Newbie-do I really need a pointer \if so recommendations?

Hillbilly Prince

Silver Member
Aug 9, 2018
4,999
12,712
SW Missouri
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Garrett All Terrain Pro
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ToddsPoint

Gold Member
Mar 2, 2018
5,208
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Todds Point, IL
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Metal Detecting
Saves time after you dig the plug. When you're on your knees over a hole the detector is too long to swing and find the target. My Garret carrot goes right down the hole and finds the target. Get the higher priced of the two Garrets, it's better. I wouldn't detect without it. Gary
 

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Hillbilly Prince

Hillbilly Prince

Silver Member
Aug 9, 2018
4,999
12,712
SW Missouri
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Garrett All Terrain Pro
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All Treasure Hunting
Not a big fan of getting up and down off my knees for sure. Thanks for weighing in!
 

kenstein

Hero Member
Sep 28, 2012
574
616
N.E. Texas
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Ace 250 , Pro pointer, AT Pro
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Other
I once forgot my propointer, didn't notice until I was about to start detecting. I thought I would just do without it that day. After a few holes I went home and got it. It's a necessity after you've used it.
 

FreeBirdTim

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Sep 24, 2013
3,757
6,731
Scituate, RI
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Garrett AT Pro
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I thought it was a big waste of money, until I got one. Saves you a lot of time searching holes for that elusive coin or relic.
 

Dave Rishar

Silver Member
Mar 6, 2008
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WA
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If you have a pointer do you use it or is it a fun gadget.

Think of it like indoor plumbing, air conditioning, or maybe sliced bread. If you've never had it, you're fine without it. Once you've used it, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it, and you'll be very reluctant to go back to not having it.

I don't leave home without a pointer. (Literally. I keep one in the car, just in case I forget to bring one.)
 

Slingshot

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Apr 3, 2004
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Southern Appalachia
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Whites CM2 BFO, Harbor Freight 9 function, BH Pioneer 202, Fisher F22
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Not necessary, but something handy to have on some problem targets. Your detector is your primary tool, learn to use it to pinpoint before you ever begin retrieval, and you can grab the detector wand close to the coil to re-detect in a hole without standing back up again.
 

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Hillbilly Prince

Hillbilly Prince

Silver Member
Aug 9, 2018
4,999
12,712
SW Missouri
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Garrett All Terrain Pro
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All Treasure Hunting
Thanks everyone. I know from experience with other hobbies you can try to buy skill or talent,but this sounds like it would be a good idea if you are more than a casual detector. Which I hope to be in time.
 

RustyGold

Gold Member
Aug 16, 2013
9,372
10,901
Southern California
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XP Deus I & II
Xterra Pro
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Other
Digging in the dirt you most definitely need a pinpointer.
At the beach (think sand) I don’t use one although there are those that will use a pinpointer for targets at the beach.
Pinpointers are great for checking targets that are very close to the surface. Saves you some digging time.
 

Rookster

Gold Member
Nov 24, 2013
29,382
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XP Deus, F75Ltd., AT PRO, Garrett pointer
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Cache Hunting
For the money, get the Garrett Carrott. Uses a 9 volt.
 

Hawks88

Gold Member
Aug 26, 2012
7,878
11,840
Niagara falls
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Equinox 800
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Much easier with one than without. Wouldn’t leave home without it.
 

3cylbill

Hero Member
Jul 2, 2015
847
1,419
s.tier NY
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TESORO, MINELAB, WHITES , GARRETT
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Metal Detecting
hunted for 40 years without one , not so bad but the pinpointer helps find faster . a quality digging tool really helps to. the quicker you find your target the more time swinging to find more. only makes sense...
 

Gare

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Dec 30, 2012
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Canton Ohio Area
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Presently using Deus 2's & have Minelabs, Nokta's Tesoro's DEus's Have them all . Have WAY to many need to get rid of some
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
The object of detecting is to find the object as quick as possible Fill the hole and make it look as if no one has dug there and move on !! Now the amount of time it saves you is unbelievable. You will dig far less if you use one. With out one you will keep removing dirt with your hands passing the dirt over the coil. When you can just stick the pin pointer in the hold you can find it and it will even tell you how far away from it you are (With a Garrett Carrot) .It is for finding mostly but can save a lot of digging. I would buy the Garrett Carrot @@@@ Hope this helps
 

Oct 5, 2014
31,886
35,424
Massachusetts
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Garrett: AT Pro, AT Gold & Infinium; Minelab: Explorer SE, II; Simplex; Tesoro: Tejon & Outlaw; White's: V3i
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Relic Hunting
IMHO: Metal detecting is a numbers game; locate target, retrieve target and replace plug. Of the three mentioned retrieving is the most time consuming of the group, a Pin Pointer will reduce this factor.

GL & HH
 

bowwinkles

Bronze Member
Nov 3, 2012
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2,416
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Hear is your question-"Newbie-do I really need a pointer \if so recommendations?" The answer is no but!!!!it is so much nicer, faster, more fun, if you do. Many of the items that are detected in the soil will take on the same texture and look of the soil and you can have it in a handful of soil and not even know it. I found a 14 k ring and it was just another clump in the spoil until my pointer said it was not. The second portion to your question is I would strongly recommend the Whites TRX. After this thread we are going to remove the "newbie" title and enter "seasoned":icon_thumright:
 

Oct 5, 2014
31,886
35,424
Massachusetts
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Garrett: AT Pro, AT Gold & Infinium; Minelab: Explorer SE, II; Simplex; Tesoro: Tejon & Outlaw; White's: V3i
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hillbilly Prince,

You live in a beautiful area! In 2012, I had the pleasure of teaching a two week summer course in the "Engineering Design Process" at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla. The Rolla people were wonderful and the campus was perfect! I did have many after dinner treats at this little hidden bakery (wish I could remember the name...very small and had only a few tables) that had famous pies...my poison, most days, was the Mississippi Mud Pie. I think the price was $4.95 per slice (almost 1/4 of the pie). Great memories!

Regards,

Doc
 

Ammoman

Bronze Member
Oct 12, 2015
2,211
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NC
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XP Deus, Nokta Impact, Tesoro Compadre..
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Since this is a yes or no question, i will give it a shot. No, you do not NEED a pinpointer. Please let me know if i got the question right. 8-)
 

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DeepseekerADS

Gold Member
Mar 3, 2013
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SW, VA - Bull Mountain
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CTX, Excal II, EQ800, Fisher 1260X, Tesoro Royal Sabre, Tejon, Garrett ADSIII, Carrot, Stealth 920iX, Keene A52
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I don't rely on the depth gauges featured on today's detectors. IMO the best advancement in the hobby was pin pointers.

Each time I get a solid signal, I first use my pin pointer to check the signal. The range of my Garrett Carrot is about 2 1/2 to 3". If the Carrot gets the signal, then I stick my screwdriver under the target and pop it out without having to dig - saves time and eliminates having to dig a plug - thus saving the grass versus leaving dead spots in someone's grass.

If the Carrot doesn't find it, then it's a 3 sided flap I flip over and then use the Carrot again.

Pin pointers help us prevent ugly spots in parks and homeowner's lawns.

We want to leave each site as if we'd never been there.

We didn't have tools like this early on, and I see this development as one of the better advancements hunting today.
 

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