Sierras with my BH 505

[Bunited2]

Hello Board,

I just bought a BH 505 on eBay (few days away) when I saw It, the auction ended in about
20 minutes, so that's how long I had to do research/reviews. $ 99.00 + $ 26.00 shipping, I think
I did ok.

Years ago I was 4 wheeling w/my sons looking for quartz, the road we were on was washed
out so we hoofed it along this hillside. I found a ditch winding around a hill and followed it then
happened on the (almost) buried remains of a sluice camp. I found a very old Stanley metal level
and some other items, but the level was a keeper. I always figured no one had ever searched
the area w/a detector (was hell to get to anyway, no one in their right mind would go there), so
I'm going back.

I am not necessarily looking for gold, but maybe a miner's buried belongings which may include
watches, knives and yes possibly gold.

My question:

Would it be beneficial to get a pin pointer off the bat, or see how it works 1st?
Any tips? I'm sure the area is highly mineralized.

The closest I've been to detecting, is listening to Metallica.

Thanks, Bunited2

 

[Ed Steinhoff]

my first detector was a used 505 from ebay and it is still my best friend! found a lot with it. yes a pinpointer is a must! it will take much of the frustration ouy of the learning curve when you are getting started.
HH Ed in co.

 

[Bunited2]

Thanks Ed,

Yes, I do want to get the most out of each trip since it's a 3 hour trek to get to the location, I will look
for a pin pointer.

I haven't gotten the 505 yet, but I assume it comes w/the stock coil, should I also look at different sizes?

Thanks, Brian

 

[BH505Man]

Welcome to the forum Brian. I've got a Pioneer 505 too and in addition to the stock 8" coil, I also have the 4" and 11"DD coils. I find the 4" coil useful in really trashy areas it's got good target separation and deadon pinpointing. The 11"DD coil is great for searching a large area faster then the 8" coil. It's better in highly mineralized soil, deeper seeking and gets better target separation than the 8" coil too. Another useful coil for the 505 is the 10" Magnum coil. It's also great for searching a large area faster and goes deeper than the 8" coil. Hope that this info helps.
Walt

 

[Bunited2]

Thanks Walt,

BTW do these additional coils need to be Bounty? or is a coil, a coil?

Thanks, Brian

 

[BH505Man]

The 10" Magnum is a BH coil so is the 4". But the 11"DD is a Fisher coil and and only the older style F2 or F4 ones with the pushin type connector will work. There is also a 10.25 Magnum coil, it is made by Bounty Hunter. All of these coils will work with the Pioneer 505. From what I've read, there's not much difference in performace between the 10" and 10.25 Magnum coils. But the 10.25 is more expensive. I hope that this information helps. HH
Walt

 

[Bunited2]

Thanks again Walt,

I was looking at some Magnums yesterday on eBay, but I haven't even got my detector yet.
Snow on the East Coast est delivery went from Friday to Tuesday now. Evidently FedEx
doesn't care about my new obsession.

Fortunately, I'm in a position where I can work or not work, so I'm going (theoretically)
Wednesday for my 1st time.

Thanks, Brian

 

[BH505Man]

Just ordered a new detector yesterday, a Bounty Hunter Legacy 3500. I'm anxious to receive it and try it out using the 4" and 11"DD coils that I have. HH.
Walt

 

[Bunited2]

Hey Walt,

I'm thinking of getting a detector that will strictly detect gold and that's it, any suggestions?

BTW, finally got out yesterday for the first time ever. See my post in the 'Found' thread (if you need a good laugh).

Thanks, Brian

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

I'm thinking I picked up my 505 about 5 years ago used. It has been a very reliable detector and I've run it with the 8"and 4" coils. Not sure what State you are in but it sounds like you found a modern mining claim or homestead. It has been my experience, you will need to expect a LOT of junk and some of it large. It may be in your best interest to research it first, Is it on private lands or Federal. If Federal, you may get into a whole lot of other problems related to the Antiquities Acts. If it is a mining Claim, is it still claimed or not.

There is a DD coil (I think 5 pin push in connector) by Fisher that can be added to the 505 as I understand but I have not done it yet as I have an F2 Fisher with one. A 4" coil will serve you well in trashed out areas but really makes your search smaller and burns up more time. It will though get you in closer to more permanent like metal walls, fences, or posts. One of these days, I will get a DD coil for my 505 but they are a bit spendy. I do like the DD coils in my area but you need to expect to be more challenged using them at first to pin point. I've been detecting since 1982 and when I picked up my F2 with the 3 coil package last summer, I was also sent a hand held pin pointer. My advice for what ever it is worth, learn to get good at pin pointing with your metal detector coils.

As for Gold and I'm not talking rings and such, it is a whole other world of detecting. If natural Gold is large enough, I'm thinking it's around 2-1/2 to 3 Grams, the 505 should hit on it but you will have to dispense with discrimination and dig everything. If you had a machine specifically made to find Gold nuggets like a Whites Gold Master or a Fisher Gold Bug, then you will also be searching for smaller Gold to about 1/2 Grain (not gram). If you want to practice though with your 505, use a lead .22 bullet. Lead will detect about like natural Gold of about equal size but don't expect a whole lot of depth. In Gold detecting with a Gold machine, it's not so much the most loud and clear sound as it can be a very faint but distinct one. Your Tone and display machines will struggle with real Gold hunting as they are not geared so much for hunting by sound and the frequencies are lower, more in favor of coins and relics. I would not place a whole lot of hope on finding Gold large enough for the 505 these days but now and then, some one makes a freak find. I carry with me two pieces of Gold, one at 1.2 grain and another at 2 grain just for double checking my Gold Master settings. The 505 won't even come close to hitting on them.

 

[Bunited2]

Hey Robert,

Thanks for all the information.

The area(s) I am going to hunt are actually on Natl Forest land, any commercial
operation needs a permit, otherwise you can pretty much do whatever you want
so long as you don't start a forest fire. I was in the forestry there at one time.

As far as any claims, I am going to areas that are very remote. The claims
that are anywhere, are in the more obvious places especially in rivers near the
old major original mining towns. They're panning and sluicing there (hydraulicking
was outlawed before 1900).

In a certain way, I actually am looking for 'junk'/artifacts from the mid-late 1800's to
early 1900's, maybe some coinage and if I hit nuggets..well.

When you say the 505 won't hit on small grain, does that mean at all? Or will
just give a faint signal?

Thanks, Brian

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

When you get into Grain size, it's pretty small and or thin. Just to refresh my memory, I just tried my test 1.2 and 2 Grain Gold with the 8" coil and no detection even in the All Metal mode. My Whites Gold Master though is so sensitive, I can pass just my bare hand, no metal, by the coil and register an audio increase above the threshold. That is caused by salt and other minerals in the blood, flesh, and bones. I'm sure the Fisher Gold Bug does this as well as instead of 50 kHz, it runs at I think 72. The Gold Master though with the small DD coil I'm told can nip at the GB's heels in the 1/2 Grain arena. From the very tiny lead snake shot I have found, I believe it. The 505 is something like 6.8kHz, geared more for coins and relics and large enough jewelery but can find large enough Gold nuggets but you will have to revert back towards digging everything. I have though used my Gold detector for finding coins and it has no problem doing that plus hitting on the small pierced ear rings and stuff others miss.

Sounds like you need to pack up a tent and about 2 days worth of feed and water and hit it. If it was hard rock mining, watch out for detecting blasting caps. Could be by now any dropped ones would be bad now but ya never know. I've never ran across any before but just a thought.

 

[Bunited2]

Thanks Robert,

I actually thought the pack up the 'feed' was kind of funny, is that for me or my pack mule?

The area is remote, but not that remote, I can actually get there by logging roads and fire
trails. I may camp there later if it turns out, but hitting down to 26 degrees at night isn't
going to work for me, anyway if I did stay there's hotels 20 minutes down the highway.

Oh yeah, thanks for the blasting cap thing....I'm going to hug my pillow a little bit tighter
tonight.

Got a GPS last night, funny thing when I went the 1st time they don't have too many
road signs on those dirt roads.

Got a pin pointer today too, but one of those cheapo Cen-Techs.

Thanks for all the advice, going up tomorrow if you never hear from me again it
may be because I found one of them thar blasting caps.

Thanks, Brian