Pinpointers

Hello, OC.   This  has been a much debated subject here (which can be attested by putting "pinpointer" or "probe" in the search box at the top right hand corner and then searching "entire forum").

              Personally, I think every detectorist should learn how to effectively pinpoint using their detector.   Then they can decide for themselves whether a probe/pinpointer saves them enough time recovering finds or whether it's just one more piece of equipment to have to drag around and keep track of.   For the most part, I fall into the "it's just one more piece of equipment that I'd need to haul around and keep track of".   On the other hand, there are certain times when I do go back to the truck and haul the pinpointer out.  (most times, though, I don't mess with it and I don't miss it).

BA

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		Quote:			Posted by gtect
	untill you get enough practice pinpointing with your detector, a hand held pinpointer is a must for anyone just starting out

Trouble with that approach is that it tends to make people dependent on the pinpointer rather than learning to use the detector to pinpoint.   (not saying it's wrong .... just saying that it's general human nature that if they have a person has a pinpointer when they start out, they're not as likely to take the time to learn to pinpoint with a detector as they would if they didn't---unless they are really weight conscious.) 

from what I've seen, I think the opinions on this question come out real close to 50/50 for and against.   I do get curious, though,  how much of a difference the following make as to which side of the arguement someone comes down on:
1)  how long they have been detecting (I'm thinking old-timers from a time when pin-pointers were less common are less likely to use them)
2)  what type of hunting a person mainly does
3)  where someone generally hunts

Be interesting to do some polls on this some time.   (I think if I spent more time hunting in urban parks, I'd be more likely to use a pin-pointer than I am now when most of my hunting is out in the middle of nowhere).

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I'm with Bitburg on this one.

I never felt the need for one.

Faster?   I'm in no race.

They didn't have them back in the Dinosaur days and I never had one.

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I have been at this 40 years and feel a pin pointer is just one more thing to carry around.

As for beginners using one I say not at first learn your detector learn to pin point with your detector. If you become dependent on a PP what you going to do when it quits on you at 1pm Sunday afternoon and you never learn how to PP with your machine. 

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I've got one because I thought I had to have one.  I used it once and put it up because its just something else to have to haul around.  Also my machines are so light I wind up digging and sorting with the right hand and swing my md up close with the other hand holding the detector shaft up by the coil.  Or just lay your coil where you can reach it and pass a handful of crap over the coil till you find the goodies.

Where I WILL use my pinpointer is getting my wife to swing the MD and flag her finds, and I come along after her doing the digging and finding.  THEN I will use my pinpointer.  We can double our aluminum haul that way in half the time.

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