New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

[bergie]

New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

Goldfever will hit the same site this Sunday (Aug 6th) with his Excaliber.

HollowPointred will get started on the challenge on Friday morning through Saturday, so it will be a good sample. He should be able to cover a good portion of the site where the silver has been found. I'm sure he'll post the results when he can.


The Challenge--

Over the past couple of years I have "searched out" an old swimming hole on private property where only I have permission (and it is in a small town and unknown). This is in NY not far from Newburgh, NY. It was virgin when I got there and I found about 35 silver coins and one colonial copper among other things. I have rarely dug mid range tones because I'd rather avoid the junk (so there could be gold and I have found a couple of buffalo nickles digging some of those tones). So, even if it is hunted out for silver, you could find good stuff in the mid range. Here's what I'd like to prove or disprove. I have a Radio Shack, Bounty Hunter. I'd like someone with a really high end detector to get in there and see if they can find any more silver (prove or disprove what I read about those detectors going deeper). I have always found alot of stuff, but would like to know if I'm actually missing stuff. Like I said, even if you don't find silver, there could be some other good stuff in there on the mid-range. This was a swimming hole for decades along a creek for the town and a resort in the town. It is about 100 yards long by anywhere from 15 yards to 50 yards wide. There is no catch. I have a great relationship with the owner and will work it out so you can go on the site. I would like to get one person who lives near enough that they will spend some time at the site and really get some data on this question and share it with those on Treasurenet after covering a large section or all of the site. If I get a lot of replies I'll have to turn away some people, so you'll have to understand. Send me message if you are seriously interested and nearby enough to do it and have a high quality detector. Would also appreciate suggestions from anyone who would identify best few detectors I should look for in doing this test. (Coins I have found range from one 1700s -- no date readable colonial copper, 1899 Barber Half, to lots of mercs, a few standing libs, washington quarters and rosies all silver. Lots of wheats)

 

[ColonialDude]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

i will also post a scan of the button. if any of you button experts can put a date on this thing bergie and i would both appreciate it! it looks to me like its from at least the early 1900s but could be much older (colonial?) it is slightly larger than a us quarter.

Your button looks like it probably dates from the mid to late 1700's

 

[garrettfan2]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

thanx to you both for the challenge. very infomative. hope it isnt over. really need to go again when access is better. i was interested especially since i just upgraded from the garrett ace 100 to the garrett gti 1500. its better to have the high dollar mach because it keeps me from digging trash almost completely. sorry for the cliche here, but TIME IS MONEY. garrettfan2 in tx

 

[Mirage]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

Interesting read. Confirms what I have learned in the last two years. Thanks for the post Bergie and everyone elses comments.

Mirage

 

[hollowpointred]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

Hmmm should we unleash an Explorer on the site and see what surfaces?

i think you should charles, but wait until fall or winter so you can get good access to that field. i know that there is some silver left at this site. i have never been to a place that yeilds 7 wheaties and no silver. its got to be there. i would be interested to see the depths at which your explorer would find coins.

i will also post a scan of the button. if any of you button experts can put a date on this thing bergie and i would both appreciate it! it looks to me like its from at least the early 1900s but could be much older (colonial?) it is slightly larger than a us quarter.

Your button looks like it probably dates from the mid to late 1700's

i was hoping it was colonial. i had a feeling it might be. thanks for the input.

 

[Colonial Zoyboy]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

Let's start a detector fight. Hehehehehehehehehehehehe

 

[diggerodell]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

This interesting experiment has given me confidence in my Tracker IV. I'll keep it. Thanks fellows.

 

[cwe]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

What a neat bunch of people...
sharing and caring no put downs just fun.

I really enjoyed this.

cwe

 

[shortz]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

I have a ignorant question . how do coins keep sinking into the ground?

 

[hollowpointred]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

I have a ignorant question . how do coins keep sinking into the ground?

hey shortz, the general consensus seems to be that leaves and grass clippings and stuff dies and decomposes on top of the coins. add to that freezing and thawing, wind rain, etc, and the coins wind up underground.

 

[doyboy]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

I am with Bscofield on this one! It all depends on the detectorist's "skills and experience." I must also say that the DFX and EXII are the two best detectors on the market. I'm hunting a park now that has produced a lot of old coins. It is totally trashy, and without my Pro-XL, I don't think I could have found those coins in the amount of time I have hunted there. One using a "low-end" detector here would get totally "flustered." Heck, my uncles hunted this park in the early 90s and didn't find anything (they both used Garrett's). But, anyways, that just shows how much better the technology has gotten. Any "Joe, Buck, or Harry" with a cheapie detector could have found those coins you found at that swimming hole. The question is, how much junk was there? But, I know Big Bsco is good with his machine, and could prove those "hunted-out" sites are not so hunted. The EX-XS has great discrimination and it goes deep. Bergie, I'm not saying that you are not a good detectorist, because if I was, I would be doing you an injustice, but you have to seriously look into the issue more closely.

For instance, if another detectorist, with a DFX, was hunting this site with you at that time, would you still have that same amount of silver? Probably not, I bet it would take you longer to retrieve a deeper coin than one with a "higher-end" detector. Cheapie detectors tend to have "worse" pinpointing accuracy. Heck, check out the Ace 250's pinpointing to an EXII's; there is a huge difference, and the Ace 250 is a decent machine compared to those Radio Shack's.

 

[Eric in WV]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

It's a great experiment. I think you have to sum it up by saying "You get what you pay for". Just considering the detectors and not the users one can see that the major differences would be circuit design and construction. Descriminators are a big item. Some circuits work better than others. The number of filter stages as well. I started out with a low end detector. I upgraded to a GTP 1350. What a difference!!

 

[kierdan]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

It's a great experiment. I think you have to sum it up by saying "You get what you pay for".

I guess that would make a lot of sense. But I still have to believe that technique and luck can not be counted out. I've read a few posts about someone lending friend/relative their cheapo detector and they find more than the experienced person with the high end model. I think this board proves my point. I have seen few or if not no posts where one person bashes another one for their brand of detector. I have seen alot of playful boasting tho which is compleatly different and fun

I just bought my first detector (broken out of the box BH3300 and price played a big roll. I knew what I was buying wasnt the top of the line, but for someone who is just trying to see if I like the hobby, how much of a detector do I need?

 

[bergie]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

If anyone with a different model high end detector wants to give it a shot in the fall when the site is much more bare of vegitation, keep in touch.

 

[slow sweeper]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

A couple of things I have not read about in this "contest" between a high end detector and a less expensive one. I believe one should take into consideration weight and balance of a detector. If you're hunting all day it makes a difference. How long does a fully charged set of batteries last? Are the batteries easy to change? What about availability of extra coils? Extra coils for different situations are a plus in my book. Then there is over all durability. Are the lower end detectors built as solid as high end ones? And there is versatility. Some detectors can handle various conditions better than others. And what about customer service?
I realize that the main purpose of this test was to see if a high end detector could find any goodies a less expensive detector missed. But I believe that one should consider ALL the pros and cons of different detectors before making a purchase.

 

[hollowpointred]

Re: Updated/Prove a high end detector better than Radio Shack?

A couple of things I have not read about in this "contest" between a high end detector and a less expensive one. I believe one should take into consideration weight and balance of a detector. If you're hunting all day it makes a difference. How long does a fully charged set of batteries last? Are the batteries easy to change? What about availability of extra coils? Extra coils for different situations are a plus in my book. Then there is over all durability. Are the lower end detectors built as solid as high end ones? And there is versatility. Some detectors can handle various conditions better than others. And what about customer service?
I realize that the main purpose of this test was to see if a high end detector could find any goodies a less expensive detector missed. But I believe that one should consider ALL the pros and cons of different detectors before making a purchase.

point taken.

 

[bergie]

Re: New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

Goldfever to hit the site this Sunday, Aug 6, and will post results.

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

This may have been asked & I missed it.

I'm Curious.

Was the Site as Grown Up when you searched it Bergie ?

If it was, I hope you realize alot of area is being missed.

and if it wasn't, the test isn't going to be accurate.

I do wish I lived Closer.
I know there is silver there yet.

And Coppers.

Jeff

Good luck Goldfever, not that you'll need it.

are you taking a W.O.T. ?

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

Getting back to the original reason for this thread, I think your idea is great.

I'm doing something simular up here in Michigan. I've been hunting a good spot off and on for years. This was my best year at that location with my Tesoro DeLeon.

For the past year I've been reading all the depth reports online and sorting through all the info from CW relic/coin hunting friends in the south who have up to about 20 years experience with Minelab, Nautilus, etc.. I've come to the conclusion that the Nautilus IIB is probably as deep or deeper than any machine made today. I just purchased one and am now learning it. So far I know it will air test on a nickle at 18 to 20 inches. My Tesoro air tests at about 8 inches on a nickel and will detect one buried about 6-7 inches. This is about the same as my Minelab Excalibur 1000.

Anyway, back to my test. I've covered my site many times and the Tesoro now produces no more finds. I figure in about a month I'll have enough working knowledge of the Nautilus to really get serious with it. I might note I also have help from experienced friends. What do I think will happen? I have an idea but I'll share this in the fall (I could be wrong).

Good luck to you fellows and I'll be watching your test. I think that mid-range is going to turn up some very surprising finds!

 

[bergie]

Re: New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

Jeff--I searched it under a lot of conditions, but we've had heavy rain and I haven't actually been to the site in a while. It could be much worse than when I ever searched it due to the rain. However, Goldfever said he wanted to go for it. I agree someone should hit it in the Fall, but I think he'll be able to cover a good part of it. Maybe he'll bring a machete. There was one time when I did bring rakes and stuff and cleared an area about 30 ft by 10 ft along the ramp of the old stone bridge that crosses the creek and I found two mercs in there.

 

[hollowpointred]

Re: New info--excaliber to challenge Radio Shack & Garrett

i cant wait to see what goldfever turns up! and where it turns up! i agree with jeff that there is silver still there, its just a matter of swinging over it. there just cant be that many wheats still there and not be any more silver. i wonder if he will get in the water at all with that excaliber? im willing to bet there are some great finds to be made in the water! at any rate a piece of friendly advice to goldfever, watch out for poisen ivy! i did my best to look out for it and still wound up with a touch on my hand. best of luck to goldfever and i cant wait to see how it goes!