Hey all. I'm interesting in metal detecting (of course if I am here!) but know essentially nothing about it. I've looked at purchasing a Garrett Ace 250 to begin with, but I've been thinking that perhaps I should try to find someone or a group local to me to tag along with before I spend the money on a hobby that I may not enjoy. If I do enjoy it, then i may also be more willing to purchase higher end metal detector like a Minelab Explorer series or such.

I'd like to find someone or a group that would allow me to tag along, and if they have any spare equipment let me do a few swings and such. I'd like to see how a clean hole is dug, how detectors work, different tones/pitches they emit, modes/discrimination settings, what other equipment is needed like probes knives and shovels, and see how my expectation of frequency of finds versus real world find frequency is. I'm most interested in coins, but I do like antique and old things too. So is there a group in my area I can get set up with? I currently live in Eastvale/Corona area, but I spend a lot of time in North Orange County. I'd appreciate it if someone would be willing to show me what is involved in the hobby and explain how it works. Thanks!

-Greg

Hello Stang1968,

There is a Riverside Treasure Hunters Club that meet on the first friday of each month at 7:00pm. Location is Jackson Elem.School 4585 Jackson St. Riverside Ca.
We have a club hunt on Jan 20 Sunday 8:00-11:00am. Location Carbon Canyon Reginal Park 4422 Carbon Cayon Rd. Brea Ca. Take the Larmbert off ramp, east, off the 57 fwy. Admission $3.00. I used a minelab Explorer II going on about 5 years now. I like it very much had a white too the mineab is betterI :D
Hope to see around some time. :thumber:
Form Dougiedig :plato:

Welcome aboard. Dougiedig has good advice: Join a club. Attend a few meetings, and see who's bringing in the goodies. Actual old coins, rings, etc... Not just random clad. After you see who the aces are, ask if they'd mind if you could meet them in the field. Any spot, even if just for clad. Just a spot where you can trade off signals, practice a few pinpoints, swing speeds, machine setting adjustments, etc..

But what dougiedig failed to tell you, is that you'll have to pay him duty tax for the detecting in his area. 25% of all your finds, you pay postage. After the first year, it drops to 10%. By the third year, you get to collect tax on newbies yourself :)

lol I'll keep the tax in mind.

A club would be a good idea, yes. I live in a very new area so probably not much out here to look for but when I go home to Idaho- Oh yah ;) lots of turn of the century places in my mothers neighborhood.

Hey Greg,

We have free trade and no duty tax!!!! B)
I willing to share my hunting area with all hunter.
There are area in Riverside Co. and San Bernardino Co. that are from the turn of century too. :thumber:

From Dougiedig :plato:

Hey Greg,

I'm out of a GPAA chapter out of Brea California (OC). We've got a few members that do a lot of metal detecting at beaches, parks and the like (coin-shooters stuff). So if you're interested our next meeting is on February 10th. Check out our website at www.route66goldminers.org .

Happy Hunting- Max