M6

[markg]

This might be an odd question, but does the M6 have a true motion all metal mode? I stand to be corrected that a true all metal mode ususlly works much better in extreme ground.
Now with those question out of the way, here goes. I hunt mostly in old school yards where they have discarded their waste coal cinders in the surrounding area. Most of this area is very barren, little or no grass will grow over much of the area. My hunting buddy and I have tried to hunt this area many times in the past with very little success.
My hunting buddy uses the M6, and has tried both the stock and the 6 x 10 DD coil on the M6.
Now with that out of the way, here goes.
The other day I took a small magnet to the same area where the coal cinders are in the school yard. Found that the magnet attracted most of the small pebble size cinders. I'm of the understanding that any material that will attract to a magnet will cause many problems with a metal detector. So here goes again. Would it hurt to hunt using the beach mode on my M6 in this area.

 

[khouse]

If you hunt with the trigger pulled your in true all metal. But I don't think hunting and area full of iron in that mode will do anything but give you headaches. I don't even know how you would find a place to GB the machine to then lock it. You would have to lock the GB or that ground would drive the tracking bonkers. Running in beach mode won't hurt nothing. You may want to find a better place to hunt? Just my thoughts.

 

[Monte]

This might be an odd question, but does the M6 have a true motion all metal mode?

Yes, it has a true motion all metal search mode that is achieved by setting the Discriminate level at minimum. However, if you're asking about a true NON-motion All Metal mode, it only has that in the momentary selected "Pinpoint" function.

I stand to be corrected that a true all metal mode ususlly works much better in extreme ground.

That depends on the make and model, as well as the definition of "works better". With many makes and models, a "true", threshold-based, conventional All Metal mode might tend to hunt a bit deeper, especially in extremely iron mineralized ground.

However, I ought to point out that most makes and models lack a an adjustable all-metal accept motion-based Discriminate mode since they often have at least some low iron rejection at their minimum setting. We're now getting into the low-river -level season here in NW Oregon and that means it's time to hit the very ugly, quite mineralized big river beaches. By "ugly" I am referring to their mineralization level and the challenges that brings. My preferred detectors of choice is something that allows me to hunt in a motion-based All Metal accept mode, also known as true zero Discrimination. These models have included such as the Classic III SL, IDX Pro, XL Pro, M6 and MXT from White's. The XL Pro is trickier to set because the discriminate adjustment range actually can be set too low, but with the Classic III SL & IDX Pro toggled to Black Sand (expanded discrimination range on the lower end) or the M6 & MXT, I simply adjust to the minimum Disc. level setting.

Make sure you have a 'proper,' functional Ground Balance and with the M6 & MXT I generally 'Lock' the GB setting an update as needed. One benefit of searching in a motion-based All Metal mode is that you won't hear the warbling threshold caused by slight changes in the ground mineral or the coil-to-ground variances when searching in a 'traditional,' threshold-based All Metal mode (non-motion).

Now with those question out of the way, here goes. I hunt mostly in old school yards where they have discarded their waste coal cinders in the surrounding area. Most of this area is very barren, little or no grass will grow over much of the area. My hunting buddy and I have tried to hunt this area many times in the past with very little success.

I have two city parks in the metro area that have sections with a fair amount of 'clunkers' and similar level of rubbish. They are a challenge to hunt so I only go their on days when I have a lot of patience. Also, when working sites with extreme ground mineral challenges, I hunt in all metal accept and recover all targets. I usually do NOTR depend on the visual Target ID because many nasty ground conditions will impair good target performance.

My hunting buddy uses the M6, and has tried both the stock and the 6 x 10 DD coil on the M6.

I usually hunt with a smaller-than-stock coil, and prefer the 5.3 Eclipse on the M6 and MXT. I've found them to work every but as well as the Double-D coils in such challenging sites, and the key has been to get a good, functional GB and lock it, sweep deliberately slow and methodically, and recover those 'iffy' signal targets.

The other day I took a small magnet to the same area where the coal cinders are in the school yard. Found that the magnet attracted most of the small pebble size cinders. I'm of the understanding that any material that will attract to a magnet will cause many problems with a metal detector. So here goes again. Would it hurt to hunt using the beach mode on my M6 in this area.

Would 'Beach' setting hurt? Possibly not, but I wouldn't use it because that is designed to work with the low-conductive wetted salts.

There comes a time when you have to consider site selection first and simply move on, if you find it too challenging and not rewarding.

Monte