Bottle Cap infested site.....TTF or Cond? 12X15 SEF, Stock coil, or 8X6 SEF?

[gitterdug]

OK folks, got a scenario.....

This next week, I am going to an old campsite/swimmin hole, dates from 1850's, closed in 1930's from public use, and access was shut off completely in 1950's. I have hunted there before, but not found too much. Best coin so far was by a hunting partner, who found a 1917 S Walker half. Have not broken 1900 yet, but it HAS to be there.....

I have not hunted this place with an E-Trac till now. It is infested with old rusty bottlecaps from the early 1900's. Easily 8 or so bottlecaps per swing I suspect in the most infested areas. So, here is my question for all you Etrac experts out there.....

Do I hunt in TTF or Conductive? Then, I have the stock coil, an Xcelerator 5 inch, a 8X6 SEF, and a 12X15 SEF. Which should I use? I plan on taking a backpack with the other coils in with me, since it is about a third of a mile off the highway, so, how about some input? I will post some pics of whatever we find, if anything.....

I am thinking of starting off in TTF, 8X6 SEF and reducing sensitivity a bit. I think I will be able to run manual high on this dirt as well. My concern with that is that the coins in this soil, could most certainly be 10 inches or so.....I plan on moving like molasses with the detector and concentrate on the infested areas. I am a bit reluctant to use the 12X15 SEF because of masking potential...but conductive might help there if I get anything above a bottle cap FE.......so.....

Thoughts please?

HH

Dennis, on trac........

 

[Idaho PRB]

I would start out in conductive sounds with the coin program, auto sensitivity, with the 8X6 coil. Get a feel for the site (sounds trashy) and decide if you need a smaller coil or can use the larger pro coil. If you just null out everywhere, switch to TTF with the modified relic program that goes4ever uses. That is what I would do but there are a lot of folks here that have a lot more hours on their E-Tracs and hopefully they will chime in and help you to decide how to handle your area. Always remember to noise cancel when you start and anytime you change sensitivity.

 

[NebTrac]

It really doesn't matter. I'll tell you how I'd hunt it, becaue I've got a spot like that. Most of it I'd hunt in Conductive, the heaviest Iron I'd probably switch to TTF.

I will tell you this, from my experience. There will be 2 types of trash.

1. The rusty bottle caps you mentioned.

- I'd handle this because they are only going to hit about 12-(20-24) one way then when you 90 they'll hit like 12-(01-03) - This is almost 99% of the time.

2. The old fruit or bean cans.

- When those are smashed and/or deep they can sound off anywhere IH to wheat. Pretty much going to have to dig those.

Another that comes to mind might be the old shotgun shell headstamps. I personally like digging those and they come in anywhere from nickel all the way up to IH's.

My problem is. Even if I hunt in TTF. When I come across a good target (number wise)...I still slip over into Conductive just to listen. Especially on a silver hit...I LOVE that sound!

Coil is up to you. I pesonally just use the stock Pro-coil.

By the way I have a site EXACTLY like your talking about. Started 1890's, closed mid 1930's. I wandered close to 3 hours my first time till I hit my first coin, an IH. I only recovered 4 coins that first 6 hours. That place, to date, has produced close to 100 coins. The newest being a 1928 and the oldest was the 1878 Mogan Silver Dollar I got last fall. Keep at it. Our average is about 1 old coin per hour. But I just wander around and "GET SURPRISED". I love it.

By the way. I dig those bottle caps as well. I'm always afraid they're gonna have a nickel mixed in with them.
Good luck.

NebTrac

 

[McDean]

I know there may be mixed feelings towards this suggestion and obviously it will be up to you to determine if it is worth it as it could cause the loss of certain desirable targets ringing out...

Conductive or ferrous sounds... if you are digging a certain junk target over and over that has the same fe-co #'s... edit your pattern with the "learn" function and medium cursor to notch them out.

Goodluck, sounds like your spot has great potential!