My first hunt with the Safari

[rhondasboy1]

Just got my Safari yesterday from Kellyco and man was I excited. Went out with a buddy this afternoon to a 1920s home that apparently had not been hunted. My first outing, I found a 1946 silver dime, 3) wheaties and 3) modern pennies plus the usual hose nozzles, etc. I can tell I am going to have to get used to this machine as I have been using a Whites Spectrum XLT for the past 10 plus years. I think I'm going to like it, but I am impatient and want to know it all now. I'd appreciate knowing how long it took some of you to get used to the machine and feel comfortable. I look forward to many years of happy hunting with my Safari.

Rhondasboy in Utah

 

[pip]

I got my safari about 2 weeks ago. Have been out several times a week and have probably 30 hours on it. I am just starting to get comfortable with it. Had an ace 350 before. There is a learning curve with it, its a totally different machine than my Garrat is. The best advice I can give you is to swing slow. The average swing should take you about 4 seconds. One thing I have learned that if the Minelab tells you something is there, its there. Im pretty much a coin hunter so I have my set up cross saved. I like the ferrous sounds much better. You WILL dig many rusty nails while learning the machine. After 30 or so hours I can pretty much weed them out now, one thing that helps is to cross check an iffy target in all metal mode. If you get an iron signal its a nail. I'm already out performing several of my friends who have been using an AT PRO for over a year. The Safari hits hard on silver and will go deep. I am very happy with my purchase and am sure you will be. I have a 8x6 sef coil on order for those trashy places....will let you know how it work in a few weeks when it get here..Happy hunting!

 

[JoshuaA]

Way to go on your first hunt! I recently picked up a Quattro and have been impressed thus far. One thing i have noticed is that if it gives me a signal there is something there. Have fun learning your new machine!

 

[john4840]

Welcome Rhondasboy, I went from XLT to a Minelab Sovereign XS, and I now use a Quattro. What I have notice is that the XLT cannot handle iron as well my Sovereign when comparing signals between the two. The Sovereign found me many silver coins in the same hole with iron junk and when comparing these same signals with the XLT, the XLT would not give me a indication that a coin might be there. Later on I wanted to get a machine that had a display and I then purchased my Quattro.

The biggest problem is going from a fast sweeping machine like XLT to the slow sweep you need for the Safari. When I first started to use my Sovereign I had to keep on telling myself to slow down, but after a while it became natural for me to swing slow. When I started using my Quattro I was already in the habit of sweeping the coil slow. Also I remember getting use to the multi tones of my Sovereign it was hard at first but now I can't imagine using a machine with out them. I guessing it took about a month or so, but it also help me to want to learn the machine better when I was already some great. From what I read you did great your first time out.

The Quattro/Safari takes a little time to get use too, but it is is worth it. I found coins mix in with iron junk and I believe it is a good or better then my Sovereign. The one way I determine that target is a nail with my Quattro is to pinpoint the target and then swing my coil over the pinpointed area. If the Quattro gives me a nice coin sound then it is a coin, but if it doesn't then it is a nail. I would also order the Andy Sabisch's Quattro/Safari handbook if you have not so yet. It has alot of good informaition in it,

Good luck and good hunting.

John

 

[rhondasboy1]

Thanks for the feedback. I am in California this week on vacation and have been doing a bit of beach hunting. Not great success, but learning a lot. I have figured out that I must slow down my swing. I'm used to the White's XLT and the Safari is quite a bit heavier. Each time out I'm learning a little more.

Rhondasboy1

 

[Prep1957]

If you like the Safari now wait till you get 6X8 coil it will be even more enjoyable.

 

[Hotzone]

I have owned a Quattro for 5 years. I learn something whenever I use it. I especially like to run all metal ,High trash. There are times when this is just to noisy so use various programs and switch modes to verify. I like to experiment with the controls. Going back over the same areas with different settings can be enlightening.