Fathers Day Safari Gift - Need Advice...

[njnydigger]

Hi Treasurehounds,

Been quite a while since my last post. Many personal setback's and tragedies in the past year. Getting set to start to hit the dirt again. I have been a proud and satisfied White's MXT 300 user for 2 years now. Fantastic machine!!! Anyhow, my girlfriend got me a new Minelab Safari as a Father's day present since she knows I was looking for another unit to complement my MXT. Never used a Minelab before and need some advice before my first outing with it. After reading the manual several times and hundreds of forum posts, here's what I've come away with so far...

1. Since I mainly hunt medium to high trash places like parks, etc., I should have the machine set to "high density".

2. The Minelabs are deeper than most other brands, however, they do require a slightly slower sweep speed.

3. Pinpointing can be a little tough at times. A lot of you recommend the "wiggle" technique to combat this problem.

Now, here's what I need help with...

First, is it true that leaving the sensitivity in "automatic" will result in a loss of depth? If so, what is a good general setting to keep the sensitivity at??

Second, generally speaking, where under the coil will the target normally be found? Under the tip, toe, middle section?? I will be using the stock 11" Pro DD.

Third, are the standard stock programs like coin, coin & jewelry, etc. adequate to start finding the goodies, or, will I lose a lot of depth and performance?

Fourth, I know that you can set-up a custom program to reject certain targets. If I rejected bottle caps for instance, wouldn't I possibly be losing potential rings due to them sometimes having the same characteristics, or, will JUST the bottle caps or foil or pull tabs be rejected?

Lastly, is there any kind of chart available somewhere that lists the possible targets associated with certain VDI numbers or ranges? White's has these charts for all of their units, but, haven't seen anything like this for the Minelab's.

Appreciate your help in advance. Looking forward to getting to know my new mistress well in the next few months. I'll keep you all updated

 

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[halfstep]

I am a new safari owner as well. I can't answer all your questions but the best way to learn to pinpoint is to throw a few coins down on clean ground and see how the coil reacts to them. I have learned to wiggle the coil and move it slowly toward you until it gets quiet. The coin will be in the coil notch. Once you can see what is happening above ground, then you will know what is happening below ground.

As for leaving the sensitvity in auto, it depends on the ground. Sometimes, it came make it quieter and more repeatable if the sensitivity is manually adjusted.

The standard programs are pretty good for most hunting. If you discriminate out the aluminum, you will miss the gold. You will learn the sounds and this will keep you from digging a lot of pull tabs and foil.

I am still learning as well. Others will have some better input to share.

 

[Iron Patch]

There's nothing wrong with leaving your detector sens. set high and in auto. because there's plenty more things to be concerned about than the little difference between the two. Also forget programs, just adjust it to low disc., with as high a sense as you can handle.... but auto will take care of most of that for you. Just because it's a new detector doesn't mean you skip the basics... because the basics is what works the best.