Back to the Shooting Range, plus a Lowbatts reference

[twistidd]

I went back to my site I visited last weekend where I found the two V's and the 1919 merc. I'm calling it the Shooting Range, because it is laden with every kind of bullet and cartidge known to man. I find myself digging everything here, since even the good targets sound a little off. I wouldn't be surprised if it was indeed a shooting range at some point in history. I found a lot of 20 gauge shotgun shells, pistol casings, and even quite a few lead bullets. Not a whole lot of trash other than the bullets, so that's good.

I got a late start to the day, didn't think I'd have time to get out, but I did. Like I said, I dug quite a few targets in the 20's and 30's VDI in hopes of nickels. I came across a really bouncy signal just a few steps from where I found my spill last week, and it sounded a lot like that signal too. Dug it up and noticed a disc in the dirtpile. It was another V, an '07. Scanned the hole with the Sunray and I got that awesome two-tone signal, signifying a nickel and a high conductive coin. I saw a reeded edge of a dime and grabbed it out, it was another 1919! A 1919-D to be exact. I scanned again, and to my surprise, saw another silver dime on top of another nickel! Woo-hoo!! The dime appeared to be a Barber at first because it was really dirty but it in fact was another merc ('23). The nickel was an '06 V. I was pumped and decided to work this area harder. Picked up a wheatie ('24) before moving ahead in my semi-grid pattern. From this point on, it was A LOT of bullets and shotgun shells, with isolated coins here and there. I ended up with another V ('01), three buffaloes ('16, '19, '37, the latter of which was right on the surface), two more wheaties ('20, '57), and, one last silver on way out and just about to the car, a merc ('43). I haven't quite had a day like this in a long time. Mainly I am happy to be out of my merc slump, now time for some Barbers (surprised I haven't found any at this area). I also found a bunch of relics, including THREE pocket knives, two keys (one that looks really cool), and a vintage copper or brass hat pin with a very ornate design and large orange stone surrounded by two smaller stones. It stabbed me in my gut after I put it in my cargo pants pocket as I knelt to dig a target. Thank God for that tetanus shot!! You're darn tootin' I'll be back there very soon, hopefully I'll have some more finds from here to share with you.

OK, so about this Lowbatts reference. I was detecting a very quiet area, very few signals. I got a screamer from right up against a large tree, and noticed two very large coins on the ground. I could have sworn they were dollar coins. Picked them up and saw they were $1 tokens for use at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. I swept over the area and got another screamer. There were more here! I ended up with ten of these huge tokens, and how they got to where they were, I haven't a clue. Very very interesting finds, though.

On a side note, I get a call tonight from my little nephew, who is 10 and is really into MD'ing because of my interest. He's the one I bought the Ace 250 for his birthday earlier this year. He is still very much a novice and generally only detects with me when he comes over. We hit tot lots and such. Well, he saw my finds and decided he'd hit his backyard at his house when he got there. Keep in mind, that I had hit his yard a few years ago with the M6 and only got a little clad. He calls me up to tell me he was out there for a while by himself and found a '57 wheatie AND a '60 Rosey!! All in an area I had worked fairly well with the White's. Well I'll be damned. This kid has got it! He was so excited about it, that's really the best part of today. Hearing him on the phone telling me about his silver dime and wheatie was just awesome.

Have a great week fellas,

Joe

[DPBOB]

WTG Joe.

And a big congrats to your nephew....High five'm for me....

[p2c]

Great Job Joe,
While you were at your shooting range getting the goods, I was at a shooting range burning $$$ this weekend. Looks like you are catching up to me on the nicular count. Actually, 3 pairs of 3 mercs, buffs, and V's make a supurb day. Glad to see you got out.

[twistidd]

Great Job Joe,
While you were at your shooting range getting the goods, I was at a shooting range burning $$$ this weekend. Looks like you are catching up to me on the nicular count. Actually, 3 pairs of 3 mercs, buffs, and V's make a supurb day. Glad to see you got out.

Thanks! Yeah, that's 6 V's since last weekend. I found ten last year, let's try to break that record in '10!

Joe

[Lowbatts]

Wow! What were they shooting there? Holes in their pockets?

Thanks for the shout out on the tree digs! Sunday morning I had precious little time to hunt and hit four trees in my well-hunted nearby park. Got a '93 IH laying alongside the root of an old oak about 4" down.

[Dirt fishing Wolf]

WTG Joe on the triple 3 some!!

[Pocket Spill]

Congratulations on your trios of Vs, Buffs and Mercs!

That 1923 is a very nice coin! Always like seeing those early crisp Mercs.

[etrac007]

really great hunt , wtg!

[twistidd]

Congratulations on your trios of Vs, Buffs and Mercs!

That 1923 is a very nice coin! Always like seeing those early crisp Mercs.

Thanks! I wish the back looked as nice, it was back to back with one of the V nickels and is stained greenish-brown.

Joe

[watercolor]

So THAT's what silver looks like (It's been awhile)

Awesome hunt Joe That M6 sure is a nickel magnet

[twistidd]

So THAT's what silver looks like (It's been awhile)

Awesome hunt Joe That M6 sure is a nickel magnet

I don't think it's so much of a nickel magnet as I am an eager digger of everything, lol. This equates to shorter than normal hunts due to all the constant stopping and digging. I think digging silver is great, but in all honesty I love finding old nickels just as much. May not be a shiny but it's still a great feeling seeing those dark discs pop out.

Joe

[Lookn4Seated]

So THAT's what silver looks like (It's been awhile)

Awesome hunt Joe That M6 sure is a nickel magnet

I don't think it's so much of a nickel magnet as I am an eager digger of everything, lol. This equates to shorter than normal hunts due to all the constant stopping and digging. I think digging silver is great, but in all honesty I love finding old nickels just as much. May not be a shiny but it's still a great feeling seeing those dark dics pop out.

Joe


I hope that was just a mistake

Congrats on an awesome hunt man!

[treasurefiend]

Now thats what im talkin about buddy!!!!!!

[twistidd]

So THAT's what silver looks like (It's been awhile)

Awesome hunt Joe That M6 sure is a nickel magnet

I don't think it's so much of a nickel magnet as I am an eager digger of everything, lol. This equates to shorter than normal hunts due to all the constant stopping and digging. I think digging silver is great, but in all honesty I love finding old nickels just as much. May not be a shiny but it's still a great feeling seeing those dark dics pop out.

Joe


I hope that was just a mistake

Congrats on an awesome hunt man!

LOL!!! Actually, I did make a typo, Jon! There should be a "k" in there somewhere!!! LOL JK!!! Yeah, those dark ones...boy oh boy.

Man, you had me laughing when you pointed that out. That's one of those "that's what she said" moments.

Joe

[kimsdad]

I'm glad to see you're knocking 'em dead, Joe!!!

Watch out for that nephew. Sounds like he'll be breathing down your neck with the silver count soon!