Tesoro Outlaw Metal Detector Review

Several months back I did a review on the Tesoro Outlaw that was from memory that I actually had done a few years back. Now that I have one and just got back from an Ohio trip to metal detect and visit family I thought I would do another article/review on the Outlaw.

This trip was more about the Tesoro Tejon but I only had the 10×12 coil for it so I would use the Outlaw with a smaller coil when the iron debris was excessive. My first time out I took it to a field site where an old township hall was in the 1880’s. As soon as I got in the field and to the site I started getting one hot rock after another but quickly learned the tone was distinctly different. The best way I can describe it is an oscillating, drawn out tone. I was getting this tone on both the Tejon and Outlaw but believe me when I tell you it is a very distinct tone that you only need to hear a few times to know it’s a hot rock. I actually dug several with both machines just to make sure. Another characteristic that it shares with the Tejon is its ability to help identify larger iron. Just like the Tejon you will either get a really good signal one direction and a scratchy, clipped tone when you turn 90 degrees or scratchy, clipped signal both directions.

One of the things that made me just fall in love with the Outlaw in the first place was the ability to buy it with 3 coils mounted on shafts for a very reasonable price! If you’re hunting right in the iron debris at a site that is just infested with small bits of iron the 5 ¾ inch coil works amazing. If the site isn’t as heavily iron infested or if you’re out a bit from the heaviest iron debris field the 8 inch coil is great. Although big, the 12×10 wide scan coil is will work even with considerable amount of iron and it will go deep! Speaking of depth, one thing that has always amazed me is how deep it will go even with the smaller coils. This trip to Ohio I managed a tiny piece of copper at 7 inches with the 8 inch coil!

My Ohio relic hunting trip was mostly about the Tejon and learning it but I did manage to put several hours on the Outlaw with the 8 inch coil. The used Tejon I traded for came with the 12×10 wide scan coil and although it amazed me how well it did even in some pretty heavy iron, some spots required a smaller coil to really work the site and that’s when I picked up the Outlaw.

Outlaw VS Tejon Metal Detector

Both metal detectors go deep, both very capable of great depth even on small targets but I think the big difference is how each detector handles rejected targets. Every metal detector can and will give audio on some rejected targets especially when you’re in heavy iron. The difference is with the Outlaw I found myself having to check all those clipped targets. After a couple quick sweeps I could then easily tell if it is a desirable target or a rejected target I’m not interested in. In the Outlaw’s defense every detector I’ve used in the past does this, audio sounding off on rejected targets, few quick sweeps and either it goes away or it’s very clipped, telling you it’s not a desirable target to dig. With the Tejon on the other hand rejected target that set the audio off are somewhere around half volume making it easy to keep moving ahead looking for good, solid signals.

Although a tough decision I think I would chose the Tejon simply because of how rejected targets come in at a much lower volume allowing me to work a site a little quicker. Keep in mind though I would still choose the Outlaw for relic hunting over any other metal detector I’ve ever used including some of the most expensive machines on the market and that says a lot considering you can get one for around 550 dollars with all three coils and shafts!

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Conclusion

The Outlaw is an absolutely incredible relic machine that is simple to use and can be quickly learned. I truly regret all those years of using expensive metal detectors with visual display, depth gauges, gps and lugging around much heavier metal detectors relic hunting. Some of those machines are great when you’re hunting a site with tons of modern trash and trying to squeak out a deep silver coin but for relic hunting with little to no modern trash I can’t even imagine using anything but a Tesoro metal detector. Although I feel the Tejon is a little better relic machine over the Outlaw I still think the Outlaw is better than any other metal detector I’ve used for relic hunting. If you’re a relic hunter using an expensive metal detector and tired of trying to decipher all the information being thrown at you don’t make the same mistake that I made and by not switching to a Tesoro. I look back and thank about so many sites I will never have the opportunity to hunt again and wish I had been using a Tesoro.

I didn’t time my trip good and was only able to hunt a few sites that had been pounded in the past but was still able to pull out a few keepers. Many sites I wanted to hunt were still in crops. I don’t think the finds represent what Tesoro detectors are capable of at all and if I would have waited a few more weeks I could have gotten into sites that weren’t hunted hard in the past. I hunted with a good friend using a Deus and his finds weren’t typical as well. I wish I would have timed this trip better and let the finds speak for themselves. I still think a good haul and having an accomplished hunter running a Deus to compare machines was a great time and experience.

Tesoro Outlaw Pro’s

• Lightweight

• Very affordable

• Versatile with 3 coil package

• Simple to use

• Gets the job done without feeding you useless information

Tesoro Outlaw Cons

• Phone jack is at front of control housing and being left handed my cord lays across the shaft and often gets tangled up or in my way.

Here is a link to my Tejon Metal Detector Review     

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