First Competition Hunt - Which detector would you use ? :detecting:

[Cal_Cobra]

Our club is holding their annual members hunt, where they'll plant a bunch of tokens and you can win one of hundreds of silver coins, a new Whites M6, a GPS Nav unit, and more.

This is my first competition hunt, so I'm not sure what detector I should use. I have the Fisher F4, F5 & F70 (only have the factory 10" coil, not the F75 11"DD), and to be honest, I'm thinking the F4 with either the 10" concentric or 11" DD might be the best unit for this hunt. Why? Because it's lighter then the other two, dead on TID, and the 11" DD is a coin rake.

I've never been to a competition hunt, so I have no idea what to expect (do they plant tokens 12" deep, do they litter the place with pull-tabs, and place rusty nails next to the tokens to test your tecting skills? No idea).

Which detector of the three listed above would you guys pick and why?

hh,
Brian

 

[Elton]

One with a frequency change availability..Lots of detectors may interfere, and speed is of the essence..Nothing should be deep so thats not an issue. Speed will get the tokens and buried coins thats for sure..

You will be swinging fast and trying for the most recoveries in a given time allowed.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Thanks Elton. Frequency change capability definitely rules out the F4. The F5 and the F70 both have frequency change capabilities, and both essentially have the same 10

 

[jim tn]

I have used my F 75 in three competition hunts and except for one other 75 being used, I had no interference problems. The key in those kind of hunts is good, quick pinpointing, so one can quickly retireve the target and promptly move on for the next one. Our coins are seeded on pretty trash free fields and only at depths of 3" or so. Good luck and HH jim tn

 

[Elton]

Jim is absolutly correct...Fast PP is a must, Most Fisher have good PP...........


Practice a little at home bury some pennies and dimes 3, 4 inches and try each detector for speed and PP..then your all set..

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Thanks guys. Both the F5 and F70 are spot on with pinpointing, so their (IMHO) equal in that respect. I think the F5 is a little lighter, but only because I have a Sunray probe on the F70....but the probe could help recover the coins faster, so I'll probably see how the F70 does. It would be nice to have the F75 11" DD coil for this hunt.

 

[jgiguere17]

Cal.....where is this hunt at?

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

I think it comes down to what detector do you know the best and you undrstand the most. But I would take the F5 and the new 11 coil. But for me the F75 is a killer machine and Crosby now is using the mono tone and found his first Barber with me and Rybo.

 

[Charles (Sabre)(Tx)]

I've been in a few of those high speed treasure hunts in my younger days and I must tell you that you are making the right choice in using the lighter units. My only concern would be in the coil choice. Personally I would use a concentric over the DD because pinpointing becomes an issue when time is involved. However, if you feel more comfortable with a DD and have more faith in it (ref: "coin rake") then by all means go with it.

If the hunt is a timed competition type hunt then making the most of your allotted time is a must. Don't even stop to look at the coin or token...just drop it into your pouch and go for the next signal. There will plenty enough time to see what you have after the hunt is over. Some of the hunts I've gone to were "deep-seeker" type hunts where the coins were burried deep. If that is the case then a different approach is needed...and also a good digging tool! In any case...good luck and have fun!

 

[Cal_Cobra]

jgiguere17 the hunt is in the East Bay, it's a club members hunt for the MDMDC.

Charles the DD on the F4 does a great job at hitting coins, but I definitely agree that concentrics are easier to pinpoint with than DDs.

I'm starting to question if having a probe is even necessary, especially being that these will be newly planted tokens.

 

[wayne_etc]

I've only been to one seeded hunt, and I used the only detector I had at the time - a ML Explorer. Obviously not the choice machine for a seeded hunt, but I did well and had a blast.

I say use the machine with which you are the most comfortable. I'm not sure there's a significant difference among the detectors you have for hitting shallow clad. They'll all do fine, just have fun.


w