MXT PRO and silver?? HELP!

[Whitetail]

Hey everyone,

My first post as I just joined this evening. I have a question for MXT users. I just purchased my MXT PRO about 2 months ago...and have only found 3 silvers...all dimes. I've spent a ton of time searching everything from ballfields to homes to woods and am wondering if I'm doing something wrong? The 3 silvers I have found have been in my yard and my Dads yard. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I find tons of other clad coins. Just can't seem to locate silver? I am using Coin and Jewelry mode/Ground/and basically all the preset(triangle) settings. Can anyone tell me what I may be doing wrong or is there just no silver where I'm looking?? I can't believe I can search the grounds of a 150 year old home and come up with one Merc? I can't believe I've put 20+ hours at a college founded in 1852 and have found not one silver?? I love the MXT as it finds clad like crazy and I feel that I've learned the unit quite well in the 2 months I have used it where I know what I'm finding probably like 85% of the time, based on the display.
Thanks everyone. I'd appreciate any tips from you veteran detectors out there!

 

[richigold]

i think theres no silver where your looking , you have said you found clad like crazy i dont see why you cant find silver HH

 

[fsa46]

Silver has to be under your coil to fine it. The MXT Pro hits great on silver ( IMHO ) , I have found both a three cent piece and a half dime at around 8" on one and 6" on the other and you know how tiny they are. I have also found three silver rings and other silver coins in the short time I have been doing this. Unfortunately there isn't a truck load of silver out there, but keep at it, you'll find some.

 

[Larry (IL)]

Location and skill are key elements in finding silver. If you are hunting an old college that allows hunting, it has probably been hunted thousands of times over the past 50 years. Most puublic hunting grounds have been pretty well hunted but that doesn't mean they are hunted out, just fewer returns. What coins are left are either very deep or masked by iron in most public hunting areas and this is where the skill factor kicks in.

Unhunted private property seems to be key to most of the silver finds today.

 

[srf2112]

That was one of the painful realizations I made some time after getting into detecting . . . silver coins are scarce, period. Sounds like you're hunting quality sights so the silvers will come. If you've already found three since beginning 2 months ago you're doing a lot better than many do . . including myself.

 

[jacknh]

Welcome to Metal Detecting and Welcome to this sight. You'll find alot of knowledgeable people here who can answer all your questions. I to felt like you but soon learned that it has to be under your coil to find it. Practice, practice and more practice.. Learn what your machine is telling you. Just like Larry said your targets get masked by iron and this is where your skill comes in... I have the MXT Pro with the 5.3 and the D2 and they're awesome at hitting targets. I also got a set of Sunray Pro Gold headphones 'cause I was afraid I'd miss something- not anymore...HH Jack from NH

 

[still.diggin]

Hi,

I'm pretty new to posting too, but I have been detecting for three years now. I was interested in coins at first and finding the silver out there. My first detector was the MXT. Since though I realized that it's the gold that you want to really be looking for and the MXT with the smalerl coils in a tot lot or other heavily occupied area is all you need. The MXT really hits silver easy and hard too if it's there. My second hunt with it was outside of a middle school by the bus loop and I found two girls silver rings with tons of pull tabs, pencil eraser heads, foil, and bottle caps all around them. One was close to the surface the other was about 6" inches down, almost quit digging for it being new at the time. Yeah, you do have to work hard for gold, but it sure pays better

Later On,

Shawn

 

[Whitetail]

Wow. I can't believe the number of replies. You guys are awesome. I probably should've told you all that I am searching with the 12" coil that came with the unit and have thought of purchasing a smaller one. Suggestions for a smaller coil????
I mentioned not finding much silver, but I forgot about the 2 nice silver rings I found and the 1.25 carat diamond gold ring my MXT found. My MXT was paid for with that one find. Believe me. I love this unit. I get solid dime hits....solid quarter hits...just all clad?? I really want to locate some old silver and indian head pennies. Heck I'm not even finding wheaties? So most of you think I'm just not over the silver huh? K. You guys are the experienced ones....I'll keep at it.
I guess the reason I mention it is I've watched videos on the Minelab ETrac and I've heard that it really finds the silver like no other. That unit operates on many more frequencies I've heard. Was thinking of picking that unit up as well to see how it operates in some of the same areas I've been hunting. Any of you have experience or comments on the ETrac??

 

[jacknh]

I have no experience with the Etrac but smaller coils for your MXT; I've got the MXT 300 and the MXT Pro both with the 5.3 and the D2 coils. The other things I did was pick up The Sunray Pro Gold Headphones and DX-1 probe. I don't think I miss to much... Most of the areas I hunt are pretty trashy so I use my 5.3 most of the time and my D2 the rest. The only time I use my 12" coil is at the beach. Great finds..... HH Jack from NH

 

[DirtAngler]

As stated, the silver has to be there and under your coil and is getting scarce. I have my MXT Pro for 4 mo. and haven't dug silver yet. An 1879 IH penny, a 1938 Buffalo nickel, some gold rings, clad and misc. items anywhere from 2" to 10" but no silver. Had a friend go over a 1860 property after I hunted it with the MXT using his Etrac see what I missed, and he found nothing of value that I missed. This was a heavy infested iron site though so there's probably a lot of masking being done. If you get the chance to hunt with a friend who has a top of the line detector and is willing to check targets before digging, this is a great learning experience.

 

[PulltabPirate]

Welcome to the forum Whitetail!! First of all, you ain't doin' too darn bad! 3 Silvers, some rings (including a Diamond!) Some guy's would be envious of your success! You've got some great advice here already but just to add my 2 cents worth.... YES, get a 5.3! That big 12" coil WILL mask good targets in the trash. Actually, the trash masks the targets, the large coil just picks up too many targets at a time to pick out the good ones. You'd be amazed at the good targets still in the ground and some still shallow but there masked by junk/iron. That 5.3 will help with that! Also, I bet that old college site HAS been pounded hard like Larry said. Try getting off the beaten path there. Go into the woods a little (if any) Think where people went in years past, not just were they go now. Think out of the box a little & not like every other guy with a detector and you may find spots were NO ONE has swung a machine.
Lastly, try not to get caught up in "the grass is always greener" syndrome! I mean, you have an AWESOME machine! NOTHING beats a White's in build quality and reliability! In fact, when you REALLY get to know your machine, you'll clean the clock of those with more expensive units that don't know there machines as well! & just to mention, I've heard that E-Track nulls out in the Iron. Hard to pick out the Silver when your 'tector doesn't respond! Have confidence in your machine & dig some "Iffy" signals. You'll surprise yourself!! HH

 

[Whitetail]

PullTab....that is exactly what I'm thinking....that I'm going right by the silver and another detector will find what I'm missing. I'm definitely thinking the grass is greener. Like I say. Love my machine. Wish I could locate more silver though? I will probably invest in a 5.3 then if that is what you guys are using. I was just under the impression that with the 12", bigger is better. Apparently not.

[attachment 208156 whites_960-8013215_s.jpg]

Do you guys mean this 5.3? Will the 5.3 operate deep enough to locate silver say at 8" down....or is this a shallow detecting coil??

 

[jacknh]

Yes Whitetail, that's the coil that I have. Oh my goodness, you will be amazed at how different it is... in a good way. Mine stays on my machine 90% of the time and if the area isn't to trashy, then I'll put on the D2 (10") and the only time I use my 12" is on the beach. I don't think I've found anything around here with my 5.3 but at least 5-6" anyway. I think that if you tried one, you'd be sold. I think I pd under 200 for it and it was well worth it. I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, will attest to the fact that it's pretty much a must in your arsenal of coils. If you get another coil, do yourself a favor and invest in another lower rod and nut/bolt hardware and mount your coil ahead of time. Then when you go out into the field to MD, all you have to do is disconnect at the upper rod- so much easier. This is JMHO...HH Jack from NH

 

[Whitetail]

Jack,
great information there. I like the idea of just replacing the lower arm. Any experience with the SEF coils? I just created a post on that to try and accumulate some added information for my 2nd coil choice. The guy from one of the shops suggested an 8x6 SEF as a second?? I'm new...so I'm looking at info from some of you veterans out there.
NH? Whereabouts? I'm from Mass.

 

[Monte]

My first post as I just joined this evening.??

Welcome to the White's Forum, and to using a great White's detector.

I have a question for MXT users. I just purchased my MXT PRO about 2 months ago ...??

With only 2 months of use, and probably with the stock 12" coil, I am certain you have some learning to do, and a smaller coil to acquire.

...and have only found 3 silvers...all dimes.??

That sounds like you are doing okay, I'm sure to most of us, because finding silver these days (actually for the past 1-2 decades) has been getting tougher for a number of reasons.

I've spent a ton of time searching everything from ball fields to homes to woods and am wondering if I'm doing something wrong???

Ball fields? many.most have been hunted a lot for a long time so most older coins have been found.

Woods? I know there can be some old logging or mining camps or towns in some wooded areas, or other old-use activity that research might reveal that haven't been hit too hard so, possibly, there might be a good chance for older coins there. I know I research for them, hunt them, put up with the abundant litter that's usually there, and can find some silvers now and then.

Homes/Private Yards? These have the potential to be places where all of the average hobbyists over the past 4-4

 

[jacknh]

Monte, please never apologize for lengthy responses because I personally learn so much from your years of detecting. You make the learning curve so much easier for us newbies. Let's see ... if I get 47 years of metal detecting experience like you, I will be almost 100 years old. I don't think the odds are in my favor. Lol HH Jack from NH

 

[Whitetail]

Monte,
thank you so much for taking the time to put things into perspective for me. I can imagine that as strange as it may seem to me to not find silver it can be even more for you seeing you were used to the "hay" days of finding lots of silver. I do like the aspect of just getting out there and enjoying the "unknown"...the possiblity of finding that Merc, Standing liberty, Barber, Seated, wheatie or Indian head. I think this is what keeps us going. I realize that the more time spent doing research and just getting out there to detect is really what its all about. I enjoy finding the clad and the occasional "quality" item. I was just wondering if I could improve on anything I was doing. I will take everyones advice and try out a 5.3. That is a good starting point for me. I'm new here and feel that everyone has given me quality advice. I appreciate all you guys taking the time to go out of your way and try to help me out! I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions and as I get better I can start helping others out as well.

 

[TerraDigger]

Try detecting the parts of the college where you 'think' no one would lose coins/jewelry. Probably other detectorists have thought the same. You might be suprised at what turns up.

 

[Old Virginia]

I bought an MXT Pro last October and truly love the machine. These are all great responses and I keep learning from these forums. I'm a bit surprised no one has recommended the relic mode though. It DEFINITELY goes deeper - I don't care what anybody tells you. I've tested it several times. I use relic mode, 2 tone 95% of the time. I will obsessionally flip to C/J to help ID a target, but that's all.

I would try using the relic mode, 2 tone on the MXT Pro. High tone - dig it. Low tone - keep swingin'.

 

[Old Virginia]

"I will obsessionally"

Uh . . . I meant "occasionally."