What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

I've been looking to get a metal detector to look for jewelry and artifacts on beaches and in parks, and I'm not quite sure what would be a good model. I'm looking to spend less than $300, and as little as necessary.

I was thinking of getting a Garrett Ace 250 but now I'm not quite sure that would be the best option.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Re: What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

Or maybe I'll be cheap and get the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV

Re: What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

Test drive a couple...whichever one finds the skeleton and the metal detector of the last guy is the one I would go with.

;)

Re: What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

You'll get what you pay for. Use any sub-$600. detector and I'll scan right behind you and find a lot of things you'll have missed. The big problem with beach detecting is that beaches are "alive". They're like a creek or sluice box; the sand moves and gravity pulls everything heavy down until it hits something solid enough (usually bedrock) to keep it from going deeper.

So whatever detector you get...and you want to get the VERY best one you can afford to buy...make sure that you detect heavily used beaches and do it during the late afternoon and early evening at the latest. If you wait then a lot of things folks lost that day will be too deep to detect.

If you want to find relics the best chance you have is to wait until a good size storm churs up the water and redistributes a lot of the near-shore and beach sand.

There are some good metal detecting forums you can access if you haven't done it yet. Glean ones with beach detecting threads.

Good hunting!

Re: What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

You'd be surprised what a treasure ace could pick up.

Beach hunting is a whole different ball game. Go to:

http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/

There is a guy there named Coinpicker, he's the resident beach comber. He finds alot of clad and beach jewelry.

The best finds on the beach is when a small hurricane or storm is blowing in.

There are HUGE amounts of water and sand pushed up against the beach.

Then, when the water and storm are receeding, big channels are dug into the beach, where the water is retreating. This is when you start finding things from WAY back. The ocean kicks them out of the water and brings them back to the present.

Then after about two days or so, all that stuff starts getting washed back out to sea again. And then you have to wait for the next storm. Heh.

I'd get my hands on a Garrett Treasure Ace 250, learn to detect. It will teach you how boring it can be, and how much trash you'll be removing from the ground.

Don't discount freshwater beaches either, not only does the salt water not mess with you, but things are much more static, cause you're not always dealing with that monster surf.

The best way to do anything is get out there and do it.

Re: What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

Are you planning on hunting in the water? Most and by most I mean 90% of the good stuff is in the water and a water machine will hunt the dry stuff good also

Re: What is a good detector for beachcombing and treasure hunting?
 

Hire a Mayan. They can predict the end of the world in 2012. They should easily be able to find some coins on a beach.