Recently bought my first metal detector

[kenshi]

Just two days ago I bought a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV from Academy. My goal is to search for anything interesting so I figured I didn't need much in the way of discrimination. I've put a few hours on it and I'm getting to know the machine fairly well. I've been out to my backyard three times and found a lot of stuff. Unfortunately, except for four pennies, a short chain, and a tag for a keychain, it's all absolute junk, mostly pieces of aluminum cans, wire, etc. I went searching with my little brother in my mother's yard which has pennies everywhere. Except for a 1959 though, they were all 1982 and newer. I found a key in my grandparents' yard but they didn't know right away what it went to. Today I bought a plastic (or carbon fiber or some such) trowel. I almost didn't buy it because I didn't figure it would be stout enough in hard dirt, but it certainly fairs well in my back yard and I can lay the metal detector down and wave the trowel in front of it to see if I've scooped up the item. I'm really glad I bought it now. I'm about to try my hand at the lake and see if I can find something more interesting. I lost some jewelry there before so maybe other people have too and I'll be able to find it.

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

Don't give up, ya have to dig some junk to get to the good stuff.

Just reading your Post, sounds like your bit now and will enjoy detecting.

All my machines but one, my BH Pioneer 505, are all detectors that require a learned ear to figure out what you have. My 505 is the first unit I've ever had that uses tones to help take away the guess. For an inexpensive machine (BH), I would not be afraid to run with the big dogs. I let a guy I work with who has never detected before, run my BH with just a very few brief pointers (had very little time to show him) about the controls and he was hooked. He told me our Bosses machine, a Whites MXT, would not even hit on his wedding ring when the BH did. Now I don't know what the Boss did wrong but I would think an MXT would hit on a wedding band. So lesson number one, a detector is only as good as it's master

Years ago, it took countless hours of listening to sound and digging many junk targets with the good to know what a machine was telling you. It did not hurt to know the whys and hows either. Today, the tones can pretty much take some of the guessing out of it but understand and do not become disappointed, the tones and digital displays can still be fooled by lets say non-coin objects of similar alloy contents.

 

[downeaster]

Having had an MXT since they first came out,I can guarantee that they hit hard and loud on wedding rings and will find very small gold also.They are based on a gold machine, the GMT. Although the 505 is a good detector, there simply is no comparison between it and the MXT. You are comparing apples and oranges. Use whatever you have and enjoy it!!

 

[kenshi]

Okay, the trowel wasn't so great after all. I went to the park instead of the grass since it was almost sunset and when I started trying to dig in the thick grass, it broke. I may buy another one for softer ground because it's so convenient being able to pass it in front of the detector to see if I got what I'm looking for, but I guess I'll have to get a steel one for the tougher ground.

I just found out if that 1959 penny had been one year older, it would've been a wheat penny. That gives me more hope for finding old coins. Unfortunately almost all the coins I find are pennies, perhaps because they are better camouflaged on the dirt. I may just be searching in the wrong places.

I meant to mention before that geocaching is a hobby of mine. I recently decided to try waymarking (searching for geodetic survey markers). Some of them are buried so a metal detector helps with finding them. I thought it would be cool to find some buried markers, and then I thought it would be cool to find just about anything buried, so I decided to buy one. It's just yet another hobby to take up my time.

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

By the time you get done, you will have an assortment of digging tools and maybe a good magnet or two. Just have to sort out what works. I have around 4 to 5 tools I pack around in the pickup. Have worn out or broke my share of them so it will eventually happen and again.

Pennies as a rule of thumb seem to be the most ubundant and I believe it is because you will not find many people who will bother to bend over to pick them up, especially a Zinc when detected, and the color tends to blend in with most darker ground materials. Just keep at it and you will find a first Wheaty. The only time I had this rule of thumb change was hunting a river beach with white sand and then it was mostly the silver colored coins I was finding. Tall grass seems most times to produce a good mix as well as pocket change dumps in loose soils.

I also have done the Bench Marks with a GPS through Geocaching. I'm amazed just how many there are here in the canyon that are covered with little dirt and rock slides. The old Long. and Lat. are way off most times but I have established what seems to be a direction and distance trend with most that have no visible Bench Mark posts to send you to them. I go to the spot it is supposed to be, turn a certain direction, walk so far and presto, there they normally are. Have had a rare few much more difficult to find but eventually did. A detector also helps. It is amazing how many years some of these Bench Markers have sat covered up. The old War Era steel ones can get pretty rusty also.

Sounds like you are taking to this stuff like you were born with one in your hand.

 

[kenshi]

Here's an update. I went back to visit family again today and go hunting with my brother. We mostly just found not-so-old coins and junk. However, we did find one thing of particular interest in my grandmother's front yard. It's a figurine of a bull dog. It's about 4" long and feels like solid lead. Around the collar, it said "John -errian Co", the hyphen representing a part where it chipped off. My grandmother didn't recognize it, so I'm guessing it was there before they moved in over 30 years ago. Obviously this thing is old, but I was wondering if anyone knows the rest of the company name and perhaps just how old it is.

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

It's not a Bull Dog Mack truck hood ornament is it?

 

[kenshi]

I don't believe so. It's somewhat like this but discolored from being in the dirt and has a collar with the company name on it. And based on the weight, I think it's most likely lead, but I'm not sure.