What's a decent brand of metal detector? Do they make one for around $300? TIA

Garrett Ace 300

Whites

Garretts and Whites all work about the same. The real test is which one can handle 6 months of real work bouncing around the bed of a pick up truck and still always work fine. I've had the best luck with Garretts.

Funny you post this. Been researching a good bit and just bought my first one. I went with the Nokta Double Score. It's a multi-frequency machine at a great price and it's waterproof. Took it for a test run yesterday at a local park. Played around for about 30 min. Found a bunch of junk but it was fun nonetheless. Plan to get out some more and do some more searching when the weather is good and I have some time.

I looked hard at the Garretts but felt like I got more of a machine for less money with the Nokta.

Appreciate the responses. Yeah 3toe, i figure my grandkids should enjoy it too. I hope to find the surveyor rebar on a corner of my property too. Several more good reasons to get outdoors.

I have a Garret AT Pro that is really good, waterproof up to 10 feet. I've enjoyed playing with it off and on. Problem I have is not many people will allow you to use it on their property. I joined the Baldwin County Historical Society thinking it would give me a little more advantage having a card to show folks. That didn't work, always got the excuse is that they were saving it for their cousin's grandkids best friends great uncles children to metal detect one day.

I did do some research and found some old logging railroads on my hunting club and dug up some hundred-year-old railroad spikes.

I’ve always been interested in it and had one has a kid (A real one my grandfather gave me, not a toy.) but never got into it much because of the lack of places to metal detect. If I’m not mistaken, you can’t detect in state parks anymore. At least not Tannehill. I see a lot of folks at the beach use them early in the morning but I don’t care to buy one just for that.

You can join a metal detection club where they plant items and then search for them I understand they hide some nice items

You can use a metal detector at most beaches unless posted otherwise. As for State and Federal property that is generally not allowed for any reason at all even if you are just messing around. I have a standing permit with the state and Dept of Interior but I still have to give a reason each time I use one for work. Some muncipalities do not care or do not even know that they maybe they should care so city properties, especially vacant lots are usually ok. If you find a vacant lot, metal detect around where the perimeters and doors of any building that might have been there were. You could find a lot of old change money. Silver dimes and quarters were often lost where people sat outside under shade barns and patios before everybody had air conditioning.