Newbie - first hunt questions

[Johnwbriggs]

Hi,
I went out a couple times this weekend for my first detecting hunt and man am I confused / A little bit frustrated.
First the good news is I found a dime. My first coin, a 1988 d. My biggest question is, well two actually. One is the mystery beeps. You get a single beep but nothing on a second swing. Or if you do it has moved a little. I can

 

[1wind_Cougar]

Hi John, Fellow Newbie (Ace 250) I think that each time I go out, something new is answered for me. One little tip though, Dig Dig Dig. I found that digging trash is a learning curve and I am slowly learning my Tones (beeps), so i can pinpoint better and not dig such a large hole. If I have a shallow target, like a coin or relic, I plug the ground. The 6" round plugger, goes about 4" down and I disturb the grass and dirt as much. Much like the Plugger for the Golf Greens. (I think I will patient a 8" plugger). Anyway..... Dig Dig Dig.

Michael in NC

 

[BOB in TX]

Usally a one way beep is trash,as to learning to pinpoint the best way is to bury a coin,stick a golf tee on top of the coin and practice your pinpoint this will show you where to dig.

 

[ghzcss]

Hello John,

1wind_Cougar is right on the dig dig dig. That way you can learn what the detector is telling you. If you never dig trash. You won't know what trash sounds like. So, you won't know if a signal is trash. With a good machine. Most of the time, if you only get a beep in one direction and it does not repeat. You are either getting a trash signal or sometimes, it is possible you have a coin next to trash.
Another thing. Being new. I would get a better detector for your pinpointing. I would suggest an Ace 250. I have been detecting for years and I have one myself. I have several others. But, this is a great machine for a quick hunt. Or as a backup also. It has belltone on coins which is great for a beginner. Because it is very easy to tell when you have a coin. And it is very easy to pinpoint with. You should be able to pick one up for right around $215 or so. If you can catch one on eBay. You may get it for under $200. I have had a few without a pinpoint or nonmotion mode. And it is even hard to pinpoint with them even if you are an experienced hunter.

Good Luck, Mike

 

[jimmileo]

My first recommendation would be to update our equipment. ebay the two you have and get an ACE 250. For the money it's the best little detector on the market and you can get a sweet deal right now on an ACE with the new larger coil. Also get the 4 1/2" Stinger coil while you are at it. (I am assuming you want a Garrett detector since you are on a Garrett forum). That setup will probably do 90% of what you want a detector to do until you are ready to move up. Even then it is the best backup detector you can have and you will find you still use it a lot. Second, I've learned that a one way beep is mostly junk.....unless it isn't! Hit the spot from several directions and listen closely for a second signal going back the other way. Use headphones....always...... and sometimes you can hear it both ways that might indicate a coin on edge for example. Most likely it is junk, but you will never know unless you dig. You will learn as much from digging junk as from digging nothing but treasure and that is impossible even for an experienced detectorist. Since you don't have a pinpoint feature on our present equipment about all you can do if you can't ex the target is to move on to one you can. Otherwise you could spend an hour digging a penny or a rusted nail. Now that I have you thoroughly confused, go back to step one and start over! jim

 

[NM5K]

>And it is even hard to pinpoint with them even if you are an experienced >hunter.

To me, I often wonder how the users of the 150's get around
not having a pinpointer, unless using a sniper coil.
Seems like it would be kinda tricky with the larger
coils, being the detector is in a motion mode that
only beeps. I bet they dig a good bit larger holes
on average vs the 250. I really like having the constant
non motion mode for pinpointing. The motion mode is too
random, and could even be sporadic for deep stuff.
Course, using the sniper coil would makes things a
good bit easier.
MK