Bounty HunterTracker IV Metal Detector with adjustable trash elimination

I spent 3 weeks digging around (pun intended) on Amazon and Google trying to find the ideal beginner’s metal detector. The choice is huge and the reviews don’t always stack up... especially when you constantly discover the same reviews for completely different detectors (what is that all about?). So I went to Amazon.com and read even more reviews and that’s when the Bounter Hunter Tracker IV finally registered with me. I followed this up with more Googling about this specific detector and my mind was then made up. The Tracker IV was ordered! Since it arrived I have been out in the garden three times with my 11 year old, getting used to how it works and digging up everything from pull tabs, rusty iron, two old pennies (one dated 1862,) a few small and modern coins, a lead soldier, a lead motorbike and a couple more lead toy things. This is a great entry level detector!! I also read that a lot of serious detectorists learned on the BH Tracker IV and still keep it as a back up to their much more expensive machine. Don’t let all the reviews confuse you... seriously get this one! The two 9v Duracell batteries seem to last well so far and this machine can detect more then 6 inches down. The ‘Tone’ mode will help me (and you) find only the better stuff and leave the ring pulls and rusty iton out of it altogether but it takes some practice with it to understand what the different tones are telling you, I’m working on it. I think you can tell that I am very impressed with it. Ignore every other model of a similar or cheaper price. This is tried and tested technology and will give you a fantastic start in detecting but will also stay with you way beyond the novice level.

Okay so i have done a bit metal detecting years ago and spent about £350 on a fisher detector which was very good. As i wanted to get back into this hobby i originally started looking on e-bay but soon realised that the prices were just silly for older detectors and also secondhand newer detectors such as the garrets 150 and 250. People are paying £30 - £40 less for a secondhand garret than they would pay for a brand new one with a guarantee? That just does not make sense to me.I did a bit research on the bounty hunter range and there are mixed reviews from both amateurs and so called 'pros'. Build quality has been questioned and it has been likened to a toy. Well, yes it is plastic in construction and i was a bit apprehensive about this, but in actual fact i now consider that to be a bonus. I have been out 3 times since 7th feb and its lightness is a real bonus, you hardly need any effort to use this detector.I first tried it the day after i received it, and it was so simple and enjoyable, i couldnt believe it. After an hour of searching i had found £1.44 and a brass tap. Not enough to retire on but great fun.The next time i tried it i went a bit further than the playing field and into the woods, and i had read the manual so i was able to use the discrimination modes. I found 8 coins, a mixture of half pennies, 2 x 20p pieces 2 x £1 coins an old penny and what looks like a coin with queen victorias head on it ( though this is pretty well worn) oh and an old dinky toy tractor which is in excellent condition.The third trip out was purely to test depth on various metals and to learn the different tones that it makes in the three different modes offered. I have no magical method to offer as these tests are very basic but i am learning to trust the detector and the tones it emits in certain modes. Its not a magic wand and its not 100% accurate. Whether thats down to me or what i dont know, but i feel fairly confident that i am learning and that the detector seems reliable.I shall hopefully be going to the beach fairly soon to test its capabilities and pitch it against my 2 mates, as yet unused , garret detectors.And thats the thing, its no good paying big money for a detector if youre not going to go out and use it regularly.These two mates of mine have had theirs since christmas but havent even used them in the garden yet !!!!!I would say this is a very good introduction to the hobby and that if you are prepared to read your manual and learn how to use the 2 controls and flick switch, then this will be an excellent choice for most people.People with expensive detectors will always 'knock' cheaper detectors, they have to justify spending their money dont they?UPDATE######Just a quick update, my tally of coins now totals approx. 70-80. Ive been out about 7 times. The coins are king george pennies and halfpennies, queen victoria farthings,threepenny pieces, two shilling coins,queen elizabeth pennies (pre decimalisation) and loads of modern pennies,10p pieces,20p pieces, 50p and pound coins. Im mainly using 'disc' mode as i have been in high trash areas. Last week i found a queen victoria commemorative medal which i think is my best find to date.I am more than happy with the detector, the only thing i have slight doubts about is the depth at which it is detecting. All my finds have been fairly shallow, about 4 inches, so when i find less trashy areas im going to use 'all metal mode' as this apparently gives more depth !

My first MD so cant. compare with others. But have found many coins and trash. so i am very happy with it. One warning thou, it does say that it is not waterproof and bye golly its not. One quick short sharp shower caught on a beech, caused the speaker to fail. Now have to use headphones all the time now. 5 stars otherwise.

Still getting the hang of the dials and switches, but seems possible to distinguish between different levels of metal ie. precious or not precious, though finding it best to search for everything anyway as it's all still interesting, and wouldn't have been picked up in 'fussy' mode!

I used today for the first time and very pleased with it ,on the beach for a couple off hours and found plenty of coins,i would highly recommend as a good beginners detector its very easy to use and very light on the arm. shame the instructions only came in germen but I found an English version online .delivered on time. I cant wait to go out again.

It doesn't have the features of the expensive models of course, and the discrimination is pretty minimal in its functioning, and it will still often pick up iron/steel in the Tone mode which is meant to auto discriminate iron/steel. It also only has one tone in the All Metal Mode and Disc mode, and two tones if in the Tone mode to denote higher or lower resistance metals. It's easily the best detector under £150 though.Very good for beginners wanting to get into the hobby but you will most likely get a better model in future if you really get into it.

Haven't had the chance to use it properly yet as my wife is ill but going on past experience, I would say this is an excellent machine for someone who requires simplicity allied to efficiency. There is no doubt that this detector will find most objects that a far more expensive one would.