Pinpointing and Size of Holes

[tcornel]

There are a lot of discussion of how to pinpoint with your detector and how to pinpoint accurately.

It would seem that all that is relative to how big the pinpointed hole is. Pinpointing to a 6 x 8 plug
is a completely different standard than to a plug the size of the lesche blade, perhaps a 3 x 4 opening.

Since I mostly hunt in mowed areas like yards and parks I like to dig as small a hole as possible.
With the AT Pro it is difficult for me to get it down that small without the use of my Pistol Probe.
About half the time I find I am off a few inches with the pinpointing on the detector. If I am digging
a 3" wide hole I would have missed the target. Not so if I am 6" to 7" wide.

Others state that they are spot on almost all the time. What is "spot on"?

So how close is good enough for an accurate plug cutting? Lets say the target is 3" down.

 

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[luvsdux]

Some detector and coil combinations are easier to pin point fairly close than others. Not having an ATpro, I can't offer detector specific points, but it may help if you get one of the probes that is made for the purpose and probe for the target before digging. Actually, to depths of 3 - 4 inches, I use a screw driver to probe under the coin and pry up leaving just a slit in the ground that closes easily when you push the edges together. Be careful not to scratch the target, however.
luvsdux

 

[OldJerseyGirl]

I use a DD coil on my White's MXT. I have a terrible time pinpointing. I have tried all the advise and just can't seem to hit it right. If you find the secret let me know. For me it is usually easier to just dig a nice three sided plug to begin with. Seems to be neater than digging a small whole and then having to make it bigger.

 

[wvwildman]

im dead on all the time i dig a 3 or 4 inch u shaped plug and the target is always in the middle

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I "X" the target with my detector and then lift the coil while doing so. Before I dig I have an idea of depth and definately location. For coins I turn a flap about 3" on a side (three sides) and 4" deep. If more tunneling is needed I use the pinpointer and take it deeper.

"Spot on" is those hunters who can pop a coin with a brass rod and no digging. That was the original "probe" before the little electric models. I never could figure that out. Maybe the wrong soil.

 

[McKinney_5900]

Some detector and coil combinations are easier to pin point fairly close than others. Not having an ATpro, I can't offer detector specific points, but it may help if you get one of the probes that is made for the purpose and probe for the target before digging. Actually, to depths of 3 - 4 inches, I use a screw driver to probe under the coin and pry up leaving just a slit in the ground that closes easily when you push the edges together. Be careful not to scratch the target, however.
luvsdux

Actually, to depths of 3 - 4 inches, I use a screw driver to probe under the coin and pry up leaving just a slit in the ground

Please come to North Texas and exhibit that ability(scarcasm.) Dirt here will never work for this, even at 2-3 inches on average, much less 3-4. I can seriously envision seeing fun by watching someone try this here here.

 

[Ima Swinger]

Hey tcornel, just an idea here.
When I first got my Ace 250, I had someone "hide" a coin under a mat (at different locations every time) and I would practice pinpointing. I know that might seem silly, but if you only practice on coins you can see, you won't be so accurate in the field. It won't take you long and you'll have your recover times down to just a few seconds each. I can put my finger directly on top of most targets before I dig them.
Sometimes the deeper ones will get tricky. I've found this to be especially true with deep zinc Pennies.

So practice a lot on your living room floor and this will help. It did for me.

Happy Hunting............
Lance

 

[luvsdux]

Old Jersey Girl on my MXT with the 6X10 mounted, the pinpoint is in the area of the oval near the coil mounting ears. Play with that a bit and you'll likely find the sweet spot.
luvsdux

 

[G.A.P.metal]

1.If you have VCO on a detector move the coil around till you get the highest/loudest pitch and you are over the target. 2.When you push Pin point on you detector...watch the depth meter and the shallowest reading is over the target.
3.Detune your coil by pin pointing the target then move to coil about and inch to the side and push the pinpoint button again...this will make the target much smaller.
Gary

 

[toe2short]

What if you have a lot of junk in the area, it gets a little tricky then.