Request for those finding Barbers, Seateds, and such. Etc.

[BlackX]

I'm wondering if those folks who post those nice pictures of old silver would mind posting the trash they dig to get those targets, at least for a little while.

I'm still trying to figure out why I'm not digging the older silver. I've found six Indians and am now up to 3 old large coppers, but I've not found earlier than a '25 Merc for American silver (I've found one half-reale), so I'm getting copper of the same age. While some of it may be that I'm not getting my coil over them--I think this area has been hit pretty hard--or other issues, I suspect that one of the reasons may be that I'm not digging enough trash targets. At this point if I can get the nice tone to repeat enough that I can pinpoint where it is, I'll usually dig it. But, on those targets where I can't get that tone to repeat enough to figure out where to dig, I've been leaving them. (I wish the pinpoint wouldn't "ratchet" so much. One of the things I liked better about the Sov was that I could slowly "paint" the ground in AM mode and tell where different targets were very close to each other, as well as get a size/depth comparison between them.) Thoughts?

 

[NH Bob]

The first place we stopped was a very small knoll behind a 1700s farm house. Pretty steep and afew apple trees. The ground was harsh with minerals and the iron droning was constant. I've hunted like this before and targets are all iffy. Everythng I found was a weak scratchy faint signal. One you would normally pass up in better ground. Digital was out of the question. It was a tone only hunt. You've heard me speak of blips before. Well this place was the perfect example of testing your explorer abilities.
The Large cent I dug was about 8" deep and should have rang in nice nd clear. But it was that scratchy faint signal. If it were not fore the fact that I've experienced these type of places before and knowing the location was ideal for good finds, I might have walked the length of this small field and back again and not dug a single signal.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is if the location is right and you work moderately slow and with diligence. Putting together all the info you read every day on this forum. It will pay off in the long run.
You have to use your gut feeling on these areas and listen very closely to your machine. It will never lie to you. There is a reason for each and every type tone and the way it is presented to you.
I know I haven't been posting a lot of finds this season so far. But it's only because I haven't had the time to gt out like years past. Afew of your signatures say "If in doubt dig" Well you have to live by what is written.
PS. I dug very little trash. My friend dug all trash. I won't mention the Brand of Detector he was using but it was the Top of the line in that Brand.

 

[John - Maryland]

n/t

 

[Andrus(ut)]

Dig one way signals that pinpoint where they should. Also, learn to pinpoint a target without using pinpoint mode - use regular scan mode to pinpoint in trash areas. Many times the explorer pinpoint doesn't work to well like when a big trash target is next to a goodie. Happy hunting.

 

[Great Republic]

Good info Bob. Thanks.GR

 

[BlackX]

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Bob, sounds like my yard! Though probably without the mineralization. Unless you count nails. (3-5 nails per hole) How long did it take you to become confident in those conditions? I think I've found most of the shallow coins by now with my other detectors but there has to be more there somewhere. Good place to practice the hard conditions, I suppose.

John: ferrous, AM 95% of the time, gain usually 6 or 7, sens varies a good bit by the locale by I'd say most of the time 20-24.

[quote Andrus(ut)]...use regular scan mode to pinpoint in trash areas. Many times the explorer pinpoint doesn't work to well like when a big trash target is next to a goodie.[/quote]

Seems to be about the only way to do it in trash!

 

[NH Bob]

To save time with debates over this. I understand that people like having many machines.

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

Rich,
You sound like an experienced detectorist. My thought is maybe you are passing up some of the tiny hits. Last weekend I dug a 9" Barber dime (using an 8" coil) that was only a tiny peep of a sound - but it repeated at 90

 

[John - Maryland]

Your settings are good. I don't have an answer for you, except maybe start digging "all" medium and high (Broken) tones if it's at least 6'' deep.

 

[Magicman]

I think my city was just poor. I haven't been able to find anything prior to 1940's in Columbia, SC. I am finding tons of pennies, which I dig, although I did find a 18k diamond ring. Other then that nada. I was at an old home site today and not much but pennies and a dime. The only place I found silver was near the Army post at one of the old entrance, which is public property. (1944 Quarter and merc dimes.) I will keep looking.

 

[LaDigger]

Heres a couple of pics from this weekend. I always dig iffy signals so this is typical of my trash digs. I don't find many old coins down here in S. La. , but I did get two barber qtrs. a couple of weekends ago and they were only 3 and 5 inches with another machine. It definitly has a lot to do with the location in my opinion..HH..Rich

 

[BlackX]

Thanks, Rich.

I love finding tools and such that still work. Found a working mini-mag (though the batteries were low) about 3" down a few weeks back.

 

[LaDigger]

Cool Rich , I' ve only dug a couple of knives that actually work , they have to be stainless, but this is the best one yet and I am carrying it and using it ,Gotta love that. I started using the EX. in Dec, 08 and was using ferrous primarily. Recently I have started using conduct in AM , and -14,-15 in IM with satisfactory results and can see how the high tone on jumpy signals can get my attn.,where in ferrous I might not catch them. I have gotten a few silvers with jumpy signals that way. I'm still learning new nuances this machine is telling me, but it gets a little better every time and I go out expecting Silver on every hunt and usually get some... HH..Rich in S.La.