Question for Garrett Users

[pizzacoil]

I've explored a few forums, and posted my finds on a couple of them. After a couple of years using the Ace 250 and just a couple of months using the GTI 2500, I'm beginning to wonder if I have the right brand and machines for the type of hunting I prefer.

I cannot complain all that much, as John-Edmonton can confirm by having been witness via the TD forum to my best finds, but...

I can't help but notice that on these forums the Garrett machines are the ones finding all the clad, and VERY few relics and older coins. Despite having dug a few old coins, have I missed more than my share by having used these machines? I've read many a story (after having purchased the GTI 2500) about this machine's dicey target ID'ing and imaging, and how it seems to "miss" some obvious targets that other machines just eat up. So far, I think the imaging feature has proven to be more detrimental than useful, as I have read that it cannot effectively give accurate size of targets under 4" in depth. In hindsight, this feature's little quirks may have caused me to lose some good coins.

Maybe John can clarify this for me, seeing as how he seems to be quite experienced with this machine.

HH

 

[awhitster]

[quote pizzacoil]Gas+Batteries+Time=Happinness[/quote]
All I have ever used is the Ace 250 and I have done real well. I can't compare it to others having not used them. I can tell you in your auto-signature, "Happinness" is correctly spelled Happiness.

 

[DavHut]

Ive used Garretts for some years now. Ive also used detectors by all the other makers. Garretts work well, but they are indeed different than others. Some of my best finds came as a result of using Garrett detectors. I would rate them as some of the best general purpose machines around.

Most die hard relic heads dont use Garretts, though, preferring other instruments. These hard-core detectorists still see Garretts as toy-like, fit only for old geezers in black socks and sneakers.
This is a tight group and if one person finds a three ringer with brand "X", then everyone in the group wants the same model. Much of the emphasis is on older, "quality" finds and those finding this stuff feel underequipped with Garretts, for reasons mostly due to bias. So some of the absence afield you mention may be a result of that, even if no detector brand will find everything, just because one of them found something, somewhere.

Garrett markets aggressively to the common market, too. The whole ACE 250 thing is part of this, bringng new, loyal Garrett users into the fold. These users are on the other end of the spectrum from the die-hards and, frankly, are in the majority when it comes to market share. These are what we would call casual hobbyists - and these folks go where Clad is King, often enough.

I suggest you ensure your sites are good, as well. Taking any detector to places where nothing you want exists is the same as finding crap.
Research pays off here, and your goal should be to find the places no-one else knows about.

I know for a fact, too, that good scan and grid techniques will unlock places that others - including you - may do poorly at, regardless of detector. There are many, many variables.

But, the fact remains that Garretts may not be for you. The on-off response and short vs. long depth audio took me a lot of getting used to and to be frank, I still lean towards Tesoro's often enough. I know others who have expressed similar concerns. It may behoove you to try another brand, since confidence in your instrument is now shaken.

 

[Terry in PA]

I have used the Garrett gta 1000,GTI1500,2000,2500. And I've found relics with them all and also old coins that's if 1745 is old!Did I miss somethings? Could be but not everyone who hunts any given area gets it all.I've used Bounty Hunters,Whites,Fishers,Garrett's they all do the same thing. Everyone of them could miss a target for a dozen of reasons. Did any go deeper then the other? I never seen any difference in any of them. As for the sizing on the 2500 it will go off a little the deeper the target is. But saying that I can tell you if the target response is good I'll check it out from different direction and watch the target ID and size. I found a silver dime at a beach at 8 1/2 inches
the target size at first said large size until I scanned it the other way and the size was right on and sure enough it was a dime.Listen to the sound of targets. I've ran in zero mode in trash areas and found coins by scanning slow and hearing bell tones along with lower trash tones so I slowed down and shortened my swing until I just heard the bell tone and dug up the coin. There's more then just sizing to find good targets and don't be sucked in by all the hype of other detector users because that's just what it is hype. I've used just about every brand they all can and will miss a target every now and then. Use your eye's and ear's listen to the tone and watch the target Id . If it sounds good and Id's good dig. If the sound is choppy and the ID is jumpy check it any way just to see what it is then you will know next time your in that area if you should dig or not.

 

[scars]

I have a GTI 2000 that I bought used and did not like. I left it at home and used a DFX and Explorer II for a couple of years. Later I figured I better do something about the GTI and took it out to some sites I had hunted prior and using relic mode and bell tone I was very impressed, target ID worked well and one of my hunting partners who used a older Fisher model could not touch it, I was getting silver quaters at 8" all day long and even a silver 3 cent piece at 8". The one problem I had was when in the woods if you bump a stick or something it would send a signal and thats with sens at 9. I use the other units in the woods. Remember that you need to get the coil over the target.

 

[pizzacoil]

I did get sucked into the whole TI thing; I got so that I could read the 250 very well, and thought that the 2500 would meet me more than halfway with al its bells and whistles. Going out today for a day-long hunt. I'll report in detail tonight.

HH

 

[pizzacoil]

You're absolutely right. Going to take both machines out today to new sites.

I do plenty of research, and it has paid off. It would seem that as soon as I started leaving the 250 in the car and using the 2500, things dried up. I think I have to spend more time with this green meanie.

HH

 

[pizzacoil]

Thanks for the input, and the spelling correction!

The 250 has been very good to me, indeed. I guess I just have to tame the grean machine and hit new sites.

HH

 

[pizzacoil]

Same "bump-tone" phenomenon here... The problem is that I do 50% of my hunting in wooded areas, and even the fields sometimes have stubble that will produce falsing. I learned to live with it with the 250, and now I have to discipline myself with the 2500.

Not about to give up on the 2500, but could not help notice a trend (especially after being in the midst of a dry spell). Everything that everyone posted as a response makes perfect sense, and has given me some renewed perspective.

HH

 

[Terry in PA]

I'm getting one for my 2500.

 

[pizzacoil]

You all had good points. I'm glad I panicked and wrote what I did, because after much consideration to what you all said, as well as a semi-succesful hunt today, I have some renewed respect for these machines and faith that the 2500 will have something to show on new sites.

I'm not a rookie at all, and I got the Ace 250 down pat. Today the 250 hit on a 1901 IH at 3" deep with the 9x12 coil in a well-pounded field; I should add that I was pleasantly surprised at how well this big coil seperated and ID'd this coin. Damn! In iron-laden ground, masking can be a nightmare, esecially with arger coils, but this time around the 250 came through. Settings were: All Metal, sens. at 3 notches from max.

Next up, the 2500 made its apearance on a field a cellar hole (mid-1800's). With a fresh mind, I decided to be patient, and "dig it all up"... Two buckles, one pepper shaker top, and a very ornate copper suspender buckle. No coins, but I'm going to put both machines through the motions next weekend.

And here's a reality check for all those concerned with depth: I got all worked up over attaining maximum depth (It can't hurt, right? Which is why I'm awaiting the 10x14 DD), but truthfully, my best finds, even an 1803 Large Cent, were no more than 4" deep. I want to have the confidence that if a coin is beyond the 4" mark, that this $1,000 machine will ID it and tell me exact depth, and that is why I got all worked up over the shaky TI and ID issues I'd read about. Today the 2500 performed quite well, and I met it halfway, paying closer attention to what it was saying. The 10x14 DD coil is something I'd like some feedback on.

Terry, the old white coil didn't do so bad today... After exercixing some self-discipline, I realized that I can keep falsing as a result of stubble to a minimum. Still, I think I'll take you up on your suggestion and order one of the newer black coils.

Thanks again to all!

 

[John-Edmonton]

Garrett makes the best coin finding machines as far as I am concerned. They have patented the Imaging and Profiling features to size a target. No other manufacturer has this technology. That's why you find so many coins with a Garrett. Just about every detector that is sold will be used to find coins at one time or another anyways. The Imaging and profiling goes deeper the 4". No, it doesn't do the job to 8", but it works in my soil down to at least 6". You have to master the sizing features. They are pretty finicky at times, and you have to learn to read into the imaging and what it's limitations are in your soil. Believe me....it works! I will be hitting my 100,000th coin soon. I doubt if I would have gotten this far without the ability to size my targets.

Now, about the relics. The GTI 2500 is a great relic hunting machine. I have found lots of buttons, Minnnie balls, rings etc. The GTI 2500 goes deep in it's all metal mode too. If I go relic hunting, I use the GTI 2500.

Not everyone likes to relic hunt. A couple of buttons have a great sense of excitement for some people, to others, they are just buttons. Some people are just content to search areas close to where they live, others like to research a site and drive great distances to see if they can get some great relics.

In a lot of areas, the old coins just simply have been hunted out. Metal detecting has been around since the 60's. But....if you put in some research, follow some of the advice given on the Garrett forums, you will probably get some old coins too. I have found over 1,100 silver coins to date. I am happy with that. I also hunt new coins too. That gets me about $500.00 a year. I love all kinds of hunting. But, I need to rotate my types of hunting too. Sometimes its water hunting, or hunting in the woods, or beach hunting, or snow hunting, or park hunting and relic hunting too. The variety keeps the fires burning. If I only hunted clad, or relics, I would probably give up after 3-4 years of hunting. I have been metal detecting for 15 years using Garrett, and have what I consider extremely well.

This is a Garrett Forum. Every one is encouraged to post and show their finds. Rings, relics, recent coins, old silver etc. are always welcomed. But this forum is also to discuss Garrett Metal Detectors and exchange ideas and advise so new people can get a head-start on metal detecting.



Most people who take on the task of just hunting for a particular type of target, such as jewelry in water or relics in researched areas tend to post on those types of forums. That's why you have relic forums and beach/water hunting forums.

But....if you are researching a specific brand of machine, you go to that specific brand forum and research it or ask questions. That is one of the reasons that this forum exists. Metal detecing has a different flavor to it, to many people.

Metal detecting is a hobby, and hobbies are meant to be enjoyed.

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[Uncle Willy]

I might add another point. It's difficult to hunt relics where they don't exist - mainly CW relics. The CW wasn't fought all over the U.S., just in a few states. Old coins are also more plentiful in the Midwest and east for the simple reason that people were living there a couple of hundred years before most Western states were discovered or settled. Arizona didn't even become a state until 1912. So one has to hunt what is available in their area.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

One question - do you have the cable taped straight up the shaft for a foot or more. If not, every time that cable twitches the coil picks it up and you get a false signal. Probably your main problem.

Bill

 

[khouse]

I'm not one to post my finds. I have found lots of silver coins with the 250. Just recently I hunted a small yard of a 100 year old house. I dug 1 Franklin half and 3 Liberty halves under 2 large trees. This was my best silver dig in 22 years of detecting. I dug a V nickel and about 20 wheat's and everything in between. I also dug a Civil war bullet on my property.
I had a Whites M6 and Minelab X-Terra 30 at the time I bought the 250 about 1 year ago. After using the 250 for about 2 weeks I knew I had to sell the other detectors. In which I did. The detectors I speak of were in no way bad detectors. They just either didn't perform as well or better and the M6 was heavy comparatively speaking. I quickly purchased a $60.00 sniper coil for the 250 and recommend the same to you.
I just don't think you have hit the right spot yet.

 

[gwn]

I find a lot of clad because of where I hunt...I have found some nice relics also...but being somewhat of a new guy at detecting Im hunting places I know will produce like playgrounds. Still alot to learn about the Ace...but having a ball...the relics arent going anywhere because I dont have a lot of competition here in my small city...Gary

 

[Mike in Dana Point Ca]

i used a 2500 for three years, and while i did find some cool stuff, my buddies who had explorers always found more. i would listen to their signals and most times would not be able to hear them...and if i did hear them, the sound and ID would not sound like something i would dig.

i recently sold my 2500 and bought a used explorer XS with the X1 probe and an extra sunray X8 coil for $711 on ebay. a great deal. in my first two hunts i found 1 seated dime, two mercs, a rosie, two indian heads, and 30 wheats- all over 6 inches deep. both hunts were in areas that i had scoured with my 2500. i found coins that i had walked right over with my old 2500.

maybe garretts are good for other parts of the country, but here in california, i believe that the explorers are the only way to go. i hope this doesn't upset any garrett users here--i've used garretts for a long time. but i truly believe that the explorers go deeper and ID much better at greater depths than any garrett.

HH

Mike in dana point ca.

 

[Blockade Runner]

I think that I have presented a good bunch of Garrett relics and coins on the site since April. This is my stuff since April minus the better finds that I have dropped in the safe box or many 1820 era flat buttons going to another case and a half of shoebox full of other relic junk. I have posted pictures of plates and some other coins on the site. These have all been dug in "pot luck" sites. All have been dug in deep woods either pine forests with 3 inches of tags or
heavy hardwood forests. I also regularly find many small buck shots at 3-4 inches deep and I have dug at least 4 cuff or smaller size buttons in the deep woods. I believe the Garrett's are as sensitive to small targets as anything that I have used contrary to a lot of argument. I dig small targets as frequently with the 12.5 imaging head
and now the 9*12 as the smaller stock coils. I used the 9*12 this weekend was hot on small as well (just didn't manage anything worth shouting about. I dug three deep CW percussion caps that screamed at me.
I think that the depth reading is confusing to some when relic hunting, my friend said when we were digging minie and musket balls " I cannot believe these are only 7 inches deep" They were actually inches deeper. You have to remain in the mind set that the depth meter is thinking of a coin size round object somewhere between a dime and penny and then account for the fact that relics are on edge and not
round and have varying levels of ground effect. I am very confident
when I locate a new site that the Garrett is going to get what I want
if it is there to be found.