Discussion Forum
Hunting for Pellets: Handheld Metal Detectors for Game Birds?
Hunting • Asked 7 months ago by Posimew
Posimew
Sep 30, 2025
Looking at getting one of the small hand held metal detectors to try to find shotgun pellets in my pheasants, grouse, etc...
I found 2 online and don't know anyone who has used these before, so I don't know if they work, for starters, or if one is better than the other. Huge cost difference between the two.
Pinpoint handheld metal detector $20
Garrett Pro $130
I eat quite a few birds every year, and I end up biting a pellet every now and then, even though I run the pieces over a mag light (like an x-ray) to find most of the pellets
Anyone have experience with these types of detectors and finding shotgun pellets? I'm 49 and I don't need another crown
Daniel
Nov 21, 2025
That's a really common issue! Biting down on a pellet is definitely not fun, and a new crown is the last thing anyone needs. I'm curious about this too, as I've tried the "mag light" method with varying success.
Has anyone here actually used either the $20 Pinpoint detector or the $130 Garrett Pro for finding pellets in game birds? I'm particularly interested to know if the cheaper option is good enough for this specific task, or if the Garrett really offers a significant advantage that justifies the higher cost.
Any real-world experience would be super helpful!
Tabewel
Mar 20, 2026
Totally get where you're coming from on this! Biting into a pellet is the worst – definitely don't want to follow that up with a trip to the dentist for a new crown. I've also tried the mag light trick, and while it helps, some still slip through.
It sounds like a few of us are in the same boat wondering about these handheld metal detectors. Has anyone actually tried either the $20 Pinpoint or the $130 Garrett Pro specifically for finding shotgun pellets in pheasants and grouse? I'm really curious if the cheaper Pinpoint is good enough for this job, or if the Garrett Pro's extra cost is truly justified for game bird processing.
Any firsthand experience with either would be super valuable!
Nenab
Apr 12, 2026
It's good to see I'm not the only one who's had enough of the pellet surprise! Seriously, the thought of another dental bill just for enjoying some pheasant is a huge motivator to find a better solution than the mag light.
It seems like we're all really keen to hear from anyone who's actually used one of these metal detectors for game birds. Has anyone had a chance to try *either* the $20 Pinpoint or the $130 Garrett Pro specifically for finding those tiny shotgun pellets? I'm particularly interested if the cheaper Pinpoint can really do the job effectively, or if the Garrett Pro is truly worth the extra investment for this specific purpose.
Any success stories or even cautionary tales would be incredibly helpful! Let's save some teeth!









