The best metal detector to buy when you have a budget of $500

animalcarer · Senior Member

The best metal detector to buy when you have a budget of $500

gordon_adl · Senior Member

I recall having one years ago when I was a child. Could be a hobby I wouldn't mind picking up later.

Brian88 · Veteran Member

Look up Minelab , they are the best in the world , they have been making mine detectors for the military for years , they make very expensive , gold detectors , but you should beable to pick up a second hand detector in your price range , for looking for coins and gold.

pauline · Guru

I am afraid I can't help you, but would love to try it one day, love the photo.......

Cheers

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

A second hand Minelab.
You won't get a good new one for $500.
I reckon Mimelab have a forum somewhere. Certainly they have a newsletter. Give them a ring, the factory is in Adelaide.

Cheers,
Peter

animalcarer · Senior Member

Thanks forum family for that. I wont get too excited yet. Looks like it will have to be second-hand at this stage.
lynette

blaze · Guru

Talking to a guy in albany where I got my sat phone from, he sold minelab and hired them out but used a $220 one he got off ebay and said bang for buck he reckon the chineses one was great.cheers
blaze

goinsoon · Guru

animalcarer wrote:
Thanks forum family for that. I wont get too excited yet. Looks like it will have to be second-hand at this stage.
lynette

There is a fellow in Brisbane who sells a good one for beginners, my son has one.

I will get the details and pm you

Cheers

Brian

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

this may help

http://www.nqminersden.com/

aussietraveller · Guru

I have been using a mine detector now for some time and purchased mine on Ebay direct from the USA new for just over $300.00 its a Garrett ace 250 and is quite an effective machine good for coins and jewellery on the beach, there are also a wide range of second hand ones on ebay some worth looking at are Garrett, White and Mine lab but mine lab are usually the most expensive and many models are designed for gold detecting and not much good for any other type of detecting.

margie1 · Newbie

hi guys we got our minelab for $2500.00 second hand. the new one costs over $4000.00 margie

jonathan · Guru

I too have a Garrett 250 and find it very good .. Great for beaches both in and out of the water .. the simplicity of eliminating unwanted readings is a real benefit. It doesn't have the depth capacity of a minelab or the various modules for variety of choice, but what it has is definitely long lasting battery life and is much lighter to carry ..

Like anything, it takes time to learn to operate it effectively, but it does not need any other accessories other than maybe a set of headphones which can be purchased separately. I always carry an assortment of metals both ferrous and non-ferrous to help when setting up to carry out specific searches ..

good fun too

Jon