Metal Detecting discussions and finds

Sounds legit to me. Be sure to offer him $75, and let him counter.
Yes, I am haggling through you.

 

If it has that "new detector smell" I'll start him at $100.

 

Thanks, you can tell how much passion you have for the hobby and it makes me want to give it a try. I think metal detecting at places where old coins could be found would be cool. Finding something like a civil war belt buckle would be awesome, I think very historic items would be much more exciting than a gold necklace IMHO.

 

It's funny, at this moment I have a Harbor Freight metal detector down in my cellar that I just remembered I had. It's still in the box and was found in the garbage, so I have a starting point at least, that must be a very very low-end detector, but you have to start somewhere.

 

Thanks, yes I have been at it for quite some time now, and have found some interesting things over the years.
Civil war relics are going to be next to nill on the west coast where I am, as there was never any civil war battles this far west.

I did find a civil war period dropped musket ball in the last remaining grass area in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon a few years ago.
It was about 7" down (about right for stuff that old) and had the perfect white and tan patina on the lead.




My bro in law took me to the edge of a huge Civil War battlefield in Georgia across the boarder from Chattanooga Tennessee. IIRC I think it was a paint manufacturing plant that we had permission to hunt on the property off (out back in the woods along the creek). We detected all over the hot sweaty area dodging poisonous water snakes, ticks, chiggers and other creep critters. I did find a spent Civil War miniball that obviously hit a hard surface and ricocheted. One side has the smeared face, and the other still has the rifling marks on it. It's the one on the bottom left of the picture. He gave me the 3 other squashed bullets in the picture. The round ball is my dropped musket ball found in Oregon, and the WW2 coat button I found near a tree way up in the woods at a cabin just outside of Chattanooga.

 

NICE!!

 

Wow, you are really into this! Good for you!
I totally know what your saying; it's fun to get another detector and dial it in. And it's fun to get all the accessories which make searching easier! It's also good to have a bankroll which can support the habit. Especially when to are looking at the newer P.I. machines.

My Garrett ATX will work in the water, and Garrett markets it as a "surf" machine, but it sure seems like a loosing battle; fighting the surf, your hole immediately backfilling, manipulating your tools. Seems like a lot of work. I think searching on the beach would suit me better. I have a buddy that works some of the beaches around Santa Barbara once or twice a month and he does fairly well. Nothing super valuable, but he brings home coins.

What is this "LS" gold machine you have? Not familiar with that one. Yes, I have heard of Lyle Creek for gold, as well as Azusa Canyon and the East Fork San Gabriel River, and those look to be fairly close to you. I have not worked those areas, so I can't speak to it. If you venture into new areas like these, let somebody know where you are headed. I'm sure there are "guide books" which suggest where to look for gold in the SoCal area.

You might have a tougher time hooking up with a gold prospector, we're a secretive bunch when it comes to our detecting spots!

Happy Detecting!

 

Wow! You have done great! I love the Seated and Walking Liberties! And the Merc's are cool too!
How do you like your 3030? I understand it is a great machine. I have an E-Trac that really confuses me. Coming form gold machines, the E-Trac operation is very foreign. I know I need to spend time behind it, but it is tough, and a little frustrating.

 

HAHAHAHAHA, yeah the detectorist community as a whole are a "secretive bunch" even for just "coins"!!! You all can keep your "stink'n zincolns"!!!

To ALL my fellow MD'rs

Here is my Garrett Infinium LS: (stock photo, but what I have)

My LS and the MASSIVE "Power Double D". That is one HEAVY coil!!! Gonna get a mono coil for it. I dry sand hunt quite a bit though with my trusty 250!!!

My waterproof headphones, just in case I decide to go deeper, which I really don't plan on go any deeper than ankle to knee deep, at most.

My Stealth 8in Classic


My Garrett GTI2500: (stock photo, but what I have)


HH \_

 

Very cool finds!!!

The one most thing I like about this hobby is trying to figure out "what is beneath my feet???"

 

a bit unrelated, but I'm really thinking of starting magnet fishing. Lots of cool stuff to be found as well

 

HAHAHA, the PI machines, although somewhat simple "tone-wise" is Chinese to me in many ways!!!

 

"magnet fishing"? I thought that was some sort of joke when I saw/heard of that??? It does sound interesting for sure.

 

it's basically going fishing... but for metallic items. Can get really cool and interesting stuff with a strong magnet tied to the end of a rope

 

"Stinkin' Zincoln's" I love it!
Hmmm... The control box on your stock photo of the LS looks up side down to me... Is the photo correct?

Wait.... what? Heavy coil...?? Check out my Nugget Finder Evolution 24". Let's talk heavy. I added a shaft on my detector to enable 2 handed use when using this coil. It's primarily for patch hunting in open ground and it wears me out quickly. Hopefully it will pay off soon. I'm planning to get up in northern Nevada in the fall after summer temp's subside.


How do you like your GTI? I have heard good things about it.

 

That sounds interesting. No telling what a guy would find out here.

 

Btw, that's the "next version/upgrade" of the Ace250, which is what I have as well. I believe they just came out with this series/model about a year ago. I never looked into the specs though on the 300 compared to the 250, but can tell you that I like my 250. I would imagine the discrimination settings are a little bit more tuned as well as a couple other things, but I just tend to gravitate more towards my 250 because it was my first machine. Other than that, the 250 is a decent starter machine so I'm assuming the 300 would be a good starter machine as well.

 

When I looked it up lastnight and looked at the comparisons ( it's rated the #2 machine by somebody) the write up said they pulled from the 250 and 350 and even has a little of the 400. I'm sure it will make more sense to me once I get it on the ground for a while then go back and re-read the comparison. I'll see if I can find the article.

 

Sorry, 2nd best entry level machine....

https://www.smarterhobby.com/metal-detecting/best-metal-detector/

 

I’ve got a Whites Matrix M6. Bought it around 2009 and used to go a lot around here with the civil war history in the area. Then took it to the beach and hit the mother load. Saw some hammocks out back of the hotel and decided to hit them that night. Bingo! Everyone lays in the hammock and all the change falls out of their pockets into the sand. Scored a full zip lock bag of money. Haha also found a silver toe ring that fell off someone’s toe. Beach sucks because most of what you find are lighters and beer bottle caps. Will eventually buy a Minelab and hit the surf.

Oh also behind where I work on employers property is a old homestead. We took a couple detectors back there and I found some hand forged chain and bridle parts. Found some old nails etc. always cool to see what you can find at a place like that.

Here’s a stock pic of mine.