Observations after years of detecting

[Daugela]

So I've been hunting for about 8 years. I started on the Whites MXT, moved to a Whites VX3, sold it and ended up with an AT GOLD. Still have the MXT - my son uses it.

Over the years, I mastered the MXT. I can honestly say that. But I felt like I was mission gout on "something" because everyone began buying more expensive machines like the E-trac, Whites V3i, etc

 

[M_d_in_guy]

I only have 3 years detecting, I bought the ATG, after re-searching it first to see if it met my experience level. Started with the base line discoverer 1100? A canadian tire flyer special. Daguela I agree with you totally on this, The veterans on here always say it's the listen that they use! Good post, cheers an HH.

Jon

 

[mickfin]

Daugela your Right, I have a Oll Eagle II SL 90 old School N She find the Good stuff, I have a AT-Gold
And the CTX Yes the CTX has Bells N wistles But a Detector is still a Detector Just cozz its new don't mean its better?
Mickfin

 

[ajaj]

Some good points. For the AT Pro, I believe there are far too many people who put too much emphasis on the VDI numbers. Believe me, the numbers have they're place; they help me distinguish between, say, a nickel and a tight wad of foil. That comes in handy in very trashy areas where "dig everything" would ruin your back, knees, and the park's sod. However, in a quieter area, I may just dig that foil DEPENDING UPON THE SOUNDS. It's the overall sound that is important and how the EM field responds to the target...both at the target's edge and the middle.

My first signature below is probably overlooked by most people, but I believe it captures the essence of metal detecting:

1. Target must be in the ground. Researching areas is critical if you want older targets and depending upon the types of targets you desire. If you feel like going out coin popping to gather CoinStar change and maybe a piece of modern jewelry, then the local tot lot that was built in 1985 from a farmer's field in the middle of nowhere fits the bill. However, don't expect to come across Indian Head pennies or Barber dimes too often; the chance are very slim.

2. Coil must swing over target. We gotta get out there swinging, and swinging properly. Good solid even swings at the appropriate speed. Also, don't expect to cover an acre in a few days...unless you are travelling and have little time, pick and area of that acre and scrub it. Walking like "Fast Eddie" on Gravediggermax's video (I love Fast Eddie!) on that acre will miss almost all of the targets. When you get an interesting souns, center over it with smaller swings at various speeds and angles.

3. User must dig. Got an interesting target? Dig it. The machine discriminates and so do we humans. Only many hours with a machine help hone us to decide whether to dig or not. Many times I have hit that acre and have pulled nice stuff. Each time I go back, I start digging more and more iffy signals. Boy, I have been surprised. For instance, the 1842-O Seated Dime I just posted was in an area that I know I have gone over before. Going back to my opening line here, the VDI numbers were mostly in the 60s and 70s but the sounds I were hearing sounded higher. The dime was about 6 inches down in a medium trashy area. Because I am just about done with this field, I dug.

aj

 

[mudpuppy]

I have noticed that water hunting makes a person a better land hunter. The signals, locations, endurance and skills learned tend to strengthen a persons overall performance in both. Unless a person had decided to specialize in just one genre of this sport, a fellow can do well with intermediate and even introductory machines. A fact that has proven itself by plenty of members here that hunt and post. If a guy looks at this sport with an eye on economics, an introductory machine used in the right locations has a quicker return on the investment, even if a guy was just clad shooting.

Finding 100 silver dimes/year is a hell of an accomplishment that anybody should be proud of, in the Economic world, that represents to date about 300 bucks...a decent dedicated clad hunter with nothing more than a screwdriver and an introductory unit can get that in 2-3 months within 10 miles of the house, then add to that the gold and silver jewelry picked up along the way. So who had a "better" year? They both did!

Time afield, location, endurance and LUCK are probably the most important parts of this sport...The guy with time will see and be the first hunter at that sidewalk tearout, or be on the beach hunting friday night before everybody else with a coil shows up Sat morning...

Some people enjoy this sport for the thrill of the hunt, history, interest, the economic value of the finds dont matter as much as being outside and on the hunt, and others enjoy this as a challenge to see just how much money they can find in the shortest time possible. Both are great reasons to use as an excuse to get outside.

Full disclosure: I'm a mid-level gear runner and I'm in it for the money!
Mud

 

[Southwind]

Not everyone's story is that same.

I've been detecting near 40 years and the one thing I can say is newer technology has ALWAYS netted me better finds. allow me to present my case.

Our city park was established in 1883 to host one of only 2 authentic Mexican bull fights ever held in North America. In 1884, at the bull fight, there was an estimated 35,000 people who came. Wright Park also sits along side the Arkansas River which used to flood on average every 30-40 years until the 70's when Urban Renewal screwed it up and now it is dry. Each flood would deposit from 3-6" of mud in the park burying any coins very deep. The nice thing is it has created one of the best natural test gardens one could ask for. The large area has deposits that gradually slope from south to north as deep as 24". Because of this one can take a detector and start from the south and work north until you reach the depth limit of that detector. There are always coins there for a detector that can reach them.

Up until 1991 my hunting buddies and I had never found but the occasional wheat in this entire park. In 1991 I bought a new state of the art detector, a White's Eagle Spectrum, and everything changed. For the next 10 years I pulled thousands of coins from wheats, mercs,barbers and seated's we had no idea were there. After I had clean out all my Eagle Spectrum could find I again moved up to the DFX and again started pulling the keepers further down the mud fill. After about 8 years it started drying up again. I tried many of what people were reporting as deep machines, but not until I got the E-Trac did the keepers start flowing again. After some 5 years again it took the CTX 3030 to bring up the keepers. At this point I'm waiting for a new technology that will allow me to go deeper.

With a 124 years of deep trash it takes a very good target ID detector to make this park produce. I've had people bring their simple beep-n-dig machines and go home empty handed other than trash. I have a standing challenge to ANYONE who would like to prove me wrong about the high end target ID machines. You bring your detector and if you can come home with more keepers than me from the exact same area I'll pay for your trip gas, food and motel. If not, you pay your own way. That's how sure I am of what new high end technology can do.

Here is a picture of the outside wall that was built in the 30's. It is 24" tall. In 1930 when built the inside and outside were at the same height.

Here is the north area show the ground inside the walls pretty much level with the top of the wall. That means coins that were dropped in the 30's and earlier are at least as deep as the wall is high.

 

[Fabio]

Until we get to use 3D detectors, you're absolutely right.

 

[Daugela]

Some very good replies from all -

Southwind, you make a good argument and I have no doubt the newer machines are in fact deeper. My point I was trying to make with my original post was that newer, more expensive machines can discriminate better and "see" the target through analyzation, etc, not necessarily they couldn't go deeper.

That 3030 is an impressive machine and I bet it goes deep, but I'm suspect it could tell the difference between a pull tab and a gold ring better than my AT Gold or MXT. Same with coins vs trash. That's all I'm saying.

Would I love to have a 3030? You're darn right!

 

[Southwind]

more expensive machines can discriminate better and "see" the target through analyzation, etc, not necessarily they couldn't go deeper

You're 100% correct! I've done many head-to-head's with the best of the best and down. What I've learned, at least in my soil, is that even some of the cheapest machines can go as deep as the top guns if you dig everything that makes a peep. The challenge for me and my park is 124 years of trash making peeps every few inches for all but the very best machines. So far the E-Trac/CTX 3030 and the V3i can still pull the occasional keeper using the VDI. Anything less than 6" is going to be clad. I did have a friend,from this board, take up my challenge and brought down some older analog machines. He went home with a buffalo nickle and a pocket full of trash. For me an accurate target ID is job #1 sound is secondary. Most all of the detectors I've tried made sounds, less than a handful actually told me good from bad.

I am waiting for the next leap in technology.

 

[jim tn]

I'm pretty much in the same mindset as Southwind and some others here. Every American mfg has a line up of good detectors so one has to determine the type of hunting they do the most and then choose from one or more the best suited for their needs. I personally spend a lot of time hunting through trash and ultimately want a target i d machine. And it has to have a quick target response and good to great depth. It takes to much time and work for me to be a digger of it all, so I want detectors that have a fairly accurate tid. Some say that to much emphasis is put on depth. That is true when the detector one is using can't see a 8, 9, or 10" deep dime. They simply aren't being dug so the impression often is most targets are in the first 6" of dirt. There are a lot more coins and relics deeper then 6-7" then many detectorist realize. Having said all that, I personally feel that 75 % of results, maybe even more, is the person behind the detector. And this is the result of knowing ones detector, which, is the result of a lot of hours following it around. BUT, FUN IS STILL WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT! HH jim tn

 

[sweepdog]

people forget that detecting is supposed to be a fun hobby. they get too serious and then start a new hobby of collecting machines.

 

[Southwind]

I've always taken my hobbies very serious and I'm sure to some too serious. My other bobbies include flying RC, which I have 7 planes and 9 helicopters, and playing guitar, which I have 7. Sure I could have fun flying RC with just 1 and playing guitar with just 1 but I wouldn't be experiencing all the hobby has to offer or be as versed in the different aspects of the hobby.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it LOL.

 

[panama rich]

Another viewpoint:
Let the newbies have cheap shallow detectors that don't locate very deep. That way we won't have any enormous holes left uncovered. By the time they
go for a better machine they will know (hopefully) to fill in their holes.
Rich

 

[mudslingers8]

The wonderful thing about Hobbies is each his own. What's good for one might not be best for another. Some just love to coin shoot, even clad, that should be up to the individual, not to others. Some like to hunt for jewelry, or water hunt or both. Some are even in it for profit, good for them as long as we can learn from each other & respect the rules so we don't ruin the hobby for others or ourselves. The point! each his own, don't judge others or their machines, that might be all they can afford, just try to teach and respect,

Mudslinger

 

[upnorth]

You know we all have our own paths to follow. For myself I feel that the AT Pro is just what I'm looking for right now. It gives me the information and choices that I need considering the degenerative arthritis in my lower back. Basically I cherry pick a lot when my back is really bad. I find silver, but few gold rings. I notice that I tend to dig high tones and for the most part ignore anything in the 50's, 60's range Not always, but fairly frequently. I suppose that finds or lack of them is all relevant. This small town is picked over and I have to use my imagination and or slow check edges, out of the way spots for an oldie. Do I feel at a disadvantage because I don't have a CTX ? No, not in the least. I have days were all I'll find is one coin from the 20's or 30's and have a Jim dandy day. Sometimes all I find is junk, but even junk can be interesting in this hobby. And despite my bitching about my warranty issues, I REALLY like the AT Pro. This is a very fun machine to run. I got some nice old coins from my out of town field this spring and it was inaccessible this fall due to stubble. I was disappointed but it was not a game ender. I find this hobby to be so wide and encompassing that when I find an old bottle out there, or an old marble, I'm delighted and consider it another lucky day detecting. I suppose that everyone has a technology\feature level that works for them. I am just glad that I get enough information and features (tones are a God send for me) that work with my bending down decisions and it doesn't cost $3-4,000. As was said above. The hobby is about having fun and the ATP has given that to me in spades.

 

[senda]

This is a good topic. I feel that my problems with your language does not allow me to explain in full extension I wanted.
From my point of view :
You have to know your machine well and know how to use correctly in order to obtain the maximum performance from it .
A good machine does not have to be expensive. A good machine misused , is a useless machine .
In my other hobby , shooting muzzleloaders many people ask what is the best rifle or revolver more accurate ? and forget that the shooter is the one that pulls the trigger ...
Sometimes the trees we can not see the forest , a machine with many possibilities , applications and settings "may" distract and slow down your work , but when you meet her and give you more correctly administres , if any, of course.
This is like cars, there are many kinds and prices, all take you and bring you but it is not the same as a Kia , a Rolls Royce or a 4X4 , all take me to the beach, take me to the mountain 4X4 and Rolls me to the casino ...
I hope you understand the meaning of my words and if not, forgive
Senda

 

[senda]

This is a good topic. I feel that my problems with your language does not allow me to explain in full extension I wanted.
From my point of view :
You have to know your machine well and know how to use correctly in order to obtain the maximum performance from it .
A good machine does not have to be expensive. A good machine misused , is a useless machine .
In my other hobby , shooting muzzleloaders many people ask what is the best rifle or revolver more accurate ? and forget that the shooter is the one that pulls the trigger ...
Sometimes the trees we can not see the forest , a machine with many possibilities , applications and settings "may" distract and slow down your work , but when you meet her and give you more correctly administres , if any, of course.
This is like cars, there are many kinds and prices, all take you and bring you but it is not the same as a Kia , a Rolls Royce or a 4X4 , all take me to the beach, take me to the mountain 4X4 and Rolls me to the casino ...
I hope you understand the meaning of my words and if not, forgive

 

[senda]

Sorry for the couple msm ...

 

[mudslingers8]

Good Post!

 

[1ringedingy]

Many Many years ago, I built my own BFO detector and used it for years. I only had sound but it would go pretty deep. I can tell all of you that I found as many great finds and a lot of garbage than I find with my newer detectors. I have both the AT Pro and the AT Gold and both work great. It is not the detector but how you use it!

Ray