My first hunt

[flarng]

So I got my new Ace 350 on monday, and after glanceing at the manual I took it out on my property mostly to just check it out. Long story short, I found some tinfoil and an old square nail. I know it isn't much, but the old nail was kinda cool. I cant wait to take it to the river bank this weekend and see what the sandy banks have to offer.

 

[Backbacon]

Dig every signal, learn the machine.

 

[dirtlooter]

it all starts with the first dig, the first everything and only expands from there, the more you dig, the more you learn and the more you find. good luck

 

[Ocean7]

if you haven't already, bury a penny, nickel, dine, and quarter a few inches below soil and about 2 feet apart. Mark with a golf tee so you know where they are located. Now see what each coin sounds like with your new machine and make sure you know the signal, and are getting a reading etc. I'm assuming you are new to MD here and this machine. Good luck!

 

[flarng]

I've been digging every signal and I've been using zero more so I can learn what everything sonds like. I haven't tried burying any coins yet, but that's a great idea, thanks. I do have a pinpointer, but it's not the best. I'm saving for a Garrett now. I'm also open to any other advice. Thanks again.

 

[WhiteTornado]

if you haven't already, bury a penny, nickel, dine, and quarter a few inches below soil and about 2 feet apart. Mark with a golf tee so you know where they are located. Now see what each coin sounds like with your new machine and make sure you know the signal, and are getting a reading etc. I'm assuming you are new to MD here and this machine. Good luck!

You may also want to bury a trash item in your detecting garden, such as a pull tab. Happy hunting, the fun has begun. I've been at it about a year, haven't found much yet but I'm getting better at learning my machine and for me I think it's like real estate: location, location, location LOL. Enjoy!

 

[cudamark]

I've been digging every signal and I've been using zero more so I can learn what everything sonds like. I haven't tried burying any coins yet, but that's a great idea, thanks. I do have a pinpointer, but it's not the best. I'm saving for a Garrett now. I'm also open to any other advice. Thanks again.

Beach/sand hunting will help you find all kinds of targets in a short period of time. That will help you get used to what your machine is telling you. Also, save a bit more money and get the White's TRX instead of the Garrett ProPointer. You'll be happier in the long run.

 

[kyleeskastles]

Ha i did the exact same thing you did, ignored the manual for the most part and scampered off in search of treasures. Big mistake for me, way too much junk. So today i spent a good portion of the evening watching youtube and instructional vids concerning my model and tips/tricks of pinpointing where/how to minimize target location, had much smoother lil hunt tonight. Love the all metal mode now, helps a ton pinpointing down a signal. Found a good lil cache of modern change next to a tree and still havent got it all up yet.

 

[sailoffwithme]

Just got the AT Gold yesterday huge amount to learn from the Ace 250.
Just found the 2nd gold ring with the Ace 250 last Tuesday at the beach now the learning starts all over!

 

[flarng]

I didn't say I ignored the manual. The 350 manual is only a few pages long, and while I didn't study it like scripture, I did read it.

 

[crazy4coins]

if you haven't already, bury a penny, nickel, dine, and quarter a few inches below soil and about 2 feet apart. Mark with a golf tee so you know where they are located. Now see what each coin sounds like with your new machine and make sure you know the signal, and are getting a reading etc. I'm assuming you are new to MD here and this machine. Good luck!

Personally, I find that this does nothing except make the operator anxious that their machine is defective. I have yet to witness a new coin garden that actually gives realistic IDs or a fraction of the depth that can be obtained on real hunts. I don't mean to bash your post, but I think logging some hours on the machine would prove much more effective.

 

[Jonny Boy]

Don't forget your own back yard! I' am new to the hobby also and been working my own back yard and found a lot of old stuff. I have found Big one cents dated 1838 and today 1799 Big one cent.

If I may suggest do some reading. Charles Garrett's "The Successful Coin Hunting" is great book for us new hunters. Also, Stephen L. Moore's "Relic Quest" another great read. Don't forget "Lost Treasure" magazine a great publication. The August 2014 issue has a great article by Andy Saisch called "Looking to Make More Finds This Year".

What others are saying about learning your machine (I also have Garrett Ace 350) is so true. You must got the same package I did with that crappie Pin Pointer. Let you next purchase be Garrett Pin Pointer, they are great tool.

Good luck and best wishes to you.

 

[kyleeskastles]

I didn't say I ignored the manual. The 350 manual is only a few pages long, and while I didn't study it like scripture, I did read it.

Ya thats what i mean, sorry if it came at you wrong. Mine was hard to understand anyway, had to get on youtube to really understand how to use the notch mode and some tips/tricks that you wont find in any manual anyway

 

[flarng]

So here's an update. I took the Ace on my first pseudo-real hunt today just before dark. I headed down to the river, and it's sugar sand bank. I found some bottle caps, and a 30-30 casing in about 45 minutes. Nothing special, but I like that I'm finding stuff. I also found out that I need a sand scoop for hunting in the water. That's the next thing on my list.