greater depth at the expense of the ability to detect little objects. This is advantageous while searching for relics but a barrier when searching for jewels. The higher the working frequency, the greater the sensitivity to small things, but the lower the ground penetration.
Before I provide my advice, I’d like to take a step back and provide some context.
While I’ve discussed various features, settings, and other factors, you don’t need to know everything about metal detecting before purchasing your first detector. In fact, the greatest way to learn is to enter the area and begin searching for buried gold.
For further information on tips to help you find more treasure, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Best Metal Detector for Beginners
You should choose metal detectors that are highly sensitive because they make the search easier and more rewarding. The depth of treasure hunting grounds is directly dependent on the diameter of a metal detector’s coil.
To make pinpointing in the field faster, use the Garrett Pro-pointer pinpointer with this model. The Garrett Pro-pointer pinpointer is easy to use and can be used by beginners and experienced detectorists. It has Standard and Professional Modes to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Metal detectors that are less than $500 are good for most people. If you are just starting, this is the price range for you. Metal detectors that cost between $500 and $1,000 have more technology, costing more money.
People do metal detecting for different reasons. Some people do it to make money, others to get exercise, and others just to explore the outdoors. No matter your reason, metal detecting is a hobby that is worth it.
The main reason why buying an early metal detector would have been disappointing is because these detectors did not work very well. The first detectors were meant to help miners only. However, metal detectors are lighter, more efficient, and cheaper nowadays. If you want to acquire a metal detector, you should wait until one of the newest versions becomes available.
Yes, all-metal detectors can find gold rings. Some work better than others, but they will all do the job. Some detectors specifically designed to find small pieces of gold (like the Minelab Gold Monster or GPZ 7000) are better at finding rings than other detectors.
Most Bounty Hunter metal detectors can find targets in the ground that are 0″ -6″ inches deep. Depending on the model and the mineralizations in the ground, you may be able to find targets that are up to 11″ inches deep.
