Digging Nickels

[Anordstr]

Went out to a school yard today before the storm hit, and was only out there for little over an hour. Overall I've dug 50 coins up now but no nickels. Every time my detector says nickel it is a pull tab or a metal scrap. i have my discriminator blocking pull tabs and such but even my confident nickel readings are trash. Any ideas?

 

[khouse]

That sounds normal to me. I happens with all brands and models. The nickel conductivity is right in the middle of trash. Keep digging those nickel beeps though.

 

[Rob (IL)]

You didn't say what detector you were using. On my MXT notching out the tabs doesn't help because the tabs that are eliminated are the older higher reading tabs. My nickels usually read 18 - 20. If I get readings going to 22 it is usually a tab. I sometimes dig these and some times get a nickel. I dug 6 nickels yesterday at a school that didn't lock. They read from 14 - 18. I've dug solid 20's that are odd bits of can slaw. For me nickels are a challenge and I've dug more than a 1000 of them. I still get fooled. Rob

 

[Anordstr]

I'm still pretty new to this whole thing. I have a prism 5. Hate to ask, but what does MXT mean? is there a way for me to see the number reading, or does it just always show a block next to the picture?

 

[hank1]

100% agreement with rcasio. Exactly same experience with my MXT. I do well with nickles but get fooled iften enough.
However every so often I hit areas that for some reason lack almost any nickles at all. Just random luck I guess.

 

[Rob (IL)]

The MXT is another Whites detector. No you don't see numbers on your detector. The numbers give you more VDI increments than just the blocks. Rob

 

[Tin Nugget]

MXT=Multipurpose detector
One of the reasons I like the VDI is when it says 18 or 20 there is an excellent chance I have a nickle. When it reads 22 I know it is not a nickle, just a modern tab (or maybe a gold ring)lol
When you are working with a range, you just have to dig and you are going to get a ton of tabs between nickles. (and if your real lucky, maybe a little gold once in a blue moon)

 

[Anordstr]

Ahh, gottcha. So if the VDI Is that better at pin pointing what the object is, what is the plus of having a MXT? I'm taking my P5 up to a beach in a week or so, am I going to be able to get readings?

 

[khouse]

The biggest thing right off hand is you have a factory set ground balance on your P5. If your going to a salt beach it's best you stay in the dry sand. In my opinion the M6, Mxt and models on up are professional models. Set your P5 to ONLY reject iron. Then scoop up ALL targets. You should find some good loot. Good luck!

 

[Anordstr]

Thanks guys! Hopefully I'll have some good pics up soon!

 

[Todd S]

I have the M6 it find nickels -typically ring in about 20 with a range of 16-22 but will also find lots of tabs.

 

[littletwig]

I had a Prizm 5 and just loved it. Got a chance to trade for a M6 amd I have never looked back. With the prizm 5 every thing is preset. The disc is preset ranges as well as the senc. I found a lot of great finds with the P5, mainly clad coins. When I went to the M6 and rehunted the same areas I had hunted with the P5, I couldn't believe how much I found that the P5 hadn't. Yes also nickles, 2 of them being 1942 war nickles. Keep you digger in the dirt, Littletwig

 

[XLT-user]

On a Whites, and many other machines the nickles read lower in the ground than in air test..

 

[BarberBill]

On my MXT nickles can read anywhere from 14 to 20. 20 and above is nearly always tabs or foil. I've dug a fair number and the real thing usually rings more solid in the audio as well. The better you get to know the machine, the better you will recognize what it's trying to tell you.
HH
BB