Any diggers out there?

[PA Reb]

I went in on the halves with a buddy and we bought a "Whites"
Metal detector years ago.
If i can find a buyer for old nails and beer tabs i"d be rich.

Chuck

Hey Chuck, don't get discouraged about the hobby but do some homework about the chosen dig site and learn your machines abilities. Old foundations for example - you must learn to discriminate out the metals you don't want like nails, beer and soda can tabs, etc. Only listen / watch the meter for and dig all precious metal sounds. One must also learn to not bother with "trashy sounds" yet sometimes dig the "maybe" sounds. One thing I definitely look for at old foundations is the site of the privy. You wouldn't believe what people used to throw down that dirty little hole in the ground! Many people buy metal detectors and think they are going to become rich from using it. In many cases and especially for those that don't take the time to detect "properly", it can become real boring real quick.

I've attached a picture as an example of what's still out there there to be found. I won't give up the exact location where I found these relics except to say that they were recovered on private property with permission (not Federal property) on the extreme left flank of Confederate lines at Gettysburg. The large piece of iron on your left is what is left of a Federal, 3" Schenkl shell (cannon) that the Union fired at the Confederates. The smaller piece of iron is from the same shell and the oval looking piece is what I believe to be the remnants of a canteen spout (I may be wrong about that though). The small lead balls are some of the remaining case shot that would have been packed inside the Schenkl which of course offers deadly results over a larger area from the main explosion. These came out of the ground 2 years ago and I was the first person to touch them in about 148 years!

 

[chud333]

Hey Chuck, don't get discouraged about the hobby but do some homework about the chosen dig site and learn your machines abilities. Old foundations for example - you must learn to discriminate out the metals you don't want like nails, beer and soda can tabs, etc. Only listen / watch the meter for and dig all precious metal sounds. One must also learn to not bother with "trashy sounds" yet sometimes dig the "maybe" sounds. One thing I definitely look for at old foundations is the site of the privy. You wouldn't believe what people used to throw down that dirty little hole in the ground! Many people buy metal detectors and think they are going to become rich from using it. In many cases and especially for those that don't take the time to detect "properly", it can become real boring real quick.

I've attached a picture as an example of what's still out there there to be found. I won't give up the exact location where I found these relics except to say that they were recovered on private property with permission (not Federal property) on the extreme left flank of Confederate lines at Gettysburg. The large piece of iron on your left is what is left of a Federal, 3" Schenkl shell (cannon) that the Union fired at the Confederates. The smaller piece of iron is from the same shell and the oval looking piece is what I believe to be the remnants of a canteen spout (I may be wrong about that though). The small lead balls are some of the remaining case shot that would have been packed inside the Schenkl which of course offers deadly results over a larger area from the main explosion. These came out of the ground 2 years ago and I was the first person to touch them in about 148 years!

Nice finds there Reb,
I really enjoy going out and detecting. Mostly have tried farmyards and a few state park beaches. Looking for lost jewelry and or coins. I have found a few older silver coins.
I guess i just don't do it enough to get good at it and really
don't have the patience needed. But i'll give it another shot
when i get the time.
Chuck

 

[MK]

I've got a Garrett Ace 250, along with the two extra Garrett
coils. Also use a pinpointer, which I highly recommend.
I've had it several years, and it's been a good machine for the
price.
The Ace 250 was about $212 online last time I looked.
The Ace 350 a little higher. It uses a double D coil if I remember
right, and the 350 is set up more for relic hunting as far as the
ID scale, where as the Ace 250 ID scale gives a bit more resolution
in the coin range.
Either one is a good machine, and is my recommendation as far
as a fairly low cost unit.
With my Ace 250, I found over 500 coins just in my front and back
yards in the first month I had it.
I'm not really that much of a coin hunter though. I bought it more
to look around old home sites, etc. Hardly have had time to use it
the past few years.
The Ace 250 with the three coils has been pretty versatile, and so
far I haven't been compelled to buy anything better.
It comes with the stock 6x9 coil, and I have the optional 9x12,
and also the small 4.5 inch sniper coil, which is very good to have
in "trashy" areas.
Mine paid for itself just finding rebar survey markers at my dirt
patch. It also told me that the previous owner of my OK property
was a shooting fool, and lots of 45 colt.. lol.. There are slugs in
the ground all over the place. I don't know what he was shooting at..
Most are not deformed like they hit anything before going into the
ground.