hunted out site opens up again

[dfmike]

Since detection season is finished here (-20 degrees Celsius or -4 F) and a storm that left a foot of snow, I decided to post this out of shear boredom. I wanted to shared my thoughts on the CoRe which I acquired earlier this year. As I had mentioned in some previous posts, this particular site was probably virgin territory (not previously detected) before I went there. The site is not much larger than a typical middle class suburb house and grounds. The first time I went there I found a silver dime from the 1910's and then several wheat pennies and old Canadian pennies as well (from the 1910's up to the early 1950's) on subsequent hunts. I have been there at least 5 times before going with the CoRe and deemed it hunted out when all I found on my last hunt was a wheat penny. So all in all before going in with the CoRe I had found 1 silver dime and about 10 old pennies. That was it.

Because the CoRe was a new machine to me I decided to try out that place again just for the heck of it. I told myself I'd be happy to find one more old wheat or anything else of historic value. I never expected to come up with all this. I'm still slightly baffled by all the things I had left behind with the other machines. I'm not too sure what to make of it but I've been hooked on this machine when silver coins started popping out as if I had never been there at all. I'm not putting down any other machine I have used before but I still find it amazing that I once believed this was a site that would no longer produce anything of value. Maybe I was just going slower, maybe I was digging more iffy signals but whatever it is, don't think that a site has been hunted out because somebody told you so or that you have been there with one or even a few machines and there seems to be nothing left. There might be.

My last finds are not pictured. One is a big cross pendant that seems to be made of copper. It's almost entirely black now. The other is an old button that has writing on it that I'm trying to decipher. The coils used were the 11 DD, the 9.5 X 5.5 open coil and the 5 inch round. Most were found in DI3 but I'm starting to like DI2 a lot as well.

Happy holidays to all and a 2018 year full of treasure.

 

[goodmore]

Well it is pretty evident that you are hunting where people of faith once gathered. Very nice finds.

 

[dfmike]

And what's more they seem to have vanished after the 60's. Coins, relics and trash say so much about the history and purpose of a place. I found absolutely no modern clad there. Not a single coin from the 70's on up. Not a single pull tab !

 

[Monte]

Since detection season is finished here (-20 degrees Celsius or -4 F) and a storm that left a foot of snow, I decided to post this out of shear boredom.

Well, we haven't been that cold yet, but for over three days now our high temp reading was 30° F about 1 PM yesterday. The rest of the time for a week or so the highs were mainly in the 24° F to 33° F range and lows have ranged from 15° to 22° most of the time. No snow, yet, but the ground is frozen up to impersonate cement. No matter where many of us live right now we all seem to be in the same CFST Time Zone. That's Cabin Fever Standard Time when we might enjoy the beauty of the season, but really are hoping for a quick arrival of Spring and warmer, pleasant, snow-free weather.

Time to get some research done, clean up some finds we've made this year, plan for 2018 ... and we should reflect back, as you are doing here, on how we did in 2017, and how the different metal detectors and search coils worked for us, too.

I wanted to shared my thoughts on the CoRe which I acquired earlier this year. As I had mentioned in some previous posts, this particular site was probably virgin territory (not previously detected) before I went there. The site is not much larger than a typical middle class suburb house and grounds. The first time I went there I found a silver dime from the 1910's and then several wheat pennies and old Canadian pennies as well (from the 1910's up to the early 1950's) on subsequent hunts. I have been there at least 5 times before going with the CoRe and deemed it hunted out when all I found on my last hunt was a wheat penny. So all in all before going in with the CoRe I had found 1 silver dime and about 10 old pennies. That was it.

It's always nice to have an old site, or maybe two or three, that we have worked well in the past and know the conditions reasonably well, to take a new-to-us detector for evaluation.

Because the CoRe was a new machine to me I decided to try out that place again just for the heck of it. I told myself I'd be happy to find one more old wheat or anything else of historic value. I never expected to come up with all this. I'm still slightly baffled by all the things I had left behind with the other machines. I'm not too sure what to make of it but I've been hooked on this machine when silver coins started popping out as if I had never been there at all. I'm not putting down any other machine I have used before but I still find it amazing that I once believed this was a site that would no longer produce anything of value.

I got my first FORS CoRe in-my-hands on January 8th of 2015 and within a matter of hours to only a few days I was so favorably impressed that the CoRe moved, ... no leaped ... into my #1 general-purpose detector spot.

Maybe I was just going slower, maybe I was digging more iffy signals but whatever it is, don't think that a site has been hunted out because somebody told you so or that you have been there with one or even a few machines and there seems to be nothing left. There might be.

Working a new coil or new detector at a slower and/or different sweep speed can be a factor, as well as recovering more 'iffy' signals simply because we are trying to learn the detector and settings to see how it performs can factor in, too. Other things we could consider might be using a detector longer because it balances better, and also enjoying the comfort of a detector and/or coil. Maybe a detector offers a different Discriminate range, or Sensitivity range than we are used to, or perhaps and audio tone is more pleasant sounding? A different search coil size or shape might provide different performance than we are used to. All kinds of factors to consider, but the main one that I relate when I am asked why I like and use a particular detector models is ..... "It works, and works well, for me and my needs at the challenging sites I choose to hunt."

My last finds are not pictured. One is a big cross pendant that seems to be made of copper. It's almost entirely black now. The other is an old button that has writing on it that I'm trying to decipher. The coils used were the 11 DD, the 9.5 X 5.5 open coil and the 5 inch round. Most were found in DI3 but I'm starting to like DI2 a lot as well.

The search coils that I use most often, and both stay mounted on my two FORS CoRe devices, are the small 'OOR' DD coil [size=small](the one that measures about 4.7X5.2)[/size] that is a killer performer in dense iron debris sites, and the new open-frame 5X9½ DD I like for low-to-moderately littered sites. I keep the 7X11 DD and 13X15 DD on spare lower rods in my accessory coil tote but they get limited, special application use.

The Nokta FORS CoRe is a 'Simple' yet very 'Functional' detector that provides me with exceptional 'Performance' afield, and my CoRe is the visual Target ID detector by which I compare all; other Target ID/Tone ID makes and models.

Happy holidays to all and a 2018 year full of treasure.

Wishing you the same as well! Enjoy winter, and hope that it is short-lived.

Monte

 

[dfmike]

Thanks again Monte for pointing me towards the CoRe. I was expecting it would produce but the tiny display made me back away from buying one for the longest time. I never thought I'd get used to having so little information in visual range. All the good things that I have found on that site would have stayed in the ground without it and that's worth more than a fancy display.

Maybe there's an Impact in my future but I haven't used the CoRe for one full year yet. I don't think I'm missing much. I think I'll use and learn the CoRe for a while before moving on.

 

[Monte]

There are a lot of detectors on the market that feature various forms of visual Target ID, and they range from crude or simplistic on thru functional and versatile, all the way to the other extreme of being way too 'busy' and cluttery. Some visual displays are more erratic and jumpy while the better offerings are more stabile and consistent. As most readers who put up with my ramblings know, I have long preached the benefits of keeping things 'Simple' and 'Functional' while still achieving 'Performance.' The Nokta FORS CoRe is just such a detector which is why it is THE detector model by which I compare all other detectors that also offer visual and audio Target ID.

Even the Makro Racer and Racer 2, Nokta's own FORS Relic and Impact, and other newer or recent offerings like the Fisher F-19 and F-75, Teknetics T2 'Classic', Garrett AT Pro and AT Gold, and White's MXT All-Pro [size=small](that the CoRe replaced in my arsenal in January of '15)[/size], MX-5, MX Sport and newest MX-7 have all been evaluated against my FORS CoRe. Since there is no such thing as a 'perfect' metal detector I know all will have a weakness here or there, but they also might have some strengths and, if so, might make the cut for me to accept them in my Regular-Use Detector Team. If they fall way short of what my CoRe can provide in 'Simplicity,' 'Functional' abilities and in-the-field 'Performance' then they have no interest to me at all.

Anyone who puts in one solid year of avid detecting with a FORS CoRe, to include using the small 'OOR' coil in dense trash, ought to end up making sure they will keep a CoRe in their arsenal, regardless of any other make or model that also interests them. I take other models from Tesoro and Nokta and White's on my detecting travels, but there will always be a CoRe along with that group, to be certain.

I look forward to many posts from you when we get back into detecting season next spring to follow your adventures with the FORS CoRe.

Monte

 

[OregonGregg]

Nice finds Mike, the Fors CoRe doesn't disappoint. I agree with what Monte said, once you get plenty of hours on the Fors Core ( and it looks like you have) new machines may come and go but I bet you keep a CoRe in the arsenal. In the right environment ( old sites, dense iron etc) the CoRe with the oor coil will outperform an Impact with a small coil. It easily outperformed a Racer/Racer 2 with an oor coil. It took the Nel Point coil on the Racers to get about the same performance.

Actually, my dream machine from Nokta isn't an Impact, but an upgraded Fors Core machine ( add the iron audio volume, tone breaks and expand the nonferrous range and leave everything else the same and I would be happy). But at this point, I am afraid it's only going to be a dream. I hate to see Nokta abandon one of their best machines in the pursuit of multi this multi that..... one machine do all, which I think you get more "gimmick" then you do performance. I like a good dedicated freq. machine. If I feel a higher freq. is needed, then I'll add a Relic to the arsenal. Plus the Core keeps it simple and gives great performance.

In fact, got all my Christmas shopping done and for myself, I ordered a new Fors CoRe Pro pack. Curiosity got me, Monte and I were talking and he pointed out that the big K was selling a "left" handed version of the CoRe......but the way the guy at big K described it, it sounded like the normal Core. So I ordered one at $495 US ( not a bad price for a new pro pack) It doesn't make a difference to me what side the screen on the main box is on. Once my settings are set and Saved.....the CoRe basically becomes a turn on and go machine. It's more about the audio than it is the numbers. And the only numbers I care to see are displayed on the little screen in the handle...................So I guess when it gets here, we will see what the heck a "left" handed CoRe is

 

[dfmike]

Actually, my dream machine from Nokta isn't an Impact, but an upgraded Fors Core machine ( add the iron audio volume, tone breaks and expand the nonferrous range and leave everything else the same and I would be happy). But at this point, I am afraid it's only going to be a dream. I hate to see Nokta abandon one of their best machines in the pursuit of multi this multi that..... one machine do all, which I think you get more "gimmick" then you do performance. I like a good dedicated freq. machine. If I feel a higher freq. is needed, then I'll add a Relic to the arsenal. Plus the Core keeps it simple and gives great performance.

I'm surprised they have those options on the Relic but never updated the CoRe. Could the Relic be the new CoRe ? I'd hate to see the CoRe disappear. I'd like to see the same options you listed added to the machine plus the battery status on the little screen. Accurate depth in inches wouldn't hurt either. Last but not least: Make it firmware upgradable like the Impact. I hope they never touch the ergonomics though. That "fighter jet" handle is quite unique and the buttons on it are exactly where they should be.

Even if these upgrades never happen, I'll be using it as is. I kind of like the relative crudeness of the machine.

 

[Trashfinder]

Nice finds Mike, the Fors CoRe doesn't disappoint. I agree with what Monte said, once you get plenty of hours on the Fors Core ( and it looks like you have) new machines may come and go but I bet you keep a CoRe in the arsenal. In the right environment ( old sites, dense iron etc) the CoRe with the oor coil will outperform an Impact with a small coil. It easily outperformed a Racer/Racer 2 with an oor coil. It took the Nel Point coil on the Racers to get about the same performance.

Actually, my dream machine from Nokta isn't an Impact, but an upgraded Fors Core machine ( add the iron audio volume, tone breaks and expand the nonferrous range and leave everything else the same and I would be happy). But at this point, I am afraid it's only going to be a dream. I hate to see Nokta abandon one of their best machines in the pursuit of multi this multi that..... one machine do all, which I think you get more "gimmick" then you do performance. I like a good dedicated freq. machine. If I feel a higher freq. is needed, then I'll add a Relic to the arsenal. Plus the Core keeps it simple and gives great performance.

In fact, got all my Christmas shopping done and for myself, I ordered a new Fors CoRe Pro pack. Curiosity got me, Monte and I were talking and he pointed out that the big K was selling a "left" handed version of the CoRe......but the way the guy at big K described it, it sounded like the normal Core. So I ordered one at $495 US ( not a bad price for a new pro pack) It doesn't make a difference to me what side the screen on the main box is on. Once my settings are set and Saved.....the CoRe basically becomes a turn on and go machine. It's more about the audio than it is the numbers. And the only numbers I care to see are displayed on the little screen in the handle...................So I guess when it gets here, we will see what the heck a "left" handed CoRe is

Just curious what kind of depth you are getting with the small coil on the core. I have been digging silver at 8 to 9 inches here in my soil with the Impact and small elliptical in extreme iron infested sites with solid tone and solid ID not even wavering as much as 2 pts . Would not mind trying a 5 inch if i do not lose significant depth with it.

 

[OregonGregg]

Trashfinder, at almost all the sites I detect, not once have I ever worried about depth. For one, in these old western ghost towns, most coins/artifacts are not deep. 2nd because of the extreme amount of ferrous/non-ferrous trash that is present at these old sites I hunt, you can almost forget about achieving any kind of depth.......unless you want to spend the rest of your life removing the trash in order that you might achieve some depth. 3rd, the smaller coils that I do use on the racer 2/ Fors Core do get pretty darn good depth ranging from 5" to 6". I'm curious what you consider "extreme trash"
I wonder if its anything like a railroad ghost town in NV. ?? Back in 2015 when I had the Red Racer, I walked into the site I wanted to hunt, an old ghost town in NV outta Wells away, then tried to GB it with the oor coil. I spent 5 minutes trying to find a spot that I could....I finally walked 60 yards out of the area to the dirt road we drove in on to finally find a spot in which I could get the machine with that little coil to finally GB.

If you think the 4.5x7 elliptical does good in trash......you should try the 5" coil for the Impact. That 5" coil in very trashy sites will leave that elliptical coil wondering what happened

 

[Charles (Sabre)(Tx)]

Then what about the 7" concentric?

 

[Trashfinder]

Sites i hunt ,, it sounds like a machine gun barrage . If you move the coil you hear iron and mixed with that is quite a bit of non ferrous trash thrown in. The soil there is softer not much clay and the older barber era stuff is deeper. I will have to try the 5 inch, might be some squeakers in the 6 inch range and up i missed with the concentric and elliptical.

 

[OregonGregg]

Then what about the 7" concentric?

The 7" Concentric is a great coil and I'm still mad at Nokta/Makro for not making one for the Fors Core. The 7" will handle trashy sites. In the example above when the iron and nonferrous stuff is so thick, I can't even find a small spot to ground balance well I then opt to use my oor coil on the CoRe or Nel Point/Snake on the Racers.

Like Monte says " there isn't a perfect detector made" well you could also apply that to coils as there isn't a perfect size coil that will do it all. It just depends on the site and the site conditions and that will dictate which coil I'll use. That is whats nice with the Nokta and Makro machines, you have a nice selection of coils/coil sizes to chose from.

 

[dfmike]

Sites i hunt ,, it sounds like a machine gun barrage .

I like that analogy. A trashy site that makes the detector sound like a machine gun because you can barely hear the pauses between signals (even with some discrimination) is very indicative of a site where finding goodies is not easy (for most detectors anyway).

The 5" coil is almost a necessity in areas like that. I know I would have left a few things behind with a bigger coil on the CoRe in a lot of places I hunted this past year. I really like that coil to get a feel for a site and to sweep as much ground as possible initially. If the place shows promise, I know I will find more goodies if I do it again with a smaller coil. I can't get the same depth with the smaller coil but that's a reasonable compromise when I need separation over depth and in trashy sites separation is more important than depth IMHO.