Metal Detector GC-1028

My Bounty Hunter Tracker IV metal detector recently ran into some issues, so I decided to see if I could find a reasonably-priced replacement as this time of year is the best time for metal detecting. This RICOMAX metal detector was the best-priced one I could find that actually included a working LCD screen. I really like that this metal detector utilizes an LCD panel that actually gives you an estimate about what is it is detecting before you take the time and effort to dig into the ground. The LCD panel is also useful in many other ways, as it gives you a depth estimate and even tells you how your battery life is looking. I especially love that feature as there’s nothing worse than wanting to use a device only to find it is dead. Setting the detector up was very easy. You really just have to connect a small handful of parts, insert 2 9V batteries, and you’re good to go. The package even contains a small shovel for digging up your loot. A nice touch. The Bounty Hunter metal detector has an analog discrimination gauge which in all honesty is just a pain to use. I love the discrimination feature that this detector features and have found it to be pretty accurate. It also emits different tones depending on what it detects. I tested out the detector with a few different types of metal, including a gold wedding ring, and was impressed to find that the detector was able to point that out to me. I now know that I have a powerful tool to use if myself or a loved one ever loses a valuable piece of jewelry.

This metal detector is only $100, and works very good. It is extremely lightweight so your arm does not get tired. It has a velcro strap for your arm. It has discrimination so you can eliminate what types of metals you dont want to pick up. The pinpoint mode works extremely well to pinpoint exactly where the metal is. It was super easy to put together, took me about 2 minutes to assemble. It also came with a fold up metal shovel, the shovel also has a pick on the end which is really cool. It comes in a pouch that you can put onto your belt! The only problem I think I have had so far is I went a few inches in the water with it, and It seems to be randomly picking up 1 cent and 10 cent after I got out of the water. Not sure if it is perfectly water proof, or if my coil was not sealed all the way. I might have to get my coil replaced but they said they replace parts for free and it has a lifetime warranty, so if it keeps doing it when I go back out, I will have it replaced. Other than that, it is a very good metal detector, definitely recommended!

Pros. Cheap Easy to use Seems to work fine. Does the job at detecting metals. Cons. Plastic bolt that holds the coil to the pole is brittle and snapped off when I tightened it down. I just got it tight enough to keep the coil from moving and then it snapped. I went to the local hardware store an bought a nylon bolt, 2 nylon washers, and a nylon wingnut. This works so much better than the brittle bolt that came with the metal detector. I'm about 5'7" and its just a little on the short side fully extended but not so bad it would cause issues. Overall this would make a great gift for someone that wanted a metal detector or if you just need a cheap one to play around with. Just be sure to go get a nylon bolt, washers, and wingnut just so you don't have to worry about the included plastic bolt snapping.

I received the detector really quick as promised and was excited to get going and finding a treasure.. It came in a nicely packed box, and was really easy to put together as it was in about 4 pieces and the instructions are really easy to follow. Don't forget the batteries! None are included. It did come with a little shovel that stows away into a travel bag which is nice, but it did not come with the carry case that is shown in the picture. I'm still very new to metal detecting, so I haven't found anything really.. I've dug a few holes and am learning that just because it beeps it may not be anything depending on your swing or if you bump something, things like that. I'd suggest watching a bunch of youtube videos to get an idea of what to do and not to do. It can be frustrating and tiring to dig a hole and not find anything and then realize that it was only signaling because you were bumping a piece of wood nearby or something like that. Overall though, it's really easy to understand, as each different "metal" makes a different noise and shows up on the LCD screen. It also shows an approximate depth, which is nice so if it's finding things at 8" in hard packed soil you can just let it go and look for things closer to the surface. I've only been out a couple of times so far. It's very light weight at only about 2.5 pounds, but your arm does get tired after a bit of walking around and then digging.. I couldn't imagine carrying one that was like 5 pounds or more.. So that's nice. I've only had it for about a week or so, and so far so good.. If something goes screwy I'll come back and update the review, but I'm really happy with it so far!

Not saying this is bad. I gave it a try this afternoon, after work. Easy enough to use. Didn't find anything, but that's the buyer's risk. I'll try it more over the next few days. I wonder what would have happened had I purchased a more expensive model. I live in an historic area. 300 years of British/American history. Colonization. Slavery. The Revolution. The Civil War. Etc. I really out to find something. We'll see. Tomorrow? The "Acid Test." I'll salt my back yard with a fist full of coins. If it doesn't work, This Johnny is going back.

I have owned many metal detectors in my time. Some well over $1,000.00 minelab. And I am changing my review to reflect a replacement machine that works very well. I just came back from spending the afternoon with the Ricomax and I must say, I'm impressed with its accuracy. This thing is detecting coins within 2 inches of trash like nails and screws with an accuracy that is hard to believe.! Frankly, I've never seen a detector this accurate in this price range. The only hitch is that you have to be fast in hearing the tones and looking at the display. It may only beep once because of trash items nearby, but if it does, it's worth digging. I just found 2 nickles, 1 dime, and about 9 pennies. The amazing thing is, they were all found in an area that has been swept with other detectors and because of the trash, the other ones missed these coins. Wow, is all I can say. Accuracy like this is unheard of in detectors costing less than 500 dollars. If you want to find the good stuff, try this one. Just remember, it's detecting in high trash area's will be very quiet. Turn off the iron detect, and turn the sensitivity all the way down and watch what happens. Like any detector, it does take time and experience to master, but it's well worth the money. Be patient, and listen to the tones and you won't be disappointed. I give it 5 stars for accuracy, and perhaps 4 for ease of use, but it's very easy to use once you understand what it's telling you. Get one and see... Learning to use this is half the fun...

This is my first bad amazon review, but for me, this product was highly disappointing. First, I tested the detector on all settings and also tried to find things on my property before I took it out. i tested it on pure silver coins, pure copper coins and my wedding band. These items were placed on the surface, and some very shallow in the ground. The detector would only sometimes go off, and when it did, the tone was not constant. Once I got a hit, I would pass along multiple times and it would never go off a second time, even after I passed it over exactly where the coins were. I could see the coin and the detector would not go off. I did not have any discrimination on either. A metal detector should give a constant tone when it is over metal. This detector may beep quickly and then never read anything again. The pin point feature was highly inconsistent. I understand this is an inexpensive detector, but the look of it was great, and it performed worse than my $50 bounty hunter detector. At least that detector gives you a constant tone when you are over metal. I’m highly dissatisfied with this unit. I hate leaving bad reviews, but I wish I would have known this before I bought it. I’ll just do more research next time.

This is a wonderful entry-level option for metal detection. The quality of the materials feels right within the $90-$130 range, and it all comes together pretty easily. In fact, we found ourselves putting this one together before we ever touched the instructions. We didn't bother to read them until it came to getting familiar with the screen. There are only a few pieces to snap together and it's quite straight-forward. Getting comfortable with the screen does take a quick minute, the instructions will get you through it all just fine. It's user-friendly enough that just about anyone could learn how to use this model. It is entry-level though, so don't think this is going to be a solve-all for all of your adventures. Instead, it is a great place to start getting your feet wet (pun slightly intended since it is waterproof up to so many inches). It is mostly accurate, and we made sure by planting a number of test items for it to look for. We knew where they were, so the surprise effect is missing, but it did allow us to get a feel for how well it picks various things up. We haven't taken it to an area for a serious search yet since we have only been playing with it for a few days thus far but will make sure to update on anything else we find. A little skeptical about the review claiming to find a really old and expensive ring on their first try, but you never know. We're happy for them if that was true.