Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300 Metal Detector
Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300 Matches White's Prizm V
I first came across the Bounty Hunter 3300 metal detector for just $112 at Radioshack and decided to give it a try.
Great Comparison
It was rather unfortunate that the first on I was received was malfunctioning, requiring that I obtain a refund and they then shipped me a new detector. While I was waiting for my second 3300 to arrive, I couldn't contain myself and purchased a White's Prizm V that just happened to be available locally. While I had originally intended to return the Bounty Hunter 3300 once I received it, I found the features interesting and the price was right, so I took the opportunity to compare it directly o my new White's Prizm V.
I was blown away by the Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300's performance. In many cases it compared favorably and sometimes outperformed the Prizm V -- despite being almost $400 cheaper.
I set both metal detectors to their factory default sensitivities and completed an air test, with the following results:
- The Discovery 3300 detected a 8.5" deep copper penny.
- The Prizm V detected the same copper penny at 8.0" of depth.
I then changed their sensitivities to their highest settings, resulting in:
- The 3300 detecting a copper penny at a depth of 9.5".
- The Prizm V detected the same coin at 10.5" of depth.
- It should be noted that the Prizm V's 9.5" search coil is larger than the 3300's.
In order to account for the effects of real ground situations on detections, I also used both detectors on various objects in my backyard. Before the test even began, it should be noted that the 3300 allowed me to adjust the ground balance on its front panel, something the Prizm V did not. The Prizm V's ground balance was not perfect, as its threshold would shoot up when the coil neared "clean" ground, a definite knock against the present ground balance that the Prizm V has.
The Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300 had a clear and identifiably positive tone would reacted quickly to object that had not been discriminated out. Meanwhile, the Prizm V's tone felt delayed and less audible on the same objects.
Both detectors are equipped with a non-motion pinpoint mode, making their pinpointing very accurate. There was a difference, however, as the Prizm V display an updated target ID and a depth measurement, while the Discovery 3300 did not.
Bounty Hunter 3300 - Conclusions
The Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300 is a great detector with versatility and features that will satisfied both novice and veteran hunters. I feel confident that there are no other regularly available detectors with as many high quality features and a performance level like the 3300's in this price range.
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