My First Find

[Libralabsoldier]

I found one 1978 D penny, a railroad spike, and a half a dozen pulltabs. I am still trying to get my technique down, and have decided to get a better detector as soon as my income tax comes in. The Pioneer EX is finding metal, but I dont think I am doing something right. I cant blame the machine for operator error. Can someone explain to me (with pictures, preferrably) how to properly pinpoint a target?

 

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[allen]

i cant help you. but i can give you some advice, just keep at it and dont give up on your detector. my first bounty hunter detector i thought would never turn up anything, but after about 4 months, i began to find decent finds.

 

[Libralabsoldier]

Oh, I wont give up. I am too stubborn for that. I just feel that I am obviously not doing something right. My detector sounds, I dig where I think there should be something, and nothing.....I dont want to excavate big holes, especially at parks. My own yard is another matter. Also, what may be affecting my search is the fact that there is still ice and stuff on the ground here.

 

[qkslvr]

swing your coil right to left, then front to back over the target area. Dig where the crosses meet.

 

[ghostrider1775]

I just bought a handheld pin pointer from KellyCo and boy does it take some frustration out looking for your target FYI. HH

 

[Libralabsoldier]

Well, I just dug a dozen holes in my back yard...total: One pull tab, one rusty nail, and the broken bit of what appears to be a large stemmed glass.

I have my MD set on medium, which according to the literature on my MD should mean that the target is down six inches.....I dig to ten or so inches, and six inches in diameter around the target...nothing. And usually, the MD keeps beeping and telling me that the target is there. I think I must be doing something seriously wrong.

 

[partenr]

I experience the same phenomenon on a regular basis. I'm curious to know what advice any vets may have on this topic.

I have two "bits" to add (pun intended)

1. I remember reading somewhere that if one removes a layer of soil and the target becomes evasive rather than stronger, than it's probably junk.

2. I hesitate to subscribe to this advice fully. This last weekend I was at the park. I found a target and burrowed out a bit of soil. The target "disappeared" to the machine. Right before I gave up and filled the hole, I noticed a penny laying right on top of my pile of dirt. I ran the detector over it and NOTHING. I don't know if detectors in general are inconsistent or if it's my machine.

 

[Wolfbite]

I usually dig a golf hole size plug out.Then i seperate the plug from the hole.I check the plug out with my detector.Then if its not in the loose dirt i dig out ,i slowly dig around the hole.But i allways
recheck the hole and the loose dirt.I put the loose dirt back and then the plug.I beat it a little to get it in place.Hope this helps out some.It takes practice but my covered holes are gone first rain.HH wolfbite

 

[Libralabsoldier]

Like Wolfbite said, remove the plug and check it with the detector. But if it's still in the ground, use an electronic pinpointer and search the walls and floor of the hole. You'll have a much better chance of removing it without damaging it that way.

I am just trying to actually find things at this point.....

 

[RonNewbie]

If you haven't already done so, you might consider a pin-pointer. Even an inexpensive one will allow you to more accurately locate the "find" once your detector has signaled that there's something under the surface. I can't imagine not having one now. Just a thought...

 

[DiggerBug]

Do the + thing like qkslvr said and buy a pin-pointer. Today!
I could not / would not hunt without mine. I actually have 3 of them cause I have to keep sending my White's 140mm Bullseye back for replacements (the one I prefer). My backup is the Bullseye 120mm and I've had no trouble with it. Also bought the older model White's 120mm with the toggle switch. I'm not crazy about that one. Both the others would have to die for me to use it. I'm thinking of trying the Vibra-Probe pin-pointer.

 

[rasrandy]

My son has the same unit.Sounds like you read the manual wrong.It says set at maximum depth,you should get coins at 6 1/2in. Medium is reduced to 80%.Shallow is reduced to 65%.So if youre using medium depth selection and think your target is 6in when its really like 4in ,you are probably diggin deeper than needed.Also when you locate a target,Sweep back and forth while slowly raising the coil until the the sound is gone-thats how deep your target should be.Pinpointers are a great tool if you dont have one.Good luck and Happy Hunts

 

[Charlene]

Great start, money, congrats.

You're still in courtship with the machine I think most of us dig our fair share of pull tabs, whatits pieces of something or another.

I know I toted the owners manual around with me for a good while before I understood what the machine could do, so hang in there, where there are pennies there may be silver too.

HH

 

[Libralabsoldier]

Someone mentioned digging at a 45% angle. Is that normal? I have been using a bulb planter and digging cores straight down.

 

[kenb]

Technique has allot to do with it but its not only how you swing it but where. I bought a BH Pioneer for my kids about five years ago, thats how I got sucked back into this addiction. After assembling it ,my first find (within five minutes) was a 1903 Indian head found on the surface while I moved the coil to dig another signal. Pure luck. If it detects metal it will find the good stuff, Be patient, it will come.


kenb

 

[WV Hillbilly]

Well I'm not an old pro but when I first got my detector I dug a hole about 10" in diameter and close to two feet deep determined to find that beep . It just so happened I had a pinpointer on the way so I left the hole open for a couple days till my pinpointer arrived . Cotton picking nail in the side of my hole about 5 or 6" down . Yes all the hole was in my yard . Back to pinpointing , I have found that when I get a good beep both ways I'll slowly move my detector forward + backward till I start to lose that good beep . When I determin where that beep is the best I mentally mark that spot in the center of the coil . Then I turn 90 degrees + repeat the process . The coin or whatever is right there . I also have all metal pinpointing which I usually use now . I usually dig a plug about 3" in diameter + 99% of the time the target is right there . If I don't find anything I'll keep digging + scanning the plug , dirt from the hole and the hole .Keep practicing + listening to your detector + you'll figure it out . If you're getting good beeps I'd bet something is there . A good way to learn to pinpoint is tape a coin on a piece of cardboard , lay it on the ground with the coin underneath out of sight + practice pinpointing that coin . Also get a pinpointer , the're great . Hope I didn't confuse you + that this helps . HH

 

[Southcacalaky]

Your doing fine, takes patience and time, Keep up the good work, HH Art...

 

[Johnny X]

Practice, practice, practice.
Learn your machine, be one with the machine.
May the force be with you.

xstevenx