Metal detector for 9 yr old...which one?

Hey all,

My wife and I think our oldest is finally ready to start to hunt with dad! He has asked to go several times and I think he would really enjoy his own machine! I ONLY hunt saltwater beaches...and having said that I am NOT buying him a saltwater machine haha rather one that will do ok on the dry sand. This is for a 9 yr old and his 6 and 4 yr old brothers might be handling it too so I don't want to care too much if and when they break it! I have narrowed it down to two machines - the bounty hunter jr, which is $40 on amazon or the bounty hunter tracker IV, which is $70 on amazon.

I used to own the tracker iv, its what I started on. I know it detects the dry sand pretty well because I've done it. This is exactly where my son would be detecting. I guess my questions are, is the Jr as powerful as the IV? Is the IV too big for a 9 yr old or is the JR too small for a 9 yr old? Any others I should consider given I am really looking for a step up from a toy?

If only I didn't get rid of my original tracker iv

_________________________________

Nox600, CTX, CZ21, Excal II and White's DF with 920i stealthscoop...I live and hunt at the beach in Wilm NC

Don't forget the new version of the Junior, with an LCD screen and basic target ID. Is it called the Junior TID ? It's more expensive than the basic meter model, but still cheap ( in the US )

Pimento Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't forget the new version of the Junior, with a
> n LCD screen and basic target ID. Is it called the
> Junior TID ? It's more expensive than the basic me
> ter model, but still cheap ( in the US )

Well lets add that that one to the mix too! If anyone has compared any of these let me know.

[www.amazon.com]

_________________________________

Nox600, CTX, CZ21, Excal II and White's DF with 920i stealthscoop...I live and hunt at the beach in Wilm NC

Costco has the Discovery 3300 on sale for 84.99. Its basically an F4 with a manual ground balance. A good step up from the Tracker IV with enough power and features to keep everyone happy until they are ready to move above the hundred dollar price point.

I have fond memories of the Tracker IV and still use one ocassionally, however the 3300 is nice enough for everyone.

HH
Mike

I am supposed to stop by costco tomorrow after work so I will check it out.

_________________________________

Nox600, CTX, CZ21, Excal II and White's DF with 920i stealthscoop...I live and hunt at the beach in Wilm NC

Mike Hillis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Costco has the Discovery 3300 on sale for 84.99.

If your trying for a sub $100 detector, this is the one I'd go for as well.

Me ..I would buy him a Nox..600, always nice to have a back up machine..........of course when he is not around..

Blood Member of RingKeepers
2020......Gold Rings....73....Misc Gold 1 .......Silvers ...110

adamBomb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess my questions are, is the Jr as powerful as the IV? Is the IV too big for a
> 9 yr old or is the JR too small for a 9 yr old?

The original Jr is a TR machine, the new one is a VLF. For a 9yr old, I think they are too small and too toy-ish. I would recommend them for a 6 yr old. The Tracker would be a better choice that takes him along for a few years. Mike's suggestion of the 3300 is better yet.