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Thread: Brand new to the hobby

  1. #1
    Candidate Member
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    Oct 2015
    Location
    Billings Montana
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    5

    Brand new to the hobby

    New to the hobby and after 4 weeks of looking I found a buffalo nickle dated 1917. I found it in the foundation of a dance hall in a ghost town not far from where I live. I also came across some heavy glass bottles, all broken, that seemed to set off the detector. Is it because the glass has lead in it?
    Also have a huge collection of rusty cans, nails, and an old flyswatter.

  2. #2
    Elite Member Digger_O'Dell's Avatar
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    Jun 2015
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    near Milwaukee Wi.
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    3,932
    Welcome to the hobby from Wisconsin! Congrats on the buffalo-not too common to find one that still has a date. I'll bet there will be a lot more to find in that area too! As for the glass, I couldn't say. I never heard of bottles using leaded glass, but even so I don't think it would be enough to trigger the detector. But one possibility is blue glass that may contain cobalt which is radioactive-that may be enough to trigger a signal.
    Equipment:
    Minelab: CTX 3030, GPX 4800, X-Terra 705. Whites TDI SL.

    2023 Silver: 1 Gold: 0

    Best finds: 28 silver dime spill, 1800s Dutch customs seal.
    Oldest/best coins: 1837 Upper Canada large cent, 1877 Seated Dime
    Oldest find: 1800 Sailors Luck token
    You Tube: Rediscovering America

  3. #3
    Candidate Member
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    Oct 2015
    Location
    Billings Montana
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    Thanks. Is there anyone out here in Montana besides me doing any dirt digging? Been looking for a club here in Billings and so far no joy.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Oct 2009
    Location
    Connecticut
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    13,014
    Hello walnetto , welcome to the forum !! Unfortunately there are not to many detecting clubs in Montana but there is this treasure hunting club http://bthpc.com/

    and Montana Treasure seekers out of Helena
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

    Click here to view my finds album


  5. #5
    Junior Member
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    May 2012
    Location
    Mountains of West Virginia
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    154
    Welcome to the forum, it is very interesting and educational.

  6. #6
    Veteran Member Skamaniac's Avatar
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    Jan 2013
    Location
    Goldendale, Washington
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    1,305
    Welcome from Washington state. I've got good friends in Billings; I love that area. I hope to make it out that way again in the next couple of years. Good luck with your hunting; there's probably some great locations around there. Sounds like you're off to a good start.
    Land of Two Seasons - Snow and Fire Danger.

  7. #7
    Full Member GA1dad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Williamston, SC
    Posts
    428
    Welcome to AD!! Congrats on the buffalo,, took me two years to find my first one. You're off to a good start!!
    Primary machine= Teknetics T2

    2016 Totals
    Oldest Coin= 1920 Wheat Cent
    Silver Coins= 0
    Rings= 1

  8. #8
    I'm glad you found us and congrats on the buff! I hope you find some other detectorists in your area.
    On Instagram- oxshoedrew

  9. #9
    Global Moderator Fire Fighter 43's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    SE Wisconsin
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    3,962
    Welcome to the forum and hobby form SE Wisconsin. Congrats on your first Buffalo and good luck with your future hunts.


    Minelab Equinox 800, 15”Coiltek, 11” & 6”coils

    XP Deus II , 11", 9” & 11x13 coils


    Detectors since 1977: Simplex, DEUS, CTX 3030, F75 Ltd, Etrac, Excal II, V3i, DFX, GTI2000, Eagle II, 6000DI, 6DB, AlaskanTR4B, Beachcomber

  10. #10
    Candidate Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Billings Montana
    Posts
    5
    Thanks, I'm going out Friday to the site, there's a foundation to an old dancehall that's very inviting. It's next to an old church. Any suggestions?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Elite Member Digger_O'Dell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    near Milwaukee Wi.
    Posts
    3,932
    My suggestion is to take time to set your machine up with optimal settings for the conditions. Don't be afraid to try new things or experiment with the machine to see what works best for you. Have confidence! Be patient-take your time and go slow, and then detect the heck out of the place!!
    GL and HH!
    Equipment:
    Minelab: CTX 3030, GPX 4800, X-Terra 705. Whites TDI SL.

    2023 Silver: 1 Gold: 0

    Best finds: 28 silver dime spill, 1800s Dutch customs seal.
    Oldest/best coins: 1837 Upper Canada large cent, 1877 Seated Dime
    Oldest find: 1800 Sailors Luck token
    You Tube: Rediscovering America

  12. #12
    Global Moderator aloldstuff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    western mass
    Posts
    10,310
    Welcome from western MA. on the Buff and get used to the other "stuff", we all have plenty of that. Hope you can meet up with some other detectorists in your area. I would hit the church grounds real hard.

    What detector are you using?
    V3i- Prism IV- Pro Pointer
    2020 GOAL: Any Flowing Hair coin

    TOTAL 100 YEAR OLD COINS - -280
    2020:
    Silver: 11


    Oldest U.S. Copper - 1795 Liberty Cap
    Oldest U.S. Silver - 1829 Capped Bust Dime extra large 10C
    Click here to view my album

  13. #13
    Candidate Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Billings Montana
    Posts
    5
    ACE 250, and a Pro Pointer. Learning to pinpoint is easy, just have to be patient. The ground is highly alkaline, and when wet is like gumbo. Nice part about the site is that I have a cadastral map and the owner of the property has made an overlay of where the homes and the school and the church were located. Got an old grain elevator foundation there too.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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