Pistol Probe - what is the big deal? In-line probes better?

[PokerShark]

I will admit I listened to the buzz and like a good newbie I went out and got a Pistol Probe. The Youtube videos said it was a have to have accessory, can't miss, and so on.

Well this is what I now know. Yes it has great depth. Yes it does let me know if there is ANY metal in the hole I am digging, but..... it is very awakward to use due to its bulk and legnth, and it does not tell me if my target is on the end of the probe, on the side of it, or another 4 inches down. It just bleeps. Complements of this probe I have dug some mighty deep holes only it find the target is just to the left or right in the hole and not deeper as it is seeming to indicate. Now I admit I like the depth when compared to other probes, but when you are digging it trashy areas (and I am) it will drive you nuts locating a target. I would rather use the the detector via an in-line probe which is what got me to dig the hole in the first place.

And did I mention the $169 price tag? That was a tad steep for what it does. Granted it is nearly a full blown detector all by itself, but when you are pinpointing I don't think you need another 3 to 4 inches of additional depth. Vibration, and variable proximity intensity would be much more useful. And if they could shield the sides so that the tip was the locator I think I could live with the size of it. And yes I am aware of the custom settings, which are annoying to use when you are in a hole with gloves on.

Right now I think I will sell/trade it for a Sunray G-1 for my Garrett GTI 2500 which works great for me.

Am I making a good decision?

[Diggin Metal]

I went down that road and i got the sunray i would sell it. it does exactly what you said. it will tell you there is something their but not how close or how far away norr will it tell you its iron or a good signal and in a trashy park i can pinpoint it better witn my 5" DD i made a video showing when i ordered mine and when i got a sunray fx1 its nice i will never use the pistol prob but it does have nice depth $100 i will pay shipping.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN0Gm9YS48w

[dogpound]

i find myself using the GI-1 more than my garrett propointer just for the fact i can zero in on a target faster with the sunray by hitting the pinpoint button on my GTI and it takes me right to the target, the propointer is handy but having to detune it to zero in on a target is also a pain.

[dogpound]

hey pokershark i sent ya a pm

[PokerShark]

I agree the pinpoint on the GTI is dead on. The downside is - the machine goes so deep that I sometimes find myself digging some very deep holes. And in the trashy area I am digging I may have 2 to 3 detector rejected targets and one good one in the same hole!! The pistol probe doesn't give a rip if it is a good or bad target it just beeps. I think the Sunray is a more intelligent and elegant solution.

Diggin Metal - What are you selling? I don't understand what you mean.

Shark

[Kolby72]

Originally Posted by PokerShark

I agree the pinpoint on the GTI is dead on. The downside is - the machine goes so deep that I sometimes find myself digging some very deep holes. And in the trashy area I am digging I may have 2 to 3 detector rejected targets and one good one in the same hole!! The pistol probe doesn't give a rip if it is a good or bad target it just beeps. I think the Sunray is a more intelligent and elegant solution.

Diggin Metal - What are you selling? I don't understand what you mean.

Shark

I think he is saying he agrees with you and will sell his pistol probe for a hundred bucks with shipping and handling, wish I would have seen this a week ago when i bought the garrett lol

[DIGGER27]

Originally Posted by PokerShark

Well this is what I now know. Yes it has great depth. Yes it does let me know if there is ANY metal in the hole I am digging, but..... it is very awakward to use due to its bulk and legnth, and it does not tell me if my target is on the end of the probe, on the side of it, or another 4 inches down. It just bleeps. Complements of this probe I have dug some mighty deep holes only it find the target is just to the left or right in the hole and not deeper as it is seeming to indicate. Now I admit I like the depth when compared to other probes, but when you are digging it trashy areas (and I am) it will drive you nuts locating a target.
:

I believe you can adjust the depth via the threshold knob.
I would turn it down so about 2-3 inches is the limit and that is all you need.

My Propointer goes about 2 inches on coin size targets, but way deeper on larger types.

If I dig a 4 inch wide hole, 4-5 inches deep, and I stick the tip into the center and drop it down to the bottom, I know there is something huge in the vicinity if it goes off when I am still 2 inches away from the sides and 5 inches away from the bottom as I enter the hole.

The power of the Pistol Probe will magnify this problem even on smaller objects, I would assume.

I have stated before, sometimes, a pinpointer going too deep could be a disadvantage.

If you can adjust this to have about 2 inches depth, and stay that way without readjusting, it would work more like the Propointer and would be much less frustrating to use, I would think.

[Diggin Metal]

Yes i was saying i will sell my pistol probe for $100 and i will pay the shipping it's like new i just wont use it. if my sunray broke today i would order another. i will never use any other probe again. 2 or 3 targets in one hole and i know what they are and i can pinpoint you can't do that with any other probe. send a pm if you want to by the pistol probe i could post some picks or a video if you want to see it work.

[Surf Master]

I had a sun-ray fx1 probe on my Standard f75,i let it go with the machine,as i didn;t care for the mount,poping it on ,taking it off,I like the garrett,easy in and out of the holster,also have the pistol probe,a bit harder to handle,but has adjustments,and pulse technology,6 inches on a nickel is great,it;s more powerful than the sunray,but it could use a newer design,easier to handle,like the garrett,recieving my 15dd coil for my F75 Se tomorrow,new depths,i will use that pistol probe more with the deeper holes,out of all three pointers and probes,the sun-ray,after hundreds of digs,was a pleasure to get rid of the clips, and extra weight on the machine,with the 15dd,might add the swingy thingy we will see,take care guys Earl

[Diggin Metal]

Wow i love the way it clips on and off its so simple and how are you getting your 15" DD i ordered one but heard nothing yet waiting to dig to china lol

[dogpound]

also the newer 6x1" black sunray probes are much nicer than the white 9x1 that first came out, much easier to handle and only one clip.

[Surf Master]

I pre Ordered the 15dd coil a long time ago,i was 1st in line on the list,a small amount has been sent to some dealers only 5 to mine,he order 50,,if you just recently ordered one the next batch will be sent out may 15th to the dealers,i did not like putting, and pulling, the sunray probe on and off the clips,if you dug 70 holes that 140 times, plus flipping a switch,i found i like the hand held,less weight on the swing of your machine,the 15dd i herd is a bit heavy but digging to China might be possable in my hands tomorrow

[Surf Master]

I pre Ordered the 15dd coil a long time ago,i was 1st in line on the list,a small amount has been sent to some dealers only 5 to mine,he order 50,,if you just recently ordered one the next batch will be sent out may 15th to the dealers,i did not like putting, and pulling, the sunray probe on and off the clips,if you dug 70 holes that 140 times, plus flipping a switch,i found i like the hand held,less weight on the swing of your machine,the 15dd i herd is a bit heavy but digging to China might be possable in my hands tomorrow