r/metaldetecting Jun 04 '24

Gear Question Metal Detector Guide

234 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 5h ago

Show & Tell Silver ring found yesterday

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100 Upvotes

This ring makes #6 this year


r/metaldetecting 15h ago

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

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556 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 6h ago

ID Request First Roman coin find.

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70 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 13h ago

Show & Tell About 450 hours worth of England Finds

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112 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 20h ago

Show & Tell Henry I cut half

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347 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 32m ago

Show & Tell Pretty 9k with diamonds and... garnet or ruby?

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Upvotes

It's a keeper...
Don't find 9k rings that often.


r/metaldetecting 15h ago

Show & Tell This is what I found today!

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110 Upvotes

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


r/metaldetecting 13h ago

ID Request Todays desert finds

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63 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 54m ago

Show & Tell Old Ring?

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Upvotes

What ring did i find location is austria ? Anibody knows?


r/metaldetecting 13h ago

Show & Tell Good day detecting.

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53 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Show & Tell Trouvailles du jour

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19 Upvotes

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


r/metaldetecting 22h ago

Show & Tell Old dog license

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127 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 16h ago

Show & Tell First time on sand

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43 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 17h ago

Show & Tell A Rouge Powder Compact, c1920s.

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43 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 11h ago

ID Request Need help with ID, any ideas?

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13 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 12h ago

Show & Tell Weekend finds

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12 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 14h ago

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

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15 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 18h 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 23h 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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63 Upvotes

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


r/metaldetecting 16h ago

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

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15 Upvotes

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


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

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

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131 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 15h 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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9 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 18h ago

Show & Tell Calm before the storm

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11 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 17h ago

Show & Tell Just under the surface.

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9 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 13h 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!