Bounty Hunter Pioneer 505
Approximate price: $280
Number of Reviews: 32
on 4 pages.
Also in this price range:
Whites Coinmaster Pro
Teknetics Delta 4000
New to the game
Terry in Afton ,Oklahoma -Just got this at a pawn shop and we hit the park in Hotsprings Ark, found the video on you tube to be very helpful and its easy to use. Good machine.
Aug 11, 2011
11 Yes
5 No
I'm impressed
Michael Brown in Kingsport, TN -
I bought my first metal detector, a bounty hunter DE 280 Outlaw in 1980, used it for more than 20 years then switched to a White's coin master. I didn't care much for the coin master and ended up putting the metal detecting hobby on hiatus in favor of sailing.
Not long ago, the wife indicated she would like to give it a try. We ended up with a Pioneer 505. I'm still learning to use this thing but so far, I'm really impressed. The depth is incredible, at least it seems so. I dug a silver dollar-sized token out of the ground today at all of 11 inches - and that was using the auto-notch feature. I expected to lose depth since it's a type of discrimination, but at that deep, I'm more than satisfied.
The pinpoint feature takes most of the work out of trying to figure out exactly where to dig. I carry a trowel shaped digger, a long bladed screwdriver and a pin pointer. At first I was digging big plugs. By the second day I was down to using the screwdriver only for most objects.
And for you folks who don't like the hand-held pin pointer, I think you're insane. Yes, it's range is tiny, less than 1 inch but quickly learned that it saves pawing through loose dirt and often discover I need to dig just a bit more.
I didn't like the three-toned signal at first. I guess I was missing that little threshold hum from the early days, but am learning to like it just fine.
A few cons, the target id seems to lose it's validity with deeper objects. It still comes through as a "dig this" tone, but around 7-8 inches a real silver dollar starts sliding down the scale towards a penny.
Until you get it tune right, you'll be dealing with a lot of un-repeatable signals.
I'm sure there will be more, but for now, that's about it. Overall, I really like this detector.
May 06, 2011
40 Yes
0 No
Good All-Around Detector
Chris B. in Saint Paul, MN -My brother gave me his Pioneer 505 as I was really starting to get into the hobby last spring and summer - but my detector was a very cheap model and was only able to detect objects down about 3-4". Once I learned the "language" of the BH 505 I suddenly began digging older, deeper coins and relics immediately! Over a one month period I brought home: Morgan silver dollar, Barber quarter, several Barber dimes, numerous silver Mercury head and Roosevelt dimes, a few "V" nickels, three "Buffalo" nickels, over 60 older wheat cents - plus old metal toys, pocket watches, rings, earrings and assorted silver and gold jewelry! This detector finds it all!
The only thing I am hoping for is a rain cover for it so I can hunt on the wet days. Battery life is about 6-8 hours of constant hunting - not too shabby, but it can get expensive if you hunt as much as I do. Luckily I was able to invest some of my finds back into the battery purchase budget to keep going.
I would highly recommend this model for those just starting out or for intermediate hunters. Easy to learn and I do like that it has a constant volume so you don't miss any faint signals as happens on other models.
Dec 06, 2010
56 Yes
3 No
Excellent Treasure Hunter
Roberto in Chicago, IL -I purchased the 505 per a Kellyco's rep suggestion for a vacation trip to Hawaii in August 2010. I did not find gold in Hawaii because I went to hunt only once and spent more time exploring around than detecting. Makes sense when it's your first trip to Hawaii anyways. However, since August, I have found a lot more things to date with this machine than with my BH Tracker-IV, another good machine. I have found over $150 in clad coins, 5 silver coins, including a 1877 Liberty Seated dime worth $38, a dozen or so wheat pennies, 4 silver rings, and one 10kt ring, among other interesting things, like an old antique copper locket.
This detector can go really deep on coins, but especially on large objects. Excellent coin retriever and really light. Yes, some erratic beeps on trashy areas, but it's a matter of getting to distinguish them. I know exactly when it found a coin and when it's just reacting to the ground. Very pleased with it.
Nov 07, 2010
29 Yes
1 No
Perfect for the price
Peter in Minneapolis, Minnesota -My dad bought this model, it was the first time we ever tried metal detecting and I have become obsessed with it because of this machine. I have found 3 rings, 1 ear-ring, over 10$ in coins and numerous other things. I almost always use the auto-notch mode and I promise you will find many coins with it. Once you have found something with Auto-Notch click all metal to pinpoint the object. Keep pressing all metal around but not directly on the target to pin point it even further. It pinpoints perfectly as well. The only thing about this detector is I wish it had more depth.
Nov 01, 2010
14 Yes
1 No
The Best Hobby Investment I've ever made
D in Ohio -I purchased my 505 at Wal-Mart on 2/1/2007, around 3 1/2 yrs. ago. I have used and abused this machine. The knobs are missing. It was left out in the rain....twice. Black tape now holds the grip in place. It has bounced around in the back of my truck and has been crammed and jammed in the tightest of places. And after all of that, It works just as well as the day it came home with me.
I have lost count on the relics, coins, and jewelry it has recovered for me. Even at depths of 12 inches in certain soils. It competes with detectors costing 3 to 5 times the price and emerges victorious more often than not.
Given the choice, If this one ever gives up it's ghost, I will start with bounty hunter for it's replacement. WELL worth the money.
Aug 31, 2010
29 Yes
1 No
Happy with this unit
Tommy in Central Florida -Had never even used a metal detector until just last week when I purchased this item on sale from Kellyco as a scratch-n-dent item for less than $200. Did not include the 4-inch coil, but DID include a 5-year warranty. Also bought a headset to go with it. After gleaning every bit of information I could from the instruction manual and watching the video, I set the discrimination for a zinc penny, hit the notch button and set forth to an abandoned lot across the street to try metal detecting for the first time.
Within just a few minutes of searching around an old house foundation I found a quarter and two dimes, and I was hooked! Notch mode is a very quick and easy way to get started with this unit. All-metal mode is a little trickier and I haven't mastered it yet, but it seems that the ground-trac button works in the same way as the squelch on a radio and should be re-pressed from time to time over quiet ground. Very happy with this unit so far. Not just a toy, would recommend it to anyone.
Update: I stated that I purchased this unit bare-bones for less than $200, but I think it was actually a bit more than that. I purchased the 505, a headset, a carry bag, and a sifting scoop and it came up to $275 and I don't have the receipt in front of me. Please add this to my review so that people aren't misled. Point is, it's a bargain.
Jul 27, 2010
21 Yes
0 No
Great Machine !
william in The Missouri Ozarks. -Once I learned how to use this 505 I started finding much deeper coins.
For the money, you can't beat it.
Time will tell if my 505 will do better than my last more expensive detector,but for now I'm really pleased.
Feb 25, 2010
22 Yes
0 No
GREAT Machine for the price !
"DOC" Jim Ramski in N. Central Texas -I upgraded this year from a BH Tracker IV to the 505 after spending time reviewing several in the $250 - $350 range (I love Kellyco's site ) Then after choosing the 505 found they had some in damaged boxes for under $200.!! (The box was barely wrinkled).
At local park playground which I had cleaned out a few days prior (I Thought!?) I found 8 dimes 5 quarters & several 1C's that I missed with the T-IV. The target ID & Tone tell zinc & copper pennies apart so I no longer dig deeper zinc cents (which are usually corroded anyway).
This machine likes Silver, I found 3 Sterling rings & 2 charms in a week, & the Auto Notch wipes out most pull tabs (& all iron as in regular notch), but nickels are not as easy to find in that mode. Notch setting works best IF you take the time to set it by using the actual items you want to eliminate (per the DVD). Sensitivity & Depth are very good, I have found many coins below 10" & Alum cans much deeper. I switch from Auto Notch to Disc on "IFFY Hits" for better ID, but usually the Auto Notch setting gives good results. Shallow items may display a bit deeper than they are. The varied tones are clear & easy to ID once you get used to them, I listen more than I look but do often check Depth & ID meter to verify. (watch 505s DVD for good info!)
I almost never use All Metal so cannot say much there except it does "PinPoint" when I need it (A Mode I wish 505 had). I am planning a Gold Strike Area trip soon & will review on Gold capability then.
In All, The Price & Features MAKE this machine my choice for 5 stars! It similar to the Garret Ace 250, But has better definition, easier to start using, esp for newbies, The ACE 250 has a Complicated display! Garret offers 2 Yr warranty, BountyHunter 5 Yrs
Just FYI - I ALWAYS use headphones with volume controls, I buy 2 sets of rechargeable batteries (unit uses 2 9V at a time) I do get about 15 hours if fully charged (Nicads do last a bit longer but don't recharge), & I made my own chest strap rig to hold machine weight off my wrist (Nothing Fancy, Just a Nylon Gym Bag Strap over head & Rt shoulder with bungy cord between to the balance point on shaft. I use a hose clamp to attach a key ring on shaft to clip cord on/off between my machines). Once you use one you will see why!
Oh I have the BH-505, a BH-Tracker IV, & a Bounty Hunter Red Baron. I had a a Garret Ace 250 but sold it to a friend. Been MD'ing on & off for about 6yrs & My 1st find was a Silver Dime under my own clothesline...
Dec 03, 2009
82 Yes
1 No
four stars ++++
Rick in Tri-cities Wa -I have owned my 505 for about 6 years now with no problems at all this unit works very well for an inexpensive detector, I was out at the river using my PI unit and my grandson was using the 505, when I hit a good target with the PI and my batteries died on the PI.
I borrowed the 505 from my grandson and tried to hit the target in disc mode no luck so I put the unit in allmetal mode, it hit on the target my PI had picked up! so I started digging and just a little over two feet 26 inches I found a small piece of metal sticking out of the deep hole I just dug, I tried to pull it out but it would not budge so I dug down another foot and pulled out a smashed hub cab that someone had thrown in the river and it was deposited in the ground over the winter through flooding.
I was very amazed with the performance of this detector, also I have used the small nugget coil and it did pickup placer gold that I ran past the coil, this is a well build good preforming starter unit! and don't forget it is not cheap just inexpensive!!!
Nov 18, 2009
25 Yes
0 No
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