Newbie Beach Question

[JDetector]

I am a newbie to metal detecting and just picked up the Garrett 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 across 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.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Those are most definitely false signals. While the Ace may be a decent machine in the dry sand or on land, they are known for going "ga-ga" in the wet salt sand, as do many single frequency machines. Best to stay in the dry sand or on land with that one.

Most of the dual-frequency machines and above do well in the wet sand. The Fisher CZ machines do...like the CZ-70 and CZ-20. The 17 and 28 frequency Minelab machines like the Sovereigns, Excalibur, Quattro, and Explorers are widely considered to be the best for the beach. I use the Excalibur for beach hunting.

 

[bdahunter]

If you turn the sensitivity down to 2 or 3 notches you can search the wet sand but it hardly seems worth it to me. I use an Ace 250 on the beach here in Bermuda and it works great in the dry sand but not nearly so well in the wet sand. Usually I wind up with large junk targets at 8+ (copper sheeting and white lead strips)and they are 8+ inches down and more, frustrating after fighting with a collapsing hole to find junk. The deeper the target reads in wet sand the more likely it will be false or junk, pinpointing helps though by giving you a size shape to work with before digging but once again not as good in the wet sand. Just my opinion, but I think you will be better rewarded hunting the dry sand. HH

 

[alex]

explorer2 too. To compare both machines at beach (expl and exclb),what can you tell?

alex

 

[genecarer]

Mike,

I need help by next Tuesday. I always hit the beach during the winter with my White's XLT but this time I am taking my new exp 11, that is
if I master it enough to take it to the beach.
My question: what settings should I use or should I just experiment
with the regular coin setting ?

Thanks,

Gene

 

[Ronin]

Gene;
If you are going to work wet sand first watch out for waves.
If you get the explorer wet it is finished.
second back your sensitivity down (18-22) or you will be digging coke cans at 3 feet deep.
next get a good scoop or you will be totally worn out by the time you reach the target.

when the explorer has been working in the salt sand for a while it will get unstable. when this occurs just shut it off and restart it.
also if you are working an area that has black sand it can get under the coil cover and drive the detector nuts.

Rick (TN)

 

[genecarer]

Thanks,

I know how the wet sand drives my XLT unstable and I always either shut it down or do an air/ground bal.
I have no intention of getting this baby wet, so I will stay away from the shore line.
So, that's it with the settings?

 

[Ronin]

I ususally have it in IM -12
or accept coins and exclude crown caps.
if you discriminate too much then you will miss rings

Rick (TN)