Metal detecting on private land can lead to amazing finds — but you’ve got to get permission first. Here’s how to do it the right way:

1. Pick Your Target Properties Carefully • Look for old homes, farms, fields, or wooded areas — places where people might have lived or traveled long ago. • Use Google Maps, county property records, or just drive around and take notes.

2. Find Out Who Owns the Land • Check the county assessor’s website (most have online maps) to see who owns it. • Sometimes a simple knock on the door works if it’s a house or farm you can easily access.

3. Make a Good First Impression • Dress clean and casual (think jeans and a polo — not dirty camo or all black). • Be polite, smile, and introduce yourself. • Example opener: “Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a local hobbyist metal detectorist. I noticed your property looks really historic, and I was wondering if you might allow me to do a little metal detecting.”

4. Explain What You’re About • Keep it short and friendly. • Mention that you respect property, fill any holes, remove trash, and show anything you find. • Some detectorists offer to split valuable finds or give the owner first choice.

5. Offer References (If You Have Them) • If you’ve detected elsewhere before, mention it. • If you’re new, just emphasize your respect and responsibility.

6. Be Ready for Rejection • Don’t take it personally if someone says no. Thank them anyway. • Stay positive — each “no” brings you closer to a “yes.”

7. Get It in Writing (Optional, But Smart) • For big permissions (like old farms, big fields), you might offer a simple “permission slip” the owner can sign. • It can be as simple as: “I, [Owner’s Name], give [Your Name] permission to metal detect on my property at [Address].”

8. Follow Through Respectfully • Always fill your holes and pick up trash. • Show the property owner anything you find, especially interesting or valuable items. • A small thank-you gift (like a framed photo of the property or a small find) can go a long way.

9. Maintain Relationships • If you find something cool, tell them! • Good relationships can lead to more permissions — friends, neighbors, or even other properties they own.

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Quick Bonus Tips: • Always ask about specific boundaries (“Is it okay near the barn too?”) • Don’t detect near livestock unless you’ve cleared it first. • Bring a trash pouch and remove junk you dig up. • Never bring friends without asking the owner first.

As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions about which metal detector to buy or any other questions. I'd be glad to help! CONTACT US!

XP DEUS TARIFF PRICE INCREASES

If you've been looking into purchasing an XP Metal Detector the prices are about to go up!

We got notified today from Philippe Colin, XP's Business Manager, and the XP team this morning and unfortunately given the evolving situation with US and EU Tariffs. XP will be increasing the MSRP on all products as soon as the incoming shipment arrives in the USA and to us XP dealers.

While the situation is still changing Daily, XP wanted its dealers and customers to be aware that now is a good time to pick one up before the price is increased. We do not yet know the price increase but we're guessing it's going to be significant.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us, but this is all we know at this time.

 

Top 5 Metal Detectors for 2025

Hey everyone — Bart here. Picking a detector can be tough because each one does something a little different. Around here we’re not “brand loyal.” I always want the best tool for the job you’re doing. Below is my real-world list for 2025. If you want today’s pricing or bundle deals, just contact us or call (405) 206-9010 — we’re happy to help.

Quick note: Tell me what and where you hunt (beach, parks, old homes, relics, gold). I’ll match you to the right setup, no pressure.

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#5 — Nokta Score & Double Score ($349–$399) or Nokta Triple Score Pro Pack ($499)

The Score and Double Score give you big features for a low price. They’re easy to use, waterproof to around 16 ft, and work great on dry sand and light surf. Perfect for beginners, kids, or anyone who wants a simple “turn-on-and-go” machine.

Why step up to Triple Score Pro Pack? You get more selectable frequencies, more fine control (sensitivity, recovery speed, custom profiles), and up to 60 tones. It handles trashy areas better with adjustable iron volume. For the money, it can punch with higher-end machines and is a fantastic all-around starter that you won’t outgrow.

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#4 — Minelab X-TERRA ELITE & EXPEDITION PACK (~$479–$599)

Great “middleweight” choice with serious features for the price. Waterproof to about 16 ft and built to handle mineralized soil and saltwater beaches. Coil options play nicely with the Equinox family, so you’ve got range. The Expedition Pack adds wireless headphones, an extra coil, and we include a Minelab carry bag and pouch so you’re ready day one.

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#3 — Minelab Equinox 900

Built on the classic Equinox 800 idea and made tougher. Carbon fiber rods, better waterproofing, stronger coil ears, and easier arm-cuff adjustments. Comes with the stock 11" coil plus a 6" coil, so you’re covered for open fields and tight trashy spots. It’s light, punchy, and great for coins, jewelry, relics, and even small gold when needed. A true do-it-all detector.

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#2 — XP DEUS II ($799–$1,449)

Best for heavy iron and trash. The Deus II is super fast and fully wireless. With the 9" coil, target separation is excellent — it can sniff out keepers other machines miss. If your sites are pounded or trashy, this one will bring them back to life. It’s also waterproof to about 66 ft, so it shines for diving and saltwater work. Very light, so your shoulder will thank you after a long day.

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#1 — Minelab Manticore (~$1,299–$1,799)

My top premium pick for 2025. Waterproof to about 16 ft, powerful multi-frequency, and a big 2D screen that helps you see both target ID and ferrous info together. That means smarter digs, fewer time-wasters, and a better read on coin spills. It’s strong on wet sand, stable in tough soil, and quick across the board.

• Excellent depth and steady target ID
• Large, easy-to-read screen and simple menus
• No wired antenna needed in the water
• Switch from beach to iron-heavy parks with minimal tweaks

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Tell me what you hunt, and I’ll match you up.

Have a favorite I missed? I’d love to hear your take. For the best pricing, bundles, and current promos on any detector above, call me at (405) 206-9010 or email Bart@BigBoysHobbies.net. You can also contact us here.

⭐ New here? See what real customers say: Read our Google Reviews.

— Bart Davis, Owner, Big Boys Hobbies

MANTICORE Software Upgrade

What do charging lights mean on XP DEUS and XP DEUS II

From a post by Marcus Ingram (from Regton) that I think is a useful reference to XP owners.

1/ no light - no charge in coil
2/ one flash every 30 seconds - coil battery is very depleted or an issue
3/ coil flashes every 4 to 5 seconds - coil has some charge in it this is normal standby mode.
4/ coil light is solid - this is when you are charging the coil, the light may flicker occasionally, again this is normal.
5/ coil flashes 3 seconds on and 3 seconds off - this means your coil has finished charging.
6/ coil is flashing fast every 1 to 2 seconds - you are connected to your coil

I think that covers about all normal coil conditions apart from a Deus 1 HF coil. For these on charging the coil light may not go on for 3 seconds on and off when charged but will be charged after 4 hours charging.

Legend Software v.1.17

Nokta Legend Refuled!

1. The Pinpoint function has been improved.
   The instability while pinpointing deep non-ferrous metals has been fixed.
   2. Beach mode has been improved.
   In beaches with high mineral density, some deeper nonferrous metals which were detected as "ferrous" by the device can now be detected as "non-ferrous"
   3. Iron Filter O (zero) level has been updated.
   The O level of the iron filter has been updated to better distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous. In very trashy sites, small pieces of gold that which were detected as "ferrous" by the device can now be detected as "non-ferrous".

Here is the Link for the new software Click here for V1.17 for the Nokta Legend.

We at BBH never recommend updating your detector until the software has been out for a few months and all the bugs have been worked out. The current version. V1.15 that comes on our Legend machines is a VERY VERY good version as is. 

The Minelab X-TERRA PRO is feature-packed! The Pro-switch engine feature of the the X-TERRA PRO lets you switch single frequencies or go to a multi-frequency with a touch of a button. The Minelab is also fully waterproof so you can use it on the beach or freshwater without having to worry about getting it wet. After all, those are worth the goodies are!

Here are a few steps on how to get up and running with your Minelab X-TERRA ELITE & EXPEDITION PACK!

1. Be sure to fully charge your Minelab according to the manual that you can download directly off Minelab's website. It'll take at least six hours to get it fully charged the first time.
2. Once fully charged hit the power button on the left-hand side of the control module. Your machine will then boot up and you'll be almost ready to go start detecting and finding the good stuff!
3. The first search mode is a great place to start for beginners and of course, you can toggle through the different search to see which one works best for you. We highly recommend staying in factory settings, which are the ones that will come on with the Detector while you learn the machine. It's an excellent place to start.
4. You'll always want to do a noise cancel when you first begin detecting to eliminate any EMI, which is electromagnetic interference or any other issues you might have. It's always good to do that every 10 or 15 minutes or if you notice your Detector becoming erratic.
5. In the settings menu, you'll find your auto noise cancel and it'll take about five or six seconds to fully complete.
6. After the noise cancel is complete, press the return to detect screen button and you're all set and ready to go Detecting. Of course, if you have any questions and you bought your detector from us, feel free to call us. We would be glad to help you with any other further questions.

If you haven't bought your detector or have any other questions feel free to call us would be glad to get you a great deal on one and we can see if we have any other current promotions not listed. We can often get you better deals!  Click here for the Minelab X-TERRA ELITE & EXPEDITION PACK 

 

Sport Division Update: September 17, 2024 In the course of final testing the Vortex, the Garrett team has chosen to improve the environmental protection of the rear case connectors. Although failures due to corrosion were unlikely to occur for many months or even years, the original design does not meet Garrett quality standards. We have therefore opted to take the effort to create a more robust sealing system. Initial product shipments are now expected to begin prior to Thanksgiving, so Vortex can be delivered in time of the holidays. Customer satisfaction and product quality are always of foremost concern to Garrett. We trust our dealers, distributors and customers will appreciate this move, as it was deemed important to the long-term success of the new Vortex product line.

 

At this time, the Garrett Vortex detector is wrapping up its final testing and our engineers are implementing some minor updates. The Garrett Team will also have Vortex units on display at several large UK rallies in the next two weeks where customers can test drive the VX9.While some of the latest Vortex improvements are not immediately apparent, some will be noticed by customers, such as:

Bottlecap Reject feature: this Multi-Frequency iron control setting, used to help eliminate iron bottlecaps and objects of similar composition, is available on the VX9 model with multiple setting choices.

 

Number of Tones: The 3-tone option on VX5 can now be selected for use on either VX7 or VX9, adding further user flexibility.

 

Regarding the latest on release time, the Vortex detector is now in the early stages of production, and is expected to begin shipping to distributors in late September.• •

Garrett Sport Division Update on Garrett Vortex Shipping: July 24, 2024

From the beginning, the Vortex detector series was designed to include a graphic LCD that would allow feature set improvements and updates after it was launched. At least a couple of the user controls originally intended to be part of a fall update have now been shifted into the initial product release.

Hearing that they were desired by our customers, we are rolling them in now—instead of asking our customers to make a free software update later. In addition to high-resolution iron discrimination, our engineers are now implementing additional iron boundary controls and the option to control the number of target tones on some Vortex models.

The result is a high-quality detector with even more user-controlled options, and the ability for Garrett to potentially further refine these setting controls with future Vortex updates. Making these updates will add a few weeks to the initial production schedule. We recognize the concern this will cause some Garrett customers, but your input into product features has been important to us with the Vortex series. We trust that you will be more pleased with the end product.