Compass

Thanks Joe, I have a lot to learn about the Manticore but I was very encouraged from my first use of it. I hardly even paid attention to the 2D display since I'm not used to having one. Using this detector in a target rich environment after some sand movement is going to be awesome. Thanks Dan, I hope to be posting about some epic hunts this winter with the El Nino impact.

I went to a small beach that I haven't hunted in years to test my recently acquired Manticore. I wasn't expecting much in the way of finds but I was hoping for enough targets to learn more about the machine. A few years ago I purchased a Nox 800 and really liked it except I felt that it didn't hit hard enough on targets in "Beach" mode so I primarily used the 800 in fresh water where I could use "Gold" mode. I liked the hard audio punch that "Gold" mode put out. I often thought, "If only this 800 had a little more power in the wet sand and sounded better to my diminished hearing...". Enter the Manticore. It pretty much does everything I wanted the 800 to do in the wet sand and surf at the beach. It has several "Beach" modes and audio tones to choose from and I found a couple of different set-ups that really suit my hearing and remind me of the performance I see with my pulse detectors. When I used my Nox in the wet sand it seemed that I often had to really focus to pick out deeper targets but the Manticore seems to react much more definitively. I also thought that the target IDs were pretty accurate and I called out my first Manticore quarter with a solid repeatable "88". Shortly after that I got a low "90's" target and I thought to myself, "Could that be a silver quarter?" Sure enough it was and another "90's" signal produced a silver "C" ring. The stock 11" coil was surprisingly sensitive to small targets and I found quite a few small lead sinkers but no small foil (if it was even there). I believe that the Manticore will find me a lot of small gold, especially, when I get the M8 coil. I did test out the 15" coil and didn't really see any obvious improvement in depth but I'm just learning the detector so that may be a factor. I suspect that the Manticore won't replace my pulse detectors on black sand beaches but I'm looking forward to some great hunts with it.

I was looking at my old PI Pro that I use as a loaner and was surprised to find a crack in the control box cover that might compromise its waterproofness. Someone out there may have a non-working PI Pro (or Dual Field) that is only good for parts and willing to sell me the box cover for $30? The covers are the same for a number of White's PI detectors - just with different decals and the covers are easily removed (no tools required). The dimensions are approximately 4" x 6-3/8", Thanks!

Most unusual crucifix I have seen. Nice find!!

Truly amazing! You are living the dream! I was kind of happy to see that you were in Australia and that I didn't miss out on something near me. 😅

Awesome finds Skull. I've done very little detecting while scuba diving but it always felt like such an ordeal for me. I've also done a little snorkel hunting (decades ago). I used to acquire multiple targets and mark them with plastic clothespins. Then dive back down and dig them all out on the same breath. By "electric" I assume you mean an electric air compressor? Sounds like a great option. Look forward to hearing more.

I really appreciate your feedback on the D2 350. I've got a lot of research to do on it.

Sweet gold ring 350 - congrats! I've been looking at that Deus 2 and liking what I see. I always felt that the Nox 800 was a bit under powered on the beach but the Deus 2 seems to punch deeper from what I have heard.

Can't tell how big the stones are in that ring but it's a beauty and my wife would wear it!

The gold quality makes a big difference but I've taken many diamond rings to jewelers and unless the diamonds are of a certain size they don't add that much real value to the ring and they won't give you much for them. Of course if they're selling the same ring then any real diamonds give them an excuse to jack up the price. I don't know what the cutoff point is but I would guess a quarter to a third carat?

Thanks D, It certainly was exciting to see clean gold in the scoop so many times during the hunt.

Thanks rvp, I really did want both of my friends to find something nice as well. One of them is fairly new to detecting and is still learning his Nox 900. The other has plenty of experience and was using his 30 year old Fisher Aquanaut. I had the 6" coil on the Nox 800 and hunting in Gold 2 mode which has worked out pretty well for me in the past in fresh water.

Thanks VL, I knew you were but I just didn't want him to take it the wrong way. BTW, I appreciate all your positive comments and support on this forum!

I don't know that it makes that much difference if the diamonds are real or not - beautiful ring that many women would love. Congrats M!

Thanks CPT, It was really a fun hunt and I learned a bit more about the Nox 800. In the first hour I found the small 14k yellow gold ring with the red stone and the 18k white gold ring during the second hour. Both were in waist deep water and read around "5" on the TID. I think the 10k heart ring was about a "3-5" TID and the last ring was the larger unmarked yellow and white gold band that was a solid "11". It seemed like all the rings had definitive audio and visual signatures and I was almost not surprised to see them in the scoop.

Thanks school, I know it's not a competition and that everything is relative. Of course, I was joking when I mentioned, "upping my game" and meant it more as a compliment to mn30403 and cjc. I am genuinely blessed and happy with what I find.

So my 2 friends who went on this hunt with me both found a lot more coins than I did but got shut out on the gold. My coil just got over the right targets. Sometimes they find the gold and I am the one shaking my head. The detecting here can be good but living in California definitely has its downside. I imagine that the cost of living here may eventually cause us to relocate to another state. I hear that Florida is good for retirees. 😅🙄

Thanks M, I appreciate the info on Florida's Beaches. Regardless of what anyone has found over the years, that was a spectacular hunt you had. Making two "finds of a lifetime" on the same hunt is a pretty rare accomplishment. I have found gold chains in freshwater by digging 1's and 2's on the Nox but I have yet to do so at the beach since I'm mostly a pulse guy. What a thrill that must have been for you to see that "2" pop up when you know you are in the right spot at the right time. 🙏😯

Thanks VL, but I'm not insensitive to anyone who may not have access to the variety of treasure hunting we enjoy here in SoCal. I see Pieces of Eight and high-end jewelry from South Florida and think that the state is metal detecting heaven. Thank you mn30403 for explaining some of the differences between the beaches here and there.

"I didn't forget about the California gold rush after the storms out there this year. I was very jealous." Don't you have the same conditions when the hurricanes pass through?? I've never detected in Florida but I've been envious that you have year round beachgoers (depositors), Spanish treasure and hurricanes that move tons of sand.

Hi Brad, In the dry sand or at the lake I would agree with you but in the wet sand after heavy beach erosion has taken place, even the most heavily hunted beaches can produce eye-popping amounts of gold jewelry - at least, that's how it is in Southern California.

So, on my last hunt I found 4 gold rings at the lake with my Equinox. The biggest one only weighs 2.6 grams but the total for all 4 is 7.1 grams - a pretty productive hunt. This morning I see posts from mn90403 and cjc and think to myself, "Wow...I need to up my game!" 😅

I started metal detecting over 50 years ago and my finds pale in comparison. Where did I go wrong?! 😄

Wow M! Congrats on that surreal, epic and magical hunt that we all dream about! So many other hunters would have probably quit after that first gold ring but you did the right thing in that situation - push on to find more!

Sweet gold ring M - congrats on the silver too! I use my 6" coil at the lake most of the time because it's easier to swing in the water and helps with pinpointing. Yes, it is surprisingly deep for its size.