How to Use a Metal Detector: Your First Hunt

On this page (9 sections)

1. What should you check before using a metal detector?
2. How do you set up a metal detector for your first hunt?
3. How do you sweep the coil to find a target?
4. What should you do when the detector signals?
5. How do you pinpoint a target before digging?
6. How do you dig carefully and fill the hole?
7. How deep can a metal detector find a target?
8. What mistakes should beginners avoid?
9. How should you end your first metal detecting hunt?

To use a metal detector, sweep the coil low and slowly, then pinpoint a repeatable signal before you dig. Read your model's manual, check permission and local rules first, and fill every hole when you're done.

Your first hunt goes more smoothly when you learn the detector in a simple area and focus on one signal at a time. Read the manual before you start, since controls and alert sounds differ by model.

What should you check before using a metal detector?

Check permission and local rules before you use a metal detector, and read the manual for your model. The manual explains its controls, settings, and any limits on where or how to use it.

Private land requires the owner's permission. For public land, check the rules set by the park, city, beach or other land manager, including rules about digging and what to do with finds.

Choose a spot with room to swing the coil without hitting people, fences or other obstacles. A quiet patch of ground also makes it easier to hear and learn the detector's signals.

How do you set up a metal detector for your first hunt?

Set up the detector as its manual directs, then start with a simple setting that gives clear signals. Keep the first session focused on learning the controls instead of changing several settings at once.

If your detector has a sensitivity control, begin at a moderate level. If it chatters constantly, lower sensitivity as the manual explains, or move to a spot with less nearby metal or electrical interference.

The Bounty Hunter TK4 has analog controls, adjustable sensitivity and 3 detection modes: all-metal, tone and discrimination. Its 8 in waterproof coil can be used in shallow water, but keep the control housing out of the water.

Before you head out, check that the detector is assembled and its batteries are ready. Keep the manual with you or save a copy on your phone so you can look up a control you don't recognize.

How do you sweep the coil to find a target?

Sweep the coil slowly from side to side, keeping it low and at a steady height above the ground. Overlap each pass slightly so you don't leave narrow strips of ground unchecked.

Keep the coil parallel to the ground instead of lifting it at the ends of each sweep. Take a step forward only after you've covered the ground in front of you.

Listen for repeatable signals. If you hear one, stop and sweep across the same spot again, then approach it from another direction to see whether the signal returns.

How to use a metal detector coil in overlapping passes

Use short, overlapping sweeps to cover a small patch of ground before moving forward. This makes it easier to notice where a signal begins and ends.

Try a clear patch with a few known metal objects placed on the surface. Sweep across them at different speeds and from different directions to learn how your detector responds before you dig.

What should you do when the detector signals?

When you hear a signal, pause and check whether it repeats from more than one direction. A repeatable sound is easier to locate than a brief signal that disappears as soon as you move.

If your detector has target identification or discrimination, use it as a clue, not a promise of what the object is. Different targets can produce similar responses, so don't assume a signal means a coin, jewelry or any other specific find.

Headphones can make signals easier to hear in a noisy place, but keep the volume low enough to stay aware of your surroundings. The Garrett MS-2 headphones have a 1/4 in stereo plug, volume control and a 10 ft coiled cable; check compatibility with your detector before choosing them.

If you're not sure whether a response is worth investigating, check it from another angle before moving on. For more on likely finds, see what you can find with a metal detector.

How do you pinpoint a target before digging?

Pinpoint the signal before digging by narrowing down where it sounds strongest. Sweep across the area from two directions, and mark the likely center with a small object or a gentle mark in the soil.

A handheld pinpointer can help you search the soil plug and the hole without sweeping the full detector coil over them. The SUNPOW pinpointer has 360° side-scan detection and sound plus vibration alerts, which can guide you as you close in on a target.

For more detail on the tool and when it helps, read what a pinpointer is used for. You can also compare its role with the main detector in metal detector vs pinpointer.

How do you dig carefully and fill the hole?

Dig only where rules allow it and you've checked for buried utilities or other hazards. Where turf digging is permitted, remove a small plug and set it on a cloth beside the hole so you can replace it neatly.

Check the plug and hole with your detector or pinpointer, and avoid reaching blindly for sharp or unknown objects. The CKG digging shovel has a stainless steel blade, double serrated edges and a sheath; it measures 10.24 x 2.76 x 1.18 in.

Return the soil and plug to the hole, press it down, and leave the surface as close to its original condition as possible. Take ordinary litter you can safely collect with you, and follow local rules for handling finds.

How deep can a metal detector find a target?

Detection depth varies with the detector, target, soil and setup, so there's no single depth that applies to every hunt. A large metal object may be detected farther away than a small one, while mineralized ground can affect signals.

For a clearer explanation of what changes depth, read how deep a metal detector can detect. Start with known objects on the surface and focus on learning repeatable signals before attempting deeper recoveries.

What mistakes should beginners avoid?

Beginners get more useful practice by keeping their sweep steady and checking signals before digging. Avoid rushing across a large area before you know how the detector responds.

• Don't skip the manual or ignore local rules.
• Don't lift the coil at the ends of a sweep or move it too fast.
• Don't dig based on one brief signal.
• Don't change several settings at once.
• Don't leave holes, loose plugs or litter behind.

How should you end your first metal detecting hunt?

End your first hunt by filling every hole, collecting ordinary litter safely and checking that you have all your gear. Note which settings gave clear signals so you have a starting point for learning how to use a metal detector on your next outing.

If you're still choosing a detector, start with how to choose a metal detector for beginners. For a broader first outing checklist, see how to start metal detecting.

Frequently asked questions

How do you use a metal detector for the first time?

Read the manual, assemble the detector, and practice in a permitted area with a few known metal objects on the surface. Keep the coil close to the ground, sweep slowly in overlapping passes, and check a signal from more than one direction before digging.

Should a metal detector coil touch the ground?

Keep the coil close to the ground, but don't scrape or bump it along the surface. A steady height helps you cover the ground evenly, while bumps can cause unwanted sounds on some detectors and make it harder to focus on target signals.

How do you pinpoint a metal detector signal?

Sweep across the target from several directions and narrow down the point where the signal is strongest. A handheld pinpointer can help locate the target in the soil once you've opened a small plug, helping you work within a smaller area.

What should you do before metal detecting on public land?

Check the rules for the exact park, beach or public area before you go, including whether detecting, digging and removing finds are allowed. Requirements vary by land manager, so permission for one place doesn't cover another; get the owner's permission before searching private land.