Newbie Ace 250 Question

[JDetector]

I am a newbie to metal detecting and just picked up the Ace 250 after all of the positive feedback I have read. I am in Southern California and have been down to the beach a couple of times. I am still getting use to the detector, but I notice in wet sand I come accross a number of targets reading at 8+ deep. I have tried to dig a few of them, but always find the sand caves in before I can find the target. I have yet to find one of them. I use the Jewelry setting with the sensitivity set approximately at 5.

Are these the treasure I am hoping for or more likely false alarms? Also should I buy a shovel for deep targets? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Uncle Willy]

You need to get a shovel or big scoop. Digging in wet sand is tricky.

Bill

 

[NM5K]

Offhand, if the signal is pinpointable, it's probably
some kind of target. I've also had a few deep hits that
I dug, and didn't find anything. But, it was mainly I think
from me using a probe, and not being able to dig a really
deep hole. But I kept getting a solid pinpointable target,
that read 8+, so I do think something was down there. I'll
dug on it more later.. I bought a couple more digger shovels
the other day, as the one I got with my detector, I had broke
before 5 hours was up.. So I went to home depot and got a good
one with the solid body thats nearly unbreakable. It's also
handy in that it has a ruler built onto the shovel blade.
I also bought a 2nd longer handle shovel with a narrow blade
on it. It'll be good for deep narrow holes. I also bought a
8 inch screwdriver that I'm dulling down for another coin probe.
I don't know if a change in ground that would cause false
hits, would be pinpointable. I kinda doubt it unless you
had a small pocket of hot earth or sand in an otherwise cold
area. A change in ground to a lesser quality usually just reduces
depth..
I think anyway... Also...A real hit will be pretty repeatable
in the same spot. If it's a false hit, it will usually be
pretty random as you sweep. IE: you might get a hit in a spot,
but have trouble getting it to repeat. If it doesn't, it likely
was a bad hit. But if it rings in the same spot, even if sporadic
due to depth, I'd dig it. The pinpointer can tell quite a bit.
It's all metal non motion when in that mode, and can be useful
for getting a general idea where things are, or if it's a real
target. Most deep targets will naturally have a weaker pinpoint
signal due to being deep, and often will sound kinda funny, like
you hear a slight wavering of the signal.
MK

 

[saika/ace250]

Willy is right digging in sand is about as realiable as holding a fist ful of sand. You could be moving the object around with every shovel stroke.

Try to pinpoint without using the pinpoint button on shallow targets for practice. In some cases you will not be able to pinpoint as deep as motion mode will go.

Good luck, you have a great unit there.