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For the same price you can pick up the SAME detector at WalMart. It's Wally-branded the Pioneer 202 there, but it's the same detector.
It's a nice enough "intro-level" detector to see if the hobby is something you might want to get serious about and thus make the necessary investments and upgrades to equipment designed for the long-haul or extended use.
If you really want a fair to good dectector, I'd seriously try the Prizm series (III-V) of the Whites Electronics line or a similar intro models meade by more reknowned companies like Whites, Garrett, Fisher, Tesorro or even the foreign-made Explorer.
PROS:
- Dandy little "coin-shooter" for kids and visitors while YOU use the "real" thing
- Ideal for sandy or chip-filled play areas
- Lightweight and easy to use and adjust
- Great little machine for curious relatives/friends to try, kids over 12 or to loan to land owners whose property you'd like to detect.
- Not a "bad" investment for the money, but there ARE better detectors in the $200 range.
CONS:
- Like most detectors, it'll eat up those 9volt batteries in no time if you're not using headphones (Upgrading would save you batteries)
- Not having a adjustable strap over the arm cup is literally a real pain in the arm!
- No depth (about 4 inches is pushing it, though it's picked up quarters in "clean" soil at 6 inches)
- Wil NOT work anywhere NEAR a salt beach...not even in the dry dunes. In fact, I couldn't use it to hunt a park about a mile inland because the Rec Dept had used beach sand for the play areas.
- Overloads easily in trashy areas or mineralized soil.
- Totally worthless for relic hunting.
Ho, noble comrades! `Twas time again for the Fellowship Fan Club to host its Annual Sauron Scavenger Hunt. As ever, the goal was simple: Club Chairman Solun Fangtooth (my neighbor, Glen) took thine replica One Ring, authentic down to the Mordor Elvish inscribed around the band, and hid it in yon forested creek behind his parents' abode. The five new members of the cabal, myself included, would comb the wilderness in search of this mighty treasure. He who was first to unearth Sauron's golden band of evil would be promoted from rank of Hobbit to the Council of Elrond, and get to choose the location for our next screening of all three LOTR films.
The rules of the hunt are simple: any method is allowed, provided it can be justified as the tactics and materials of a fantasy character.
The other four fledglings, cloaked in robes of Rivendell and carrying Torches of Truth (in the form of flashlights), scoured the wooded gully, seeking some minor clue of Fangtooth's passing. But having shared a road-trip to ComiCon with Fangtooth, I knew him to be a wily foe - it would take wits, not persistence, to uncover the location of the One Ring.
To this end, I unsheathed mine ultimate weapon: the Bounty Hunter Quick Draw II Metal Detector. A gift from my patriarch for the passage of boyhood to man, I had honed my skills at alloy retrieval on the sands of Hilton's Head. Finding 64¢ in Coins of the Realm, I knew the path to advancement lay in the probing waves of this device.
Setting the proper adjustments to compensate for uninteresting metallic flotsam (nails, etc.), I knew the rhythmic beeps of the Quick Draw II would lead me to victory. In practiced, methodical sweeps of the search coil, I combed the creekbed, finding the One Ring in a shallow pool, partially buried in the silt. Victory was mine. My own.
Of course, there were protestations at my ingenuity. Some argued that the technological marvel of the Quick Draw II was outside the boundaries of our club charter. However, I deftly explained that the very name of this product led me to adopt the perfect fantasy persona: I was a bounty hunter - one who used any means necessary to achieve his goals. I was Bilbo Fett!
The Bounty hunter QDII is a detector that allows both the proffesional and amateur detectorist to make excellent finds. although it is in Bounty hunters interest to push their higher price models, the QDII is probably the equal of most detectors in a much higher price bracket, and is in my opinion not promoted enough.
It is good on the beach, on both wet and dry sand, it is at home inland, in forest, park, or ploughed field. it is advanced in its electronics, and very lightweight. this detector is in a class of its own, and very affordable. Dont allow the low price to put you off, this detector is easily the equal of detectors in the £600 price range, and will pay for itelf in no time at all.
I did a lot of searching and review reading on the internet before finally deciding what to buy. I am convinced Quick Draw II is THE best value available of any make by any conpany. The features on the QDII are generally found only on much higher priced detectors. This thing really works as advertised. I have already found several coins and other things right in my own yard. It will reliably indicate what coin is being detected although it many times confuses dimes and pennies on the LCD readout. It is very sensitive and detects most coin size items very reliably to about 6 or 8 inches. The auto notch discrimination works well and filters out most trash items. I have used metal detectors that ended up being aggravating and frustrating. This one is a pleasure to use and is quickly becoming a relaxing and profitable pastime for me. If you want a serious metal detector without spending a whole lot of money give it a try... you won't be disappointed...
This detector is an amazing value for such a low price. Featuring everything a beginner or experience tresure hunter could ever need. Includes feature that tells what kind of metal and also approximatly how deep it's in the ground, a great help!
After receving my Bounty Hunter Quick Draw II metal detector I have enjoyed several hours with it. So far the only area I have used it has revealed several old relics and lots of scrap iron as this area is an old coal strip mining area. Am looking forward to going to an area where I can do some coin shooting. First detector so I am learning how to operate it, but sofar am having a lot of fun with it. It works very well. Found a lead crystal vanity dish lid that was 4 inches underground. So far it has been a very enjoyable experience. Detector was lowest price I could find on the internet for a new machine. Am very pleased with my purchase from this company.
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