I have noticed that my digging is not as accurate as i think it could be with a Pinpointing device. I am constantly expanding the size of the hole to find the target. Here lies my dilemma - If were to to make one purchase what would you recommend - Sniper coil or Pinpoint device?
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:confused: Pinpointer or Sniper coil:confused:
- Thread starter csolley
- Start date
gordygroover
New member
I would say Sniper coil.
You will still be digging holes in perhaps the wrong general spot should you purchase a pinpointer while using your stock coil, but a sniper coil should put you dead center over the target. Finding the target that may blend in with the dirt will still be a challenge (like a bobby pin in dark dirt) but at least you will be in the same location as your target.
(just my two rotten zincs)
You will still be digging holes in perhaps the wrong general spot should you purchase a pinpointer while using your stock coil, but a sniper coil should put you dead center over the target. Finding the target that may blend in with the dirt will still be a challenge (like a bobby pin in dark dirt) but at least you will be in the same location as your target.
(just my two rotten zincs)
Mick in Dubbo
New member
Trying to find a target when you are new to a detector can be a very frustrating thing to do. If you continue to have trouble, I'd recommend a pinpointer. I did that with my X-Terra and it reduced the frustration level considerably.
Before going there though, which detector are you using? If you can tell us that, then we can offer you the information that you need to be able to pinpoint accurately with it. I know with the 250, if you do it like the instruction manual says, then there is a good chance of going nuts.
Mick Evans.
Before going there though, which detector are you using? If you can tell us that, then we can offer you the information that you need to be able to pinpoint accurately with it. I know with the 250, if you do it like the instruction manual says, then there is a good chance of going nuts.
Mick Evans.
I would say a bit more practice. If you're using an Ace 250, search for the video on how to pinpoint. It will help a lot. Everybody started out in you boat or at least I did. I used to dig some major league holes. Had to use a spade to dig them. Now I use a probe and a blade type digging tool and it is almost impossible to find evidence that I have been digging unless the target is deeper than 4 inches. Dug a real big hole this morning for a deep silver half dollar. Sometimes it's worth it!
I do not have a pinpointer or a sniper coil but my next purchase is going to be a sniper coil but for different reasons than yours.
Good luck.
Chris
I do not have a pinpointer or a sniper coil but my next purchase is going to be a sniper coil but for different reasons than yours.
Good luck.
Chris
treasurefiend
New member
I just hit that same predicament, I decided to get a pinpointer, I figured that I can manipulate the sensitivity as needed. I wasn't having trouble finding targets (beeps), but I was having a heck of a time trying to find the coins hiding in the dirt once I dug my hole. (I don't know if that made any sense) I also find that my holes are not always in the right place in relation to the target (I have to expand my holes too), but I know that will improve with experience. I want to get the sniper coil when I have some more money to spend, but in my situation I know its not trashy signals that is messing me up, its the pinpointing and you know what they say, "practice makes perfect". If this sounds like your situation, I would say to get a pinpointer. Now in saying that, pinpointers range from $40 - $340, the top-end ones can detect up to 6" away, I just sent out for a cheapie pinpointer (I figure, it has a 25 month warranty and a 2" wide scan at the tip, not to mention its only $50), I read up on it and its been recommended by a few detectorists,
here is the website: http://www.tinytec-probes.com/pagesales.html
I'm not trying to push this product make sure you do your research.
here is the website: http://www.tinytec-probes.com/pagesales.html
I'm not trying to push this product make sure you do your research.
Uncle Willy
New member
With a Sniper you won't needa pinpointer.
Bill
Bill
Uncle Willy
New member
You guys all need to practice pinpointing. Tape some coins to the back of a piece of cardboard and practice pinpointing those coins. Use something sharp to poke thru the cardboard to see if you hit the target.
Bill
Bill
Uncle Willy
New member
Another method of finding small objects in the dirt is to pick up handfuls of the dirt and pass your hand over the top of the coil. Simple.
Bill
Bill
If you hunt mostly parks and areas where the grass is regularly manicured, I would suggest a pin pointer. All it takes is a couple of large holes dug in a park in the eye's of the wrong person, and that area becomes off limits. Now if you hunt other places including playgrounds where digging large holes isn't a problem, other then the extra time it takes to dig them, get the sniper coil.
Of course there is a third option......focus on your pinpointing skills for improvement and you will be able to eventually pinpoint dead-center. Try and practice detuning to help get the BULLSEYE
Of course there is a third option......focus on your pinpointing skills for improvement and you will be able to eventually pinpoint dead-center. Try and practice detuning to help get the BULLSEYE
[quote Uncle Willy]You guys all need to practice pinpointing. Tape some coins to the back of a piece of cardboard and practice pinpointing those coins. Use something sharp to poke thru the cardboard to see if you hit the target.
Bill[/quote] Amen! this is the trick that I learned how to pinpoint with, pratice, pratice, pratice. I can normally dig a 3 inch plug now and the target 95% of the time is either in the plug or beneath it deeper.
But a pinpointer speeds things up greatly with finding dirty coins!!
Bill[/quote] Amen! this is the trick that I learned how to pinpoint with, pratice, pratice, pratice. I can normally dig a 3 inch plug now and the target 95% of the time is either in the plug or beneath it deeper.
But a pinpointer speeds things up greatly with finding dirty coins!!
Uncle Willy
New member
Practicing in bark chips is another option.
Bill
Bill
I am going with a pinpointer. The sniper is on my list, but no way b-4 I master the
stock coil. Only have minimum time on the Ace because it's still pretty frozen
here. But the few trips out I did get, the pointer would have been a big help.
It's not so much the size my holes have been as much as finding whats in them.
All part of the learning curve i guess.
stock coil. Only have minimum time on the Ace because it's still pretty frozen
here. But the few trips out I did get, the pointer would have been a big help.
It's not so much the size my holes have been as much as finding whats in them.
All part of the learning curve i guess.
I will give you my absolute, stone cold, iron clad, no strings attached guarantee that if you give it 10 serious hunts you'll get it. Possibly fewer.
There is NO substitute for practice and it really doesn't take all that much.
Remember what Uncle Willy said. I paraphrase. Your coil moving past a coin produces exactly the same signal as a coin moving past your coil. The only pinpointer I ever found I needed was a fist full of dirt. Try it.
Chris
There is NO substitute for practice and it really doesn't take all that much.
Remember what Uncle Willy said. I paraphrase. Your coil moving past a coin produces exactly the same signal as a coin moving past your coil. The only pinpointer I ever found I needed was a fist full of dirt. Try it.
Chris
Dan,
If your target is in the hole and you can't find it then how are you now recovering your targets? Do you just swish around in the dirt? I don't use my electronic pinpointer on all my recoveries. I would say I use it about 25% of the time. What I do is cut a flap. I cut about a 4 inch flap and fold it all the way over. Now I'm looking at two possible places my target can be. The flap or the hole. I then grab the detector shaft and swing over the flap or hole to determine where the target is. If it's the flap I'll scrape the dirt with my fingers and let it fall towards the hole. Most of the time I'll find it. But if not I'll swing the coil over the flap and hole. If it's still in the flap I use the pinpointer. If it's in the hole now I grab the loose dirt in one hand and swing it over the coil. If it beeps I'll keep halfing the soil until I find the target. Always put the discarded dirt into the hole. Keep halfing the soil until the target is found. Now after opening up the hole if the target is in the hole I loosen the soil with my Lesche all the way around the hole going strait down and prying it loose. Then I grab the soil and wave over the coil. If there is not a beep that's when I get the pinponter out and probe the hole. This whole process takes about 1 minute.
Here is a tip I use in moist soil. I will sqeaze the moist soil and set it next to the hole. That way you don't loose any dirt to fill the hole. But if the dirt is too dry I will put the dirt on my rag so I don't loose any soil to fill the hole.
If your target is in the hole and you can't find it then how are you now recovering your targets? Do you just swish around in the dirt? I don't use my electronic pinpointer on all my recoveries. I would say I use it about 25% of the time. What I do is cut a flap. I cut about a 4 inch flap and fold it all the way over. Now I'm looking at two possible places my target can be. The flap or the hole. I then grab the detector shaft and swing over the flap or hole to determine where the target is. If it's the flap I'll scrape the dirt with my fingers and let it fall towards the hole. Most of the time I'll find it. But if not I'll swing the coil over the flap and hole. If it's still in the flap I use the pinpointer. If it's in the hole now I grab the loose dirt in one hand and swing it over the coil. If it beeps I'll keep halfing the soil until I find the target. Always put the discarded dirt into the hole. Keep halfing the soil until the target is found. Now after opening up the hole if the target is in the hole I loosen the soil with my Lesche all the way around the hole going strait down and prying it loose. Then I grab the soil and wave over the coil. If there is not a beep that's when I get the pinponter out and probe the hole. This whole process takes about 1 minute.
Here is a tip I use in moist soil. I will sqeaze the moist soil and set it next to the hole. That way you don't loose any dirt to fill the hole. But if the dirt is too dry I will put the dirt on my rag so I don't loose any soil to fill the hole.
I'd want both eventually, but I'd go with the pinpointer first.
Like some say, it can all be done with the detector alone,
but I think once you use a pinpointer a while, you will be
spoiled.
Myself, I use the pinpointer on most every hole, and I'm good at
pinpointing with the machine alone.
I'll pinpoint an object, and then erupt the dirt up over the object
with my probe, and then I stick the pinpointer probe down
in the hole. Most of the time, I pick up the coin on the first
try. But sometimes it's a little deeper, or maybe a bit back,
or on one side wall of the hole, or the other, etc,
so having the pinpointer tends to speed up finding where
it is for me. I don't usually pass handfuls of dirt over the 250
coil. I'll grab a handful, and then pass my pinpointer probe
over it. I can do the same while the dirt is in piles on the ground.
I do sometimes re-pinpoint using the machine though if the
target seems to have shifted. Also with real tiny objects,
having the pinpointer makes it easier to find them in the
dirt. My automax will detect tiny shavings of metal as small
as a ant. Maybe smaller.. The thing is really sensitive..
Trying to sift through dirt and then passing over a coil would
take longer for me.. Often the part is dirty and hard to see.
Anyway, that's my 29 cents worth.. I'm pinpointer spoiled,
probably cuz I've used one since day one...
But I'd consider the sniper coil next after that.. I consider that coil
a "must have" for any serious user of a ace 150/250..
Not that the objects couldn't be found using the stock coil,
but when you see how much easier it is to weed through
trash, and ID and pinpoint close together objects, you'll see what
I mean.
Like some say, it can all be done with the detector alone,
but I think once you use a pinpointer a while, you will be
spoiled.
Myself, I use the pinpointer on most every hole, and I'm good at
pinpointing with the machine alone.
I'll pinpoint an object, and then erupt the dirt up over the object
with my probe, and then I stick the pinpointer probe down
in the hole. Most of the time, I pick up the coin on the first
try. But sometimes it's a little deeper, or maybe a bit back,
or on one side wall of the hole, or the other, etc,
so having the pinpointer tends to speed up finding where
it is for me. I don't usually pass handfuls of dirt over the 250
coil. I'll grab a handful, and then pass my pinpointer probe
over it. I can do the same while the dirt is in piles on the ground.
I do sometimes re-pinpoint using the machine though if the
target seems to have shifted. Also with real tiny objects,
having the pinpointer makes it easier to find them in the
dirt. My automax will detect tiny shavings of metal as small
as a ant. Maybe smaller.. The thing is really sensitive..
Trying to sift through dirt and then passing over a coil would
take longer for me.. Often the part is dirty and hard to see.
Anyway, that's my 29 cents worth.. I'm pinpointer spoiled,
probably cuz I've used one since day one...
But I'd consider the sniper coil next after that.. I consider that coil
a "must have" for any serious user of a ace 150/250..
Not that the objects couldn't be found using the stock coil,
but when you see how much easier it is to weed through
trash, and ID and pinpoint close together objects, you'll see what
I mean.
Thanks to everyone for the post!
Mick - I am using ACE 250.
khouse - that video is very good - especially on demonstrating the detuning process which I believe is the key I have been looking for. I will be practicing that today!
I have been using the handful over the coil process with success finding the target once I have unearthed it.
The sniper coil may be the next weapon in my arsenal - pinpointer there after. Since the areas I am currently searching are quite trashy it sounds like the sniper may help me dig fewer holes - once I have some more hours under my belt.
Mick - I am using ACE 250.
khouse - that video is very good - especially on demonstrating the detuning process which I believe is the key I have been looking for. I will be practicing that today!
I have been using the handful over the coil process with success finding the target once I have unearthed it.
The sniper coil may be the next weapon in my arsenal - pinpointer there after. Since the areas I am currently searching are quite trashy it sounds like the sniper may help me dig fewer holes - once I have some more hours under my belt.
HuntRick64
New member
Spend your next dollars on the sniper coil and just practice more on pinpointing. The sniper coil will open you to areas that were not easily accessible before. My son and I spent a few hours this weekend with sniper coils/jewelry mode and found 150 coins in a 1000 sq ft area that was full of pop tabs. I found 10 nickles among these tabs and was pretty sure they were nickles before digging because of the way my detector (gtp 1350) acted with the sniper attached (one notch left of nickle scanning from all 4 directions). Nickles have always been tough for me so this impressed me. We went ahead and dug everything just to keep track and we had twice as many pop tabs as we did coins. I got frustrated earlier in the same area with my stock coil because there were just way too many targets under the coil at once and they all read trash or jumped around the scale. Now that we have cleaned the area, we will go back with the stock coil and reach for deeper targets. My point is that we probably would have went elsewhere without my sniper.
A smaller coil might to it easier to practice with I had problems at first to the 9.5" coil was way off so I switched to the 4.5" coil on my GTI.
If possible go where you can dig big holes to practice pinpointing.(somewhere where there is sand for example)
Chris: I do it to with my hands just make sure your not wearing any rings.
I have a pinpointer hardly used it, I did after a while pinpoint right on.
Regards,
Eu
If possible go where you can dig big holes to practice pinpointing.(somewhere where there is sand for example)
Chris: I do it to with my hands just make sure your not wearing any rings.
I have a pinpointer hardly used it, I did after a while pinpoint right on.
Regards,
Eu