Buying guide
Metal detectors for property pins
Many property pins are iron, so pick a detector with an All Metal mode, which keeps iron in, and confirm the spot with a pinpointer. The Minelab Go-Find 11, for one, has two modes, Non-Ferrous and All Metal.
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The picks
Three simple detectors to sweep the corner, a pinpointer to find the top of the pin, and two handheld wands sold as pinpointers.
1. Minelab Go-Find 11
The lightest of the three at 2.2 lb, with an All Metal mode that keeps iron in. Two modes are all you need for one job.
2. Bounty Hunter Tracker IV
Three modes, All Metal, Tone and Full Discrimination, and a published runtime of 20-25 h (alkaline).
3. Garrett ACE 200
It has three search modes and ships 4 x AA (included) in the box, so it works on day one.
4. Garrett Pro-Pointer AT
Once the detector has found the corner, the probe helps you find the top of the pin. It is rated IP68 to 20 ft, so a wet lawn is no concern.
5. Winbest Surveyor-300 wand
A handheld wand whose title names 360° scanning, a built-in ruler and an LED light.
6. Winbest Surveyor-200 wand
A shorter title than the Surveyor-300's: it names a waterproof handheld wand pinpointer.
The frames show the facts each Amazon listing names, checked Oct. 17, 2026. We have no maker spec sheet on file for these products.
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Side by side
The same facts for every pick with a maker's spec sheet, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Waterproofing | Weight | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Go-Find 11 | Single frequency | 8 kHz | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 2.2 lb1.0 kg | 4 x AA (not included) |
| Bounty Hunter Tracker IV | Single frequency | 6.6 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.6 lb1.2 kg | 2 x 9 V (not included) |
| Garrett ACE 200 | Single frequency | 6.5 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.75 lb1.25 kg | 4 x AA (included) |
| Garrett Pro-Pointer AT | Pinpointer | Not published | 20 ftPinpointer, IP68, 6 m | 6.5 oz0.2 kg | 9 V (included) |
Facts from the pages of Minelab, First Texas Products and Garrett, read Oct. 16, 2026.
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How to choose
All Metal, not discrimination
Discrimination modes are built to skip iron, the very thing a pin is made of. Switch to All Metal: the Tracker IV lists it first among All Metal, Tone and Full Discrimination.
Sweep wide, then probe
Start from the plat or the corner you expect, and sweep in rings. When it sounds, finish with a pinpointer such as the Pro-Pointer AT, rated IP68 to 20 ft (6 m).
Simple can be enough
A pin is an iron target, so a simple detector with an All Metal mode can do the job. The Go-Find 11 weighs 2.2 lb and has two modes.
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What to know before you buy
Leave the pin where it is. Mark the spot with a flag. A licensed surveyor confirms where a boundary runs. We give no legal advice on boundaries, which depend on the deed, the plat and state law.
Pipes, fence posts and nails sound the same as a pin. Dig only enough to see the top, and compare the spot with your survey plat.
Before you dig, call 811, so buried utility lines are marked.
The two Winbest frames show only what each Amazon listing title names, checked Oct. 16, 2026. On that date, a third-party seller held the Pro-Pointer AT listing, and copies of the probe exist, so check the seller before you pay.
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Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
Often, if the pin is iron and within range of the coil. Use an All Metal mode, since discrimination is set to ignore iron. We quote no detection depth.
Not necessarily. Simple models with an All Metal mode, such as the Go-Find 11 or Tracker IV, are enough.
Leave it where it is and ask a licensed surveyor. Rules on survey markers vary by state, and we do not give legal advice.
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