Detectors, detectors

[2 Much Trash]

Ya know, I wish there was a place we relic hunters could go to discuss what detector(s). we use to hunt civil war relics. That would be great. But I realize such a discussion could cause a lot of arguments and deleted posts. I personally spend way too much time and energy searching for a better detector only to be advised by coin hunters searching in tot lots and trashy parks. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, I appreciate it. The older I get I can see myself diggin' a 2" dime below a swing set and thinking that's worth a cold beer when I get home. I know such a forum is really not a good thing especially for the moderator. Poor EJ would spend most of his time deleting posts when he'd rather be diggin' holes. Detectors? Well, I'm on the prowl constantly looking for something better than what I've got. I'm gettin' worn out. My ole dad, 93 when he died, always told me up to his last days " Do the best you can with what you got". Well I'm thinking he was spot on. Any of you guys feel the same way?HH
Bill

 

[CampCache]

I see no reason why it would cause arguments. We all have different wants and needs and each machine is a bit different to fit that bill. I have used many different machines and picked the one that fitted me and my style of hunting best. This does not make it the best machine on the market for hunting Civil War stuff. It's just means it's the best machine for my wants and needs. We all want something that goes a bit deeper, covers more ground quicker and is light as a feather. I haven't found that machine yet so I picked the closest thing I could find without buying every single machine on the market. I think the main thing is learning the machine you have, slowing down and using the machine in the proper fashion. To me that makes a more productive day than anything such as brand. I bought six different machines and tried a few others before I realized that I would never find much if I didn't take the time with each machine. Once I figured that out I had to pick which machine would process information that I wanted... the bells and whistles so to speak. Then I had to decide which machine I would want to swing all day. To me at this point in life lightweight means everything to me. Amazing how much a few ounces can make a world of diference on the amound of time I can spend in the field.
The Minelab Xterra70 was the machine I decided to stay with. I would like a water machine at some point and time but for my every day hunting the Xterra70 fits my needs. That doesn't mean that it's the right machine for everyone but it has all of what I want in a machine. Thinking about adding a 10.5 DD to it but then can't decide if I want the added weight.
We are all curious people or we wouldn't be metal detecting. It's only natural for us to want to explore a bit more and see what's out there.

 

[SWMO Mark]

What about using the personal message on this forum. Start by sending a message to someone on here that has posted about something relic related that has caught your interest and see if it will spread between relic hunters that aren't offended as easy, as a lot of people on some of the treasure hunting sites. That way any opinions would be private to the parties that want to interact, without offending any manufacturers that are spending money to help support this site. Mark

 

[huntcav65]

I have always wondered how people switiched machines so much and found stuff. I use a Minelab Explorer II and so does my digging partner. I think we bought them in 04 or there abouts. We can still learn / find little tricks with our machine that help us in different areas and neither of us have any interest in buying a new machine unless it is a spare Exp II. I have been relic hunting 45 years and feel like I can still learn a little about hunting but I know my machine and what it tells me and I don't think we leave much in the ground. Of course you never get it all but if you have a good machine and learn it, hunt low and slow and listen. My hearing is very bad, I should be wearing hearing aids but I can hear the slight varibles and chirps. I think my biggest point is so many people never learned the machine they had before they bought a new one and that is their biggest problem with finding deep relics or relics mixed with trash.
Going to tell a little short story about a place we found and the Exp II split screen. This place had such a iron field it was almost 1 continious reading but we knew it was loaded with cannister balls from 1" to almost 2" in dia but also wire and tin, nails a few other relics. we had hunted this spot a couple times, everybody knew about it it is a wekk documated place. The amount of wire and nails was such a turn off and you didn't want to cut your iron back because you were looking for iron balls. Finally the light blub went off in my head and 1st I tried to learn the difference between the wire / nail and cannister balls but that way wasn't working so I had put a nail and a cannister on top of the ground and watched the numbers. That was it !!! so I started watching the screen and digging only the correct numbers and we were off and running. We have dug close to 2500 cannister balls out of there and it is still a huge iron field but we have thinned down the cannister balls all becaused we learned the machine and what the machine was telling us.
Richard

 

[Cajuncoinhunter]

It's always good to talk about the success we've had using our machines no matter what the brand name may be. . That's what the forum is all about. I appreciate every story , every find, every picture. Sharing history etc. unfortunately problems always occur when we begin to compare brand X vs. brand Y when there are so many variables. I've always thought the best machine is the one you are most comfortable with, know through experience (especially when dealing with nails) have been patient with long enough to learn all the tones beeps and whispers.

Thanks for posting Richard , Mark , Bill etc. EJ

 

[morelic55]

You have the same thoughts and machine that I have, I agree with every word!! Don't be afraid to get the 10.5 DD because of the weight, it's well worth it!! The X-Terra just "Feels Right" for me, so well that I have 2 of them!!!.......Mark D

I see no reason why it would cause arguments. We all have different wants and needs and each machine is a bit different to fit that bill. I have used many different machines and picked the one that fitted me and my style of hunting best. This does not make it the best machine on the market for hunting Civil War stuff. It's just means it's the best machine for my wants and needs. We all want something that goes a bit deeper, covers more ground quicker and is light as a feather. I haven't found that machine yet so I picked the closest thing I could find without buying every single machine on the market. I think the main thing is learning the machine you have, slowing down and using the machine in the proper fashion. To me that makes a more productive day than anything such as brand. I bought six different machines and tried a few others before I realized that I would never find much if I didn't take the time with each machine. Once I figured that out I had to pick which machine would process information that I wanted... the bells and whistles so to speak. Then I had to decide which machine I would want to swing all day. To me at this point in life lightweight means everything to me. Amazing how much a few ounces can make a world of diference on the amound of time I can spend in the field.
The Minelab Xterra70 was the machine I decided to stay with. I would like a water machine at some point and time but for my every day hunting the Xterra70 fits my needs. That doesn't mean that it's the right machine for everyone but it has all of what I want in a machine. Thinking about adding a 10.5 DD to it but then can't decide if I want the added weight.
We are all curious people or we wouldn't be metal detecting. It's only natural for us to want to explore a bit more and see what's out there.

 

[2 Much Trash]

Thanks guys for such a nice conversation.
Bill

 

[david bull]

I don't think there is a "best" detector.I've used five different detectors on my what I call test field and each detector has produced targets missed by the others.My latest and cheapest,a Cibola, recently found the only coins I have found in this field,a buffalo and a 1907 V.

 

[shoover]

I think the best detector is the one you can understand and you can swing all day. That extra depth and coverage of a big coil dosen't mean nothing if you cut you detecting time because you tire faster. I see so many people get caught in the rabbit hole of new detectors. They see someone with nice finds and say what were you using. Right away they think that that detector must be better becasue they never found relics or coins like that.

I started with a Whites spectrum, sure I found coins and rings. No body ever asked me how many pull tabs, bottle caps and junk I had dug to find them. Thats why my junk pouch is five times the size of my good finds pouch. You gotta know your machine, do your reasearch and spend time in the field and good things will happen.

 

[2 Much Trash]

I think the best detector is the one you can understand and you can swing all day. That extra depth and coverage of a big coil dosen't mean nothing if you cut you detecting time because you tire faster. I see so many people get caught in the rabbit hole of new detectors. They see someone with nice finds and say what were you using. Right away they think that that detector must be better becasue they never found relics or coins like that.

I started with a Whites spectrum, sure I found coins and rings. No body ever asked me how many pull tabs, bottle caps and junk I had dug to find them. Thats why my junk pouch is five times the size of my good finds pouch. You gotta know your machine, do your reasearch and spend time in the field and good things will happen.

Amen brother!

 

[cookie58]

I appreciate everyone's comments.I think that I can really relate to this. I'm new to the forum but not that new to relic hunting --------first with the naked eye and finally a metal detector. When my father and I entered the electronic age in the early 70's, we let a cheat trick us with a BFO machine. The prettiest blue of any paint that I have ever seen now or since coated this machine. He did air tests that really made this pretty blue machine really look as if it performed. We put our money together and bought it. The only finds were false signals when the coil happened to touch a thistle plant, rock, or any other material that happened to stop the pretty white wagon wheel coil. From there we went to a transmit-recieve machine. They were manufactured in Sweet Home Ore. and business started to pick up a little. But it still did'nt get real good until that same company (in Sweet Home Ore.) started to make one with the little red button at the end of the black bicycle grip handle that discriminated. What an advancement and what a machine. Since then my father has passed and so has alot of those early machines that I owned. Trying a different machine is like nothing else. It tickles every part of the inside. And if you make finds it continues to tickle. But if that new machine fails on the first trip, the second trip, and maybe a few more trips thereafter, that tickle becomes an ache. I have had tickles and also aches. Thanks for reading. I am the owner of three metal detectors presently---------------ML Explorer XS, a Tesoro Tejon, and a Whites TDI SL. The last one mentioned is my lattest and I hope it is a tickle and not an ache.

 

[togg77]

I have the ML Explorer XS and the TDI,mine is the Pro,but the SL will hold it's own.I have found that the TDI is the best minie' ball and cannon ball finders that I have used. I started with a MetroTec in 73 and all I can say is: we have come a long way baby.
My take on posting your personal preference of a particular brand or your dislike of a particular brand should be just that: YOUR personal opinion and not an invitation for some immature insecure mama's boy to get his panties in a wad because he happens to own or like what you don't. OK, Lock and Load.

 

[cookie58]

Hello togg77. I thank you for the information on the metal detectors. Do you dig everything when relic hunting? And what conductivity do you use? Thanks.....

 

[metalpopper]

Hi there Bill.....

Tell me if you will, what is the single main capability requirement of the detector you're looking for?

Also, the ultimate 'find' you dream of being able to achieve, if you had such a detector?

"Lock 'n load....rock an' roll"......Matt

 

[jimmie]

I purchased my Metro Tec in 74 and a few years later the last big leap in detector tech was discrimination and nothing big since then other than the size of the box.

 

[2 Much Trash]

I purchased my Metro Tec in 74 and a few years later the last big leap in detector tech was discrimination and nothing big since then other than the size of the box.

Yes sir Jimmy. When all is said and done, that's just about it in a nutshell.