Every metal detectorist makes mistakes when starting out. The good news? Learning from others’ mistakes saves you time, frustration, and missed finds. Here are the most common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Not Learning Your Detector
The Problem: Turning on the machine and heading straight to the field without understanding the controls, modes, or settings.
The Fix:
- Read the entire manual before your first hunt
- Watch YouTube tutorials for your specific model
- Practice in your yard on known targets (bury coins at different depths)
- Learn what each target sounds like before hunting “blind”
Expert Tip: Spend your first 20 hours digging EVERYTHING you hear. This builds mental connections between sounds and targets that will serve you for years.
Mistake #2: Swinging Too Fast
The Problem: Racing across an area trying to cover ground, missing targets because the coil moves too quickly.
The Fix:
- Slow down—much slower than feels natural
- Overlap your swings by half the coil width
- Think “low and slow”—keep the coil close to the ground
- A small area thoroughly covered beats a large area skimmed
Test Yourself: Lay a coin on the ground. Swing over it at different speeds. Notice how the signal changes—or disappears—when you swing too fast.
Mistake #3: Lifting the Coil at the End of Swings
The Problem: The coil rises like a pendulum at the edges of each swing, reducing depth at the sides.
The Fix:
- Keep the coil parallel to the ground throughout the entire swing
- Practice the “ironing board” motion—flat and level
- Watch yourself in a mirror or have someone observe your technique
Mistake #4: Hunting the Wrong Locations
The Problem: Detecting in areas with no history—new parks, recently developed land, or locations where people didn’t gather.
The Fix:
- Research before you hunt
- Look for parks established before 1965 for silver potential
- Find old homesteads, schools, churches, and gathering places
- Use historical maps, library resources, and local historical societies
Remember: You can’t find old coins where old coins were never dropped.
Mistake #5: Discriminating Too Much
The Problem: Setting discrimination high to avoid trash, but also filtering out valuable targets that read in similar ranges.
The Fix:
- Start with minimal discrimination
- Learn what trash sounds like rather than filtering it out
- Many valuable finds read in “trash” ranges (gold rings, old buttons, relics)
- Dig questionable signals until you learn your detector
Truth: Weak, scratchy signals have produced some of the best finds. That deep coin sounds different than a shallow one.
Mistake #6: Not Filling Holes Properly
The Problem: Leaving visible holes, torn grass, or messy dig sites that give all detectorists a bad reputation.
The Fix:
- Cut a neat plug (three-sided or circular)
- Place dirt on a cloth or pouch, not scattered on grass
- Put all dirt back in the hole
- Press the plug back firmly with your foot
- Leave no evidence you were there
Why It Matters: Unfilled holes get detecting banned from public spaces. Your behavior represents all detectorists.
Mistake #7: Giving Up Too Soon
The Problem: Expecting to find treasure on the first hunt, getting discouraged by trash finds, and quitting.
The Fix:
- Set realistic expectations—most hunts produce mostly trash
- Celebrate small wins (your first wheat penny, first silver)
- Track your finds to see progress over time
- Connect with other detectorists for encouragement
Reality Check: Even experienced hunters dig 10-20 pieces of trash for every keeper. That’s normal.
Mistake #8: Buying Too Much (or Too Little) Detector
The Problem: Either spending thousands on a complex machine you can’t operate, or buying a toy-grade detector that can’t find anything.
The Fix:
- Minimum investment: ~$250-300 (Garrett ACE 300, Nokta Simplex)
- Sweet spot: ~$500-600 (Garrett AT Pro, Nokta Legend)
- When you’re committed: ~$1,000+ (Minelab Equinox 900)
Start mid-range. You can always upgrade once you know you love the hobby.
Mistake #9: Ignoring Weak Signals
The Problem: Only digging loud, clear signals and walking over deep or masked targets.
The Fix:
- Investigate all repeatable signals
- Approach from multiple angles—some targets only hit from one direction
- Remember: deep coins sound weak; iron-masked coins sound scratchy
- If it repeats, it’s real—even if it sounds “bad”
The Truth: Many of the best finds come from signals that were almost walked over.
Mistake #10: Not Getting Permission
The Problem: Detecting on private property without asking, or assuming public land is always legal.
The Fix:
- Always get written permission for private property
- Research laws for public land in your area (many parks prohibit detecting)
- Never detect on federal land without permits
- When in doubt, ask first
Bonus: Getting permission opens doors to the best sites—private farms, old homesteads, and places that haven’t been hunted.
Mistake #11: Not Using Headphones
The Problem: Relying on the speaker, missing subtle signals, and disturbing others.
The Fix:
- Always use headphones
- You’ll hear faint, deep signals you’d miss otherwise
- Better audio discrimination between targets
- More courteous to others in public spaces
Mistake #12: Not Bringing Essential Gear
The Problem: Arriving unprepared and cutting hunts short or missing finds.
Essential Kit:
- Quality digging tool (not a screwdriver)
- Finds pouch
- Pinpointer (saves huge amounts of time)
- Headphones
- Extra batteries
- Trash bag (carry out what you dig)
- Water and snacks
- Permission forms
The Path to Success
Metal detecting has a learning curve. Give yourself grace during the first few months. Every experienced hunter was once a beginner who dug more pull tabs than coins.
Keys to improving faster:
- Detect often—there’s no substitute for time in the field
- Join a club or online community
- Learn from your trash—each piece teaches you something
- Research locations before you hunt
- Study your detector until it becomes an extension of yourself
The finds will come. Keep swinging.
What mistakes did you make when starting out? Share your lessons in the comments!
