Problem With My Huntin Buddy?

[Oakman404]

Hey guys, Don't know if anyone can really help me with this but I'll ask anyway. My nephew is an Iraqi war veteran, he was 23 when he went over and came back wounded. He loves to go out tectin with me and he uses my daughters BH505 and I use a 1350. He walks with a cane as his left leg is messed up and he sustained a head injury. The problem is that he always comes back at the end of hunt with a pouch full of junk while I come back with 20 - 30 coins and he gets frustrated. He just got word that he is now 100% medically retired and will recieve a years back pay and he wants his own his own tector. He wants to buy the Garrett 2500, I keep telling him that it's not so much the machine as it is expierience and knowing whatever machine you use. He can only last about an hour and he is in so much pain he has to stop. I keep telling him the ACE 250 would be lighter and easier to learn as his comprehension skills seem to have deminished some with his head injury. I have demonstrated the tones to listen for and even swapped machines, I have had him practice in my test garden and still he digs junk. He still however is always calling me to take him out metal detecting and he still insists on getting a 2500. I think it's too much machine for him right now but I think, he thinks I am trying to get him to buy a machine that is inferior to mine. I really want him to keep enjoying the hobby and I love it that he now has something to look forward too each weekend but I also want him to be happy with his new machine and I'm not sure what more I can do. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

You sure have a dilemma in solving that one.
What you advise is what he should follow.
The ACE is much simpler and less of a learning curve than the 2500.
He may get discouraged to the hobby by getting the higher end detector.
He's an adult and makes his own decision even though you've given him the best advice possible.
Best of luck with the info you've given and the decision he makes !

 

[TN Girl]

First, let me just express a HUGE thank you to your nephew for the sacrifices he has made for this great country!

I also want to commend you for your patience and willingness to help him. So many folks just don't have anyone who cares.

Why don't the two of you swap detectors on your next few outings? When he sees you finding good targets with his BH505, maybe he'll realize that it takes more than having a detector with all the bells and whistles to get the job done. If he doesn't, maybe you can find a way to gently point that out to him.

I wish you both much success. Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[Gene]

That's a tough one there. Sure would be nice if you knew someone that
had the Ace250 and GTI2500. Get them in his hands and I would be
willing to bet he could decide then and not think you were trying steer
him to a certain machine. Could be too that getting that 100% disability
that maybe, just maybe, he wants the most expensive detector that he
can buy. He may think that way because he really enjoys the hobby
from what you say. This could be the only thing he likes to do right now.

Here's something else that I did. Once, and only once. My father loved to
go metal detecting and taught me all he could about it. As he got older
it got more and more difficult for him to get around. I decided to take him
on a hunt with me while he was still able. I decided on a small tot lot with
all sand. The day before I seeded the area with all kinds of coins. So many
that it would be nearly impossible to miss them. They were everywhere.
He tired quick but had a great time. This was the last time that I know of
that he used a detector. I think I even felt better about this experience than
he did. All I know is I was glad I did it. I hope this gives you some ideas.
This is the very first time I told anyone about this hunt that happened in 1995.
My father passed away later that same year. I still think about that hunt.
Good luck in helping him out. He has a great friend in you for doing what you
are doing. Somewhere along the line you will be rewarded for this.
I am glad I saw your post and said something. I hope others can give you
even better ideas. Good hunting to the both of you and to anyone that reads
this ! Gene

 

[cwilk]

I started with a Bounty Hunter Tracker 4 and I still take it out on occasion. It was pretty much a dig it all machine and I used it for years and found fewer than 1000 coins, many silvers, and 2 gold rings. I bought an Ace 250 and had similar results until I started looking for new sites. When I started going to better sites I started finding more keepers. My best day with my 250 was probably just over 100 coins. I then upgraded to a 2500 and had similar results until I got better. Have your nephew read that last line. It used to take me 4-5 hours to accumulate a good days finds, now I am usually satisfied in about half that time and I'm finding more silver coins, more jewelry, more deep items. A Pro-Pointer doesn't hurt either. When I take my Tracker 4 out now I find tons more than I did way back when.

Tell him to get an Ace 250 and a Pro-Pointer because the 2500 is too heavy. Tell him to get a big coffee can or glass jar and start filling it with clad and other treasure. When he fills it he can think about upgrading and maybe Garrett will have a new top end machine by then. Thats a good goal and it's what I did. BTW my jar held over 600 bucks in just 3 months. I had two Ace 250s and sold one for 150 bucks. I had kept it in great condition and bought it for $212 so I got to use it all summer for 62 dollars.

Thank your nephew for his service from me. He did an valuable service for his country. I wish him well in his recovery and I hope you get him on this forum. I'll help him out in any way that I can.

Chris

 

[cwilk]

I wonder how many detectorists have done that. I have two nieces bith of whom amazingly found silver rings within about 5 minutes of each other while we were hunting together one day. I managed to get the quarters out of the holes and the rings in without either of them catching on. The yougest later lost hers and we go out to look for it from time to time. Nice story about you Pop.

Chris

 

[Gene]

Good job Chris. I am glad I did it and am sure you feel the same with what you did.
Thanks for telling me. Sounded like a good idea at the time to me. Turns out
it was. I have found gold jewelry on many a hunt but that time with my dad I struck
solid gold. Something I will never forget. If it weren't for this great hobby of metal
detecting I wouldn't have that wonderful memory. Good hunting to you Chris ! Gene

 

[Gene]

Swapping detectors sounds like great idea to me. Wouldn't take long for him
to get an idea of what he wanted, or didn't want, by doing that.
Good thinking TN Girl !

 

[ohio fred]

I would turn discrimination up so only dimes quarters come in as bell tone until he has some coins and slowly open of the discrimination up more as the days go by 2500 nice machine can he hold the weight for awhile during hunts

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Lets face it GTI2500 although an excellent unit is heavy and boxy even for one not partially disabled on the other hand an Ace 250 compared to a GTP1350 many not be enough. Lets compromise and a GTA 550 as although an experienced hunter myself does the job for me in user friendly fashion for general coinshooting with an occasional land gold ring..Swapping detectors is certainly a good idea but may be counter productive if you beat the pants off him with his entry level unit...One hopes the posts you have received helps and good luck guiding a fine American that has surely sacrificed for his country...

 

[born2hunt]

Your nephew has given up a great deal for this country, I say if he wants a 2500 then that's what he should have. A shoulder support would be an absolute must as it is a heavy unit. I think they're only 20 or 30 bucks.

Just my two cents,
Steve in PA

 

[TN Girl]

Dan is right...Swapping detectors may be counter productive if you beat the pants off him with his entry level unit. Maybe you can sandbag a little so that you don't outdo him too much.

 

[bossman]

Let him find the good stuff, then you can go back later to get what he missed. Tot lots are great for beginers.

 

[metalhead]

My suggestion would be the GTI 2500 with harness. Harness is $19.95 at KellyCo. I have both kinds.

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/accessories/lejermonharnesses.htm

They have that bogo sale goin' on now, too.Best of luck to you both. Happy Hunting!

 

[Oakman404]

Wow! You guys gave me a lot of good ideas. Swapping machines is a great one, I think with the Garrett bell-tone being so distinct that he could focus a whole lot better on the sounds than he can on the 505, I'll try that and I had already thought I would sandbag a little, Gene, I loved the story about your Dad! TN Girl thanks so much for your kind words. Ultimately it will be his decision, I just don't want him to get discouraged with a heavy machine and a bit of a learning curve to boot. Chris, I have encouraged him to get on this site but maybe this weekend when I take him out I'll stop by my place and I will show him this site, I know it has helped me a lot along with so many others.I don't know anyone with a 2500 but I do know someone with an ACE 250 and I'm sure he would let us borrow it! Great ideas everybody, thanks so much.

 

[John-Edmonton]

I think you could help him in some different ways:

1) Set up a program for him on the ACE which would eliminate more trash, or just have him use the coin mode.

2)I have worked with many people with head injuries, and often times, their learning curve is diminished somewhat, and making strides, even small ones, is a major accomplishment. That would probably explain his heightened level of frustration.

3) Go to places where good targets are plenty, so he can get some good positive re-enforcements from hunting.

4) Make a point of showing your junk targets too. Maybe, he is getting the perception, which others have, that experienced hunters only dig good targets, when the truth is, the best hunters dig the MOST targets, which includes a lot of junk.

5) Be patient........it's OK for your buddy to get frustrated. Just keep giving him lots of moral support. It is both kind and challenging of you to work with your buddy. I tip my hat to you!

6) Do your best to persuade him to NOT buy the GTI 2500 at this time.

7) If possible, have him see a occupational therapist. Such a person can help with using good body mechanics, and perhaps even help design an apparatus to help with his compromised mobility issues.

 

[garthbfan]

Hi oakman I too wish to thank your nephew for his service also without folks like him we wouldn't enjoy the things we have number 1 our freedom. As far as the ACE 250 goes maybe you can bring him onto this site and show him some of the finds the Ace is capable of making. I use it and have found some good stuff. A guy once told me it's not the machine that makes the finds it's the person using the machine and totally understanding the machine that makes great finds. I understand with the higher price machine you can go deeper and maybe discriminate better, but for someone starting out looking for finds in the 1 inch to 6 inch range I think the ACE250 would hold it's own against most. Just my thought!!

 

[DJR]

I think since he is somewhat disabled to go with the ACE as it is a very light weight machine and can pretty much do it all. And as others have stated go with the Pro pointer as that will ease the digging as well. When he gets used to using and learns the machine add the other coils or upgrade at a later date. He WILL find more than junk with the ACE. That alone will give him more incentive and a more positive aspect towards the hobby.

Don

 

[Oakman404]

Thanks so much everyone. All very good advice and very kind words.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Tell him to get the 250. It's lighter, easier to learn, use, and master. Once he masters it he can move up to something else if he chooses but with his disabilty the 2500 may be too much to swing for very long plus he'll find as much with the 250 as he will with the 2500. I rarely use my 2500 due to the weight.

Bill