Pinpoint Me

[JGRDHS]

There are probably numerous postings on the main site about the topic, but I thought I would post here to my fellow Illinois hunters and ask what any of you thought of the perceived helpfulness of using pinpointers? And if so...if there was a specific brand or model of pinpointer that does a great job. I am possibly in the market for one.

Thank-you in advance.

-James

[watercolor]

I've been detecting about 5-years now and a good pin-pointer is a tremendous asset.

That said, I've been using the Garrett pro pointer for two years and it is WONDERFUL!
You won't be disappointed.

[marinedad]

after having a whites bullseye 11 that i don't use anymore, ditto on the garrett propointer.

[JGRDHS]

Thank-you gentleman.

[Dirt fishing Wolf]

Haven't started using one yet.

[What the Beep?]

I wouldn't detect without my Garrett Pro Pointer. It makes recovery time so much faster and easier. It's really well made and I have no worries of breaking it. I haven't used any other pointers but I think its worth spending the extra money up front for a high quality pointer.

[NGE]

The Bullseye II sucks, get the pro-pointer.........NGE

[rob.s]

Another vote for the Garrett Pro Pointer

[Chug And Red]

and Another vote for the Garrett Pro Pointer!!! And Another one from Red 2 votes In One!!! Soon to have 2 of them!!!!

[p2c]

Pinpointers Rock!
Seriously, it makes recovery time of a target much faster, so you can dig more targets. It also helps you from gouging or damaging a good find when you are digging around for it. I have used 4:

I started with a KellyCo Automax V4 which was free. It was a piece of junk. only gave at best 1/2 inch. Then it broke after 4 months.

As a stop-gap, I got a centech from Harbor freight, it was cheap ($15), slightly better than the automax, but broke after 3 months.

Then I got a Sunray X-1 probe for my E trac. It worked great for a little over a year. The pros were it was on the detector, could be used like a little coil, so you could identify target easily by tone. It got a good 2 inches.

My Sunray began to crap out. It still works but there is a loose wire or something in it, so it falses all the time in midair even. This has reduced its effective depth and also makes it easy to dig after false sounds.

I got a Garrett pro pointer in March. I have had no problems with it. It works well. gets 2-3 inches. gives good indication of how close you are to the target. It is easily 'detuned' so you can get a closer area once you've found the target.

I suggest either Sunray or Garrett. It depends on what you want. I think all things equal, comparing my Garrett to my sunray when my sunray was fully functional, I like the garrett slightly better. It seems like it is much easier to find the target with it. It seems more durable. Besides having the traditional pointing at the end of the probe, it has a sensitive strip along the side, which makes it easy to run across a pile of dirt quickly to locate the target.

[Lowbatts]

The Sun Ray is the favorite of many, the Garret is the favorite of the rest.

Differences are apparent, results are the same, much faster target recovery.

If you use only one machine, and most of the more consistent finders around here do then it's easy to pick the Sun Ray because it's stuck on your rig for good.

Functionality:
Garret, no motion VCO pinpointing, range can be increased by the use of an external inductive coupling very easily. Unit is machine-independent. Creates some interference with some machines, frequency-dependent if it is too close to the coil w/o regard to power-on status.

Sun Ray, motion only direct coupled to your machine so you get the same indications from it you get from your machine. You won't leave it behind after recovering the target. It does not interfere with your machine's operation at all, unless you forget to toggle the switch after using it.

[p2c]

Sun Ray, motion only direct coupled to your machine so you get the same indications from it you get from your machine. You won't leave it behind after recovering the target. It does not interfere with your machine's operation at all, unless you forget to toggle the switch after using it.

If you set your detector to pinpoint (depending on how pinpointing works on your detector), the Sun Ray probe can be used to pinpoint with no motion...

[Rockin Chairs Gold]

I have been metal detecting for 43 years and have owned at least a dozen different machines in that time. Up till I bought my E-Trac I never felt a need to own one.

The dealer that sold me the E-trac said he advised a purchase of one because of all the very small objects that machine would find. I still didn't feel I would need one. Well' it wasn't long before I found out how wrong I was. I now own a Sun Ray X1 and a Garrett Pro Pointer and I'll never be with out one again. Rick

[rob.s]

Is the sun ray pointer water proof?

[p2c]

Is the sun ray pointer water proof?

the business end (ie the probe) is. The control box (the thing with the toggle switch on the shaft of the detector) is not. Thus, you have to be creative in rainy weather. My best solution was to use that Glad clingy wrap around it.

[rob.s]

[quote=p2c ]

Is the sun ray pointer water proof?

the business end (ie the probe) is. The control box (the thing with the toggle switch on the shaft of the detector) is not. Thus, you have to be creative in rainy weather. My best solution was to use that Glad clingy wrap around it.
[/quot

Thanks p2c !The sun ray sounds interesting and never seen one before.

[Lookn4Seated]

[quote=rob.s ]

Is the sun ray pointer water proof?

the business end (ie the probe) is. The control box (the thing with the toggle switch on the shaft of the detector) is not. Thus, you have to be creative in rainy weather. My best solution was to use that Glad clingy wrap around it.
[/quot

Thanks p2c !The sun ray sounds interesting and never seen one before.

I have both the sunray attached to the E-Trac, and the Garret pro pointer. I like to use the sun ray so I can determine wether a target I am chasing is iron or not. It will discriminate accordingly to how you have your rig set up. I still use the garrett though in these situations to locate the iron and be 100% it is iron and not silver being masked by iron. (which has happened more than a handful of times)

Whichever you decide, I'm sure you'll be satisfied. But as p2c has mentioned, the probe does seem to false from time to time and act eratically. Moreso than the pro pointer.