This information applies to both new and used metal detectors. We will have many new and used metal detector reviews in the following months and years. Enjoy

If you are trying to decide what is the right used metal detector for you there are some things you need to consider.  You must have a couple things in mind when you are considering purchasing a used metal detector. There are many different types of metal detectors and each has its own place and purpose. Most metal detectors are multi purpose units but you still need to have in mind what will be the primary use of your metal detector. You need to sit down and come up with what exactly you need before you even begin to consider which metal detector to buy.  Regardless of if it is a all purpose Bounty Hunter metal detector or one for gold hunting, you need to have your guidelines in place so that you know exactly what you need.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Metal Detector

The first thing to consider is what your going to do with your metal detector. Beach combing, gold prospecting, cache hunting, deep treasure hunting or  coin shooting. It may be a combination.

You need to decide where you are going to do the majority of your metal detecting.  There are three prime locations to look at each with there own unique benefits.  These three areas are the beach, water, and the woods.  I am going to take a look at each one so that you can best determine which is the right area for you.

Coin Hunting

Most detectors are made for coin hunting unless otherwise stated. Coin hunting detectors are made for finding coins. They have different levels of discrimination, plus notch accept/reject, coin depth and coin id. The more you pay the deeper it goes and the more bells and whistles. A simple well made detector without all the bells and whistles can be great. You may dig a little more trash but you will usually find more goodies. No detector can distinguish between a gold ring and a certain kind of trash.

Water Detecting

The first, the water, is a great place to go metal detecting because first off many people do not want to do the work of hunting there.  The water is not an easy environment to do metal detecting in, but if you are willing to brave the water to go hunting there can be many great things to be found.  The reason for this is that when you go into the water it will shrink your hands and rings and other things can fall off without your knowledge.

Beach Combing

The next are is the sandy beach.  While the beaches can yield many things in the sand, many  areas have been thoroughly looked over.  Beaches can be large and If you can find a nice area that has not been searched there are many great treasures to be found.

Gold Prospecting

You can find gold with just about any metal detector if the gold is big enough. Metal detectors for prospecting start at $600.00 and go up to $5000.00.  Which one gets the most gold? Usually the more expensive detector because it goes deeper and will detect much smaller nuggets.

Treasure Hunting and Relic Hunting Detectors

These detectors are a different story.  These detectors are made for depth with little discrimination because where your searching you want to dig everything except maybe nails. You will need to do research before you go searching in the woods because you are going to want to find an area that has been inhabited or walked very frequently by people.  If you can find this a veritable treasure awaits.

I have several metal detectors. Most serious metal detectorists own several models including a backup. It’s not fun to drive 300 miles to a good spot and have your detector quit and not have a backup handy.

My Metal Detectors

I mostly use a Fisher Cz6a that I have had for many years. This Fisher has no external speaker so you have to use headphones. Headphones make it easier to hear faint targets and they block out external noise but they are hot in the summer. It’s sealed which makes it very weather resistant, it goes deep, it has a type of notch discrimination and it’s a great all around unit. Headphones can be very hot in the summer so I made my own external speaker that clips to my shirt. But it’s not all that good at gold prospecting but it will work just not as good as models made just for prospecting. It was expensive.

But I also have a White’s 2900 D and original Garrett ADS detectors for many years. I buy and sell new and used detectors all of the time. I like to use eBay. People that use detectors are always looking for something better or different or like me I just like to try out different units. I find a good deal on eBay and buy it… use it for a while and resell it on eBay and get most of my money back.

Price Range

How much can you afford to spend? The more you pay the deeper it goes and the more bells and whistles it will have. Metal detectors can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.  Before you begin looking at a metal detector you need to know what your going to do with it and how much you are willing to spend on your metal detector hobby.  Once you have this you will be able to eliminate many different metal detectors.

New or Used Metal Detectors

From my experience metal detectors are quite reliable so I have no problem buy used detectors. Many metal detectors are purchased and used a few times and then put away never to be used again. Where others are purchased and worn out from use within a year or two. Obviously if you are buying used you want the former.

There are many various reasons that people never use a detector. Maybe they don’t like to play in the dirt, maybe they bought it to find the lost $5000.00 wedding ring and now they don’t need it anymore or maybe it was an inexpensive unit simply to try things out and they either didn’t like metal detecting or they fell in love with it and went all out and spent $1100.00 for the best. My first detector was a Garrett I have had this detector for 30 years it’s been well cared for and works just like new. It was top of the line in 1979. It will not miss a target you just need to dig more and it is a lot heavy compare to newer models.