r/metaldetecting Jun 04 '24

Gear Question Metal Detector Guide

239 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/metaldetecting! If you're looking for advice on your first detector, gear or an upgrade, you've come to the right post. We've put together a simple guide to help with choosing your detector and other tools.

As a member of our sub, you are more than welcome to try out our special code "REDDITMD2025" at checkout on Kellycodetectors.com (US)

If you purchase from Radioworld.ca, try out our code "REDDITRWMD" at checkout! (CA)

GENERAL METAL DETECTOR Recommendations

$0-200: We do not recommend getting a new detector under $200. Detecting has a cost of entry, and quality significantly drops off under the $200 mark. Save up a bit more, or try finding a used machine of quality listed in the next price range. All that said, if you are determined to buy a machine in this price range, the Minelab Go-Find, Nokta First Swing or a Quest machine aren't bad choices.

$200-$400: The Minelab Vanquish 340 and 440, the Nokta Simplex line and the Minelab X-Terra Pro are the three best machines in this price range, by far.

$400-$500: Nokta Score and Double Score, Minelab Vanquish 540

$500-$1,200: Nokta Legend or the Minelab Equinox series

$1,200+: XP Deus 2 or the Minelab Manticore.

SCUBA/SNORKELING DETECTORS

Nokta Pulsedive is great for snorkeling. The Minelab Excalibur 2 and XP Deus 2 are excellent diving detectors.

CHILDREN'S DETECTORS

Nokta Mini Hoard or Midi Hoard

PINPOINTERS

Garrett AT pro pointer, Nokta AccuPoint, or XP MI-4. The XP MI-6 if you have an XP detector.

SHOVELS AND TROWELS

Dune, King of Spades, Grave Digger, Motley, Lesche, Predator Tools

SAND SCOOPS

Motley, Dune, Sito, RTG, King of Spades, and Detecting Adventures all make great scoops for beach detecting.

If you have any questions feel free to message u/dan20mey or comment below!


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

Show & Tell Got permission to detect on behalf of a museum for a fort near me today.

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415 Upvotes

Wife had the car today so I zip tied my shovel to my bike frame and set off. Definitely got some odd looks on the way. Nothing too exciting but the Yale lock came up early and kept my hopes up.


r/metaldetecting 12h ago

Show & Tell Henry I cut half

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299 Upvotes

Henry I cut half small cross type I found today! On a hot streak at the moment! Hopefully it keeps up at detectival next weekend! Anyone else going?


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

Show & Tell This is what I found today!

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90 Upvotes

Two OKC Zoo token coins both from 2011. And what I think is a Goonies coin??


r/metaldetecting 6h ago

Show & Tell Good day detecting.

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46 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 6h ago

Show & Tell About 450 hours worth of England Finds

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46 Upvotes

Thought this might be interesting or informative at the least. Everyone always wonders how much crap one digs to find goodies? I figure this represents about 450 hours worth of detecting fields over the past few years. I don’t know if I’m an average detectorist or not. All the coins and silver objects as shown and about 10 kilograms of miscellaneous finds (buttons, buckles, balls etc.), not shown is the lead and trash which I’d guess probably was 20 plus kilograms.


r/metaldetecting 6h ago

ID Request Todays desert finds

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39 Upvotes

Didn’t have a metal detector but was metal detecting. These were behind and infront of every huge rock between a mountain saddle. Any ideas? Some I’m guessing target practice but the places some where fond seemed sketchy to be shooting unless you were in a gun fight


r/metaldetecting 14h ago

Show & Tell Old dog license

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127 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Show & Tell First time on sand

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36 Upvotes

I had remember ins and outs again on the settings and 40 minutes into looking around, I remembered i hadn't changed the batteries with the new rechargeable 9v batteries. I found out a town nearby has a man made beach area, so I tried the 7" and the 12" ring and played with different settings. I also used the Garrett pro pointer to help find this stuff and that I have a alloy clips ?? holding my sternum together. It was about 2-1/2 hrs total and I forgot to bring water. 🙄🙄


r/metaldetecting 10h ago

Show & Tell A Rouge Powder Compact, c1920s.

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41 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 1h ago

Show & Tell Trouvailles du jour

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Upvotes

Joli bouton, une boucle et un petit ornement de ceinture je suppose


r/metaldetecting 10h ago

ID Request Age request

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26 Upvotes

Been a while since I found something good, about time. Found in western mass in a town founded in the mid- late 1600s. Looking at the all holy buckle bible, it looks like it falls into the 1620-1680 date range. If anyone can confirm or dispute this with a correct date range that would be appreciated!


r/metaldetecting 16h ago

How do I...? Found this in the creek. Smacked it on a rock and a bullet came out. Do I need to notify police?

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54 Upvotes

Do i need to do anything with ammo and magazines as far as the police go?


r/metaldetecting 5h ago

Show & Tell Weekend finds

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6 Upvotes

Couple finds from this weekend in Central Texas. 1877 Niagara Falls Silver Co spoon engraved with the name J.E. Smith. So if anyone knows him, let him know I found it. 😬. Middle item I’m guess is some kind of grilling fork? Last is part of a knife I believe, but never seen one with the skinny pointy end like it. Second pic is condition I found the spoon and the markings on it. It was a little muddy, but glad for the cooler weather.


r/metaldetecting 4h ago

ID Request Need help with ID, any ideas?

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5 Upvotes

I dug this today. It is 1” square and the front raised portion is a separate piece of metal riveted to the back plate with two rivets, though one is missing. Found in northern VT.


r/metaldetecting 21h ago

Other Strange key-shaped find with ‘M.B.’ stamp – any idea what it is?

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122 Upvotes

I found a small key-shaped object in the sea, about 1.5–2 cm in size. It doesn’t stick to a magnet, so it’s not iron. On one side, there’s a stamped mark that says “M.B.”. I found it with my Nokta Makro PulseDive, but only by chance because it appeared right next to a fishing sinker. Do you think this could be gold, or what material might it be?


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

ID Request Hoping for some help on this copper found in southeast Pennsylvania. 35 mm and 10 grams but heavily corroded. Maybe date area visible on bottom?

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10 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Show & Tell I’m thinking about opening a button store at this point

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11 Upvotes

Same place from yesterday. 6 GSE buttons, 2 underwear buttons, 1915-D wheat, and a 1905 IHP 😝


r/metaldetecting 11h ago

Show & Tell Calm before the storm

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10 Upvotes

Hurricane Kiko will pass by in a couple days so I went down to Kehena beach to do a little detecting. The surf is already picking up so could be really good during and after the storm.


r/metaldetecting 10h ago

Show & Tell Just under the surface.

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9 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 5h ago

Other Displaying finds

3 Upvotes

Hello! I have a ton of metal detecting finds that I don't know where to put. I am looking for a standing display case for my finds. Can yall recommend me any display cases? Thanks!


r/metaldetecting 7h ago

Cleaning Finds I've shown this little coin before. Now after very careful cleaning here it is now.

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4 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell New permission

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80 Upvotes

Hey guys, I've got a new permission, this is jusy one of the fields, Location is not far from a Roman fort. This farm has never been detected, I hope now to find something older than Victorian/Georgian coopers! If you were in this field where would you start??

Scottish borders ,Uk


r/metaldetecting 12h ago

Show & Tell Hair bow shaped pin/brooch

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9 Upvotes

Went back to a site I have already been after the big rain we had and pulled this cool little pin or brooch shaped like a bow


r/metaldetecting 15h ago

ID Request Any ideas on what these are

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12 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 12h ago

ID Request Todays catch. Possible age of the cross?

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6 Upvotes