Metal Detecting Thread

If you get a chance to go, pm me and will try to set something up!

 

I've tried to get into metal detecting over the last couple of years. I bought a Whites XLT several years ago. I can't seem to find anybody willing to spend a little time teaching me the ins and outs of the hobby. I've only hunted in school yards and parks. I would love to get into the woods or fields with some history to them.

 

If you get down to this area, let me know. Will take you to some spots!

 

I love metal detecting! I don't have anything real fancy, but I've loved detecting all the way back from when I was a kid. It's how I spend my time when I go camping.

Those finds in your 1st post are incredible! I'd flip out if I found something like those. This addicting hobby started when I was a kid in the 70's, I'm 47 now. Thank God we didn't have PS2's & Xbox back then. My grandparents and I were on property of friends they had, and there used to be an old town with a blacksmith, etc. I remember finding old locks and square nails.

These days camping...(in the hills of Southern California) usually just the normal coins, no indian head pennies yet, and bullet casings and bullets. (WAY too many .22 casings!) Did find some keys on a ring a while back and knew somebody had a long walk out of the hills. Also old cans buried back in the 70's.

Here's what I do with my findings...I get a tree stump that's flat (usually cut from the forest crew) First I put them in a bowl of water to clean them up, then lay my findings out on the stump. Bullets, coins, and other items, organized of course. Then when we leave, I double bag them, bury them, write the location down in our journal, and find them with my detector next time we visit the area. The legacy will live on with my 2 year old son. I'll snap a pic of this on my next trip.

 

That's a pretty cool thing to do with your son! I have never thought of reburying stuff to be found later. May just do that so when I start taking my 4 year old son, he can find things too. Great idea!

Thanks for the nice comment - I am absolutely addicted to detecting and fortunately we live in an area that is rich in history. We just moved back and I haven't been able to go lately, but am planning on it probably next weekend. Hopefully will find some stuff - if I do, will post it for ya'll.

 

I'm subsribed to your thread now Eric. I recently watched a show on the military channel of a famous war (more like a day of killing) that took place between the indians and the white men, and of course can't remember the names at this moment, but we've all heard of it. Historians were able to figure out who died where by finding artifacts from that famous day with metal detectors. They now have markers to mark these areas. Seems the indians had better guns, that actually held like 16 rounds, while we were packing rounds one at a time. The bullets they found, along with a couple other things were amazing. This is why I'm so jealous of the area you get to detect. You may have seen this episode too. I'll post up a pic of findings soon!

 

Thanks!

Finally was able to get out and do a little detecting for first time in a long time. Not a bad day - pics coming soon. Went to a new place with my Dad and found 16 Williams cleaners bullets (Civil War) and a Burnside w/ a partial piece of the casing intact. An interesting thing, found 15 of the Williams cleaners in one hole! That's a first for me in that was the most I have ever found in one hole (have found six 3-ringers in one hole before)...also, in the same hole I found a several precussion caps (unfired) wrapped in what appears to be the original packing - well, pieces of it anyway. We also found an un-hunted house site in the same area. All in all, a pretty good day. Will have pics up tonight hopefully if hte kids cooperate!

Anybody else been detecting lately?

 

Went out to the side of the lot Saturday found a few nice rusty pieces of junk

 

Found a few little goodies the other day. I have a good amount I’ve found over the years. Just getting the time to start diggin again.

Weird minnie ball (possibly carved or a chess piece)


A couple grapeshot

 

Just found this thread, cool. Was searching for ideas for a metal detecting logo that I could design to have decals made for the side of my truck to say Metal Detecting Edition, maybe with crossed metal detectors.
Any way from New England have a Fisher F-44 and just got a Garrett AT Pro the end of last season. Can't wait to get back out once the weather breaks.

Had to start a new account since I forgot my old log in info.

 

@Whitebutler

 

I make a living with detectors. By using them.

 

Good lookin out.

 

Any advice on hardware for an amateur?

 

Why I didn't know this was here? I can't answer.
I am a nugget shooter. I use a few different machines for it. My arsenal started with a Garrett at gold then the Minelab GP3000 then my beloved ZED GPZ7000 and last I have my Whites GMT with the 5.5 shooter. I run a B&Z booster on all of them.

 

Foothills of Nor Cal?

 

All I ever found were square nails and broken cast iron skillets. I had better luck finding Indian Arrow heads every time we tilled up the garden. When I was a teenager in Alabama.

 

I recycle all my finds if I can. I've taken in a bucket of square nail pieces that was 65 pounds. And then a three pound bucket of pull tabs. I now think I will melt the pulled tabs into a cool necklace next time.

 

Best equipment I can say is the detector that you know the best, as in one that you use the most. I started with the Garrett at gold and then got a Minelab GP3000. Both are easy to use and operate. I would say for learning the Minelab one should watch Jonathan Porter videos on YouTube. He is a Minelab guru. Start there and work up.

 

Thanks, I will check it out.