First Hunt with X70

[cwtrader1863]

No mind blowing relics were dug but I did dig a first- a button with my name on it. One of my first finds today was a button with Patterson, New York on it. The rest of the finds were just ordinary camp stuff.

What's impressive about the finds is where they were found. I wanted to give the X70 a real challenge it's first time out. We went to a small camp that we have pounded with 4 different machines- tejon, cibola, vaquero, and silver umax. The camp is in the corner of a field with a small slope beside it. Size is probably 30 yards by 40 yards. All the relics below were deep and gave good solid signals.

I tried different settings since I'm still getting used to the machine. Threshold was low part of the day(on 1) and about half way up the scale(7)the rest of the day. When the Threshold was on 7 the humming was tolerable and the nails could be heard real well but I knew what they were. No real difference noticed with Threshold settings, both found targets deep. The volume and sensitivity were left on max all day. I tried 1 discrimination and AM, both went down deep. Ground balance was used on manual or automatic. Hard to tell which was better because we have some of the best soil in the South.

In conclusion, the first day with this machine was very impressive. This will be my main machine. I still have my Cibola with a 5.75 coil as a backup and for use where the small coil is needed but I'm sure that will change when Minelab puts out a small coil for the X70.[attachment 22074 March23rd2006.JPG]

 

[Monte]

"No mind blowing relics were dug but I did dig a first- a button with my name on it. One of my first finds today was a button with Patterson, New York on it. The rest of the finds were just ordinary camp stuff."... Yes, but "just ordinary" can still be fun, and keep you on the prowl for more!

"What's impressive about the finds is where they were found. I wanted to give the X70 a real challenge it's first time out. We went to a small camp that we have pounded with 4 different machines- tejon, cibola, vaquero, and silver umax. The camp is in the corner of a field with a small slope beside it. Size is probably 30 yards by 40 yards. All the relics below were deep and gave good solid signals."... Reworking sites is always a pleasure with a new detector because you have a fairly good idea what the site's challenges are to begin with.

It doesn't matter what make or model you have in had, in my opinion, because odds are you can always find at least one or two missed targets. But as you use any new detector you can get a feel for what it offers by finding more than just one or two items, or finding deeper targets than normal, or pulling something from a spot, and I mean a particular small area, you know has been heavily worked.

"I tried different settings since I'm still getting used to the machine. Threshold was low part of the day(on 1) and about half way up the scale(7)the rest of the day. When the Threshold was on 7 the humming was tolerable and the nails could be heard real well but I knew what they were."... I like the way the Threshold works on the X-Terra 70 because I only reject the first three ferrous segments and like to hear a nulling threshold if I get into some iron. Nothing loud, just a comfortable slight audio threshold. Mine's usually set on about 6.

"No real difference noticed with Threshold settings, both found targets deep."... You won't see a lot of difference unless you adjusted for a negative Threshold.

"The volume and sensitivity were left on max all day."... My Target Volume is always maxed at '30' and I only reduce my sensitivity from '30' if I am working a noisy site. So far, I haven't had to drop below '27' in order to stabilize and eliminate chatter.

"I tried 1 discrimination and AM, both went down deep."... I think it would help if, when people posted a reference to a 'Pattern' discriminate mode, they would comment that it was either at the factory preset or mention their custom set-up.

I usually hunt in All Metal and then press it to shift back to my settings for Pattern 1 to check the target. The X-Terra 50 & 70 provide me with ample depth of detection, to be sure!

"Ground balance was used on manual or automatic. Hard to tell which was better because we have some of the best soil in the South."... I'LL TRADE YA! ... Soil, that is. Do you mean that you either manually GB'ed or used the Auto GB? I have had a few E-mails where they were referring to the Tracking circuitry as "automatic." I also read one comment from someone who thought that once he pressed the GB and the Auto that it was going to continuously maintain a GB for him. He didn't read that it only sets the GB that one time, then gives the audio tones when it's set. To RE-balance he'd have to press GB and then Auto again.

"In conclusion, the first day with this machine was very impressive. This will be my main machine. I still have my Cibola with a 5.75 coil as a backup and for use where the small coil is needed but I'm sure that will change when Minelab puts out a small coil for the X-70"... I am with you. My X-Terra 70 is my primary-use detector, and it and my X-T 50 are going to really be put to work as soon as that 3 kHz 9" coil is released, and especially after I slap a smaller-sized 7.5 kHz coil on my X-T 50.

Soon you'll thin out your 'overstock' of competitor's models!

I hope you don't mind my comments. Certainly not to fault anything you said, just clarifying a few things because there are many readers who've not used a detector, or a Minelab before, and might get lost on some of the terminology.

I look forward to your future posts and wish you the best of success with your X-Terra 70 and finding some of the more sought-after targets out there. Four weeks from today I'll be working a favorite ghost town with mine while on vacation. I've only been '"skunked" once since I started hunting it May 4th, 1969. Pickin's are thin, but there's still silver and other good targets there to be found. Wish you and some of the other forum followers could join me!

Monte

 

[Captain Kirk]

I would like to join you on that hunt in four weeks (if you have any room left in your group).

Also, I have a question. At one time I knew how to modify the text, but seem to have lost that knowledge. For example, how do you set the text to bold or change colors?

Glenn

 

[Monte]

loading up my detectors, guns, dogs, supplies and heading out alone. The wife is flying out for Las Vegas to see her daughter and then to AZ to visit with her parents. I don't fly.

I plan on heading to my favorite Utah ghost town, and possibly 1-6 other ghost town sites in Utah, Nevada and Eastern Oregon. It all depends upon the westher at the time, and where I feel like going after I make my first stop at my favorite. Really crappy weather, annoying health issues, a vehicle accident or death might alter my plans.

I know that our local (Portland, OR metro area) club has planned a ghost town trip to Utah & Nevada for the weekend before my vacation, and I am sure I will get an up-to-date report on conditions and such before I leave which might have an bearing on my route.

I am not going in a "group" but I do plan to meet up with some friends at one or more of the old town sites on my list. I always welcome company and friends!

Then, too, I might alter my trip after the first ghost town and head into some towns for some renovation site work or to hit some of my old haunts that have produced good silver since '68.

E-mail me directly if you'd like. MonteVB@comcast.net

Monte

 

[cwtrader1863]

In these early stages of using the X70 it helps to get many opinions. We are all learning & helping each other so all field test results and opinions are welcome and needed.
I agree with 6 Threshold, that's a good setting for me to. Not too loud or annoying just a low hum. I was impressed with the AM mode. I might run mine on that most of the time. I'll try that half a day and 1 setting the rest of the day next time. I manually GB and Auto GB during my test the other day. Both produced good results, of course our soil is lightly mineralized.
What do you think about Tracking GB vs. AUTO GB vs Manual GB? Which one do you use? Which would be the best in lightly mineralized soil? Also, what's your opinion on Iron Mask?
Monte, I enjoy your post, always helpful and informative.
GH,
Dan