Your aproach takes the fun out of it. It is kinda like saying you should skip fishing and just buy a fish dinner, after all it is cheaper than buying a license and fishing gear. For the amount of money I’ve spent on detecting, i could own a nice stack of gold coins. Instead I have stories and memories that I’ve earned. It is up to each individual which is more valuable. I literally have hundreds of purchased silver coins. Not one of them has an interesting story that I can tell. I have lots of interesting stories about the places I’ve been and the friends I’ve made detecting. I have learned tons of history by listening to stories from the local folks who are eager to tell me Their Story. There isn’t enough clad in the ground anywhere to buy that experience.
Not to derail the thread, but I have found there are folks on this site that have some profound wisdom. . . maybe more importantly, the communication skills to share it with others.
Got my AT Pro 10 days ago. Logged about 15 hours so far. No MDing experience before this, so no expert. I have the 8.5 x 11 standard coil and have had the same issues with pinpointing. However, in the last two days found two things that work:
1. Audio: I sweep back and forth over the object standing at the 6 and 9 o'clock positions, sweeping slowly towards and away from my body. When audio is the strongest, I mentally mark the center of mass of the coil with a stick, plant, rock or whatever. I then turn the 90 degrees and do the same thing again. Usually the two points intersect.
2. Pointer: For the shallower finds, I turn my pointer on max sensitivity and pinpoint where I need to dig. Super easy, but doesn't always apply.
I've used the pinpoint function a handful of times, but I feel the two methods above are quicker.
Good luck with the AT Pro.