First Post-geocacher interested in your sport

[Nervous Nick]

Hey all:

I have been browsing this forum as well as Usenet for a couple of hours and I have the impression that this is a really neat sport with a tight group of afficianados. I have yet to get into the sport, but as I have been geocaching for some three years, it seems a natural extention of that interest to try out some "swinging," as it appears you call it. In some places I could actually do both geocaching and metal detecting.

So, in my recent research, it appears that the ACE 250 might a good starter unit. It is just about on the high end of my budget, and in other forums I have read good things about this tool. I have seen some of these on eBay for $200 or so. Does this still seem a reasonable first MD, and a reasonable price? Do I have to worry about getting the thing wet?

Also, if anyone else the Chicago area reads this, maybe they would be more familiar with the dos and don'ts of places (Cook and DuPage and Will County FPs) that I would most likely want to MD.

Any feedback would be welcomed.

Thanks so much!

--
YOP...

Nicko

[booker]

Welcome--The 250 is a very good machine. I own one and so far has been very good to me. The coil can get wet but the box needs to stay dry

[Kingfisher]

Welcome to the forum.,,, I dont think you can beat the ace250 for the price............

[spittfire]

Welcome NN!

[Carol K]

Hi Nervous Nick, welcome and yep, we are all in agreement that geocaching and metal detecting go hand in hand.

In fact there's a huge thread about it in the cache forum. Oh yes, here it is.

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=1845

[billiard rich]

Welcome Nick! The Ace 250 is an excellent choice. Oz and Twisted use them (both are from Chicago).

I'm from Crestwood. I do my hunting in the Palos Forest Preserves - in the woods mainly. Some folks have been ticketed and kicked-out when the tree cops saw them digging in the picnic areas. They've seen me do that too but only smiled and waved at me. Oz and Twisted seem to hit Tot-lots and do pretty good.

As far as information on swing'n goes, anyone in this forum can help.

HH

Rich

[Vlad]

Welcome Nicko!
I think you will have a blast with a detector and a gps. Ace 250 is a good starter

[OkieDigger]

Welcome to the forum!

[Nervous Nick]

Ummm... thanks, everyone! What a warm welcome. Geez!

I'll be back.

Cheers.

Nicko

[twistidd]

Nervous Nick,

I would definately recommend the Ace 250 as a good beginner detector. It's what I've been using for about four months now. I used to use a cheaper Radio Shack model but like that the Ace is all digital and easier to use. As Billiard Rich mentioned, I mostly hunt tot lots for now but will hit the ballparks and grassy areas once the mush dries up. I've had pretty good success so far, and have found about 500 coins in approximately 15 outings, in addition to gold and silver jewelry and other things. It's addicting and I find myself driving around scoping out tot lots (but not too much because people think you're a stalking child molester). I'm not too too far from your neck of the woods so maybe I'll run into you some day at a park.

Joe

p.s. I never hunt Cook County Forest Preserves. It's illegal to dig there, and even though some do it with no problems, I don't take the risk. Doesn't mean I wouldn't want to.

[Detector]

Welcome

[chopz54]

The 250 is highly recomended over here in England, never tried one myself,

they have lots of features and are a good price. Go for it Chop

[Nervous Nick]

Went for it. Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. I picked it up on eBay for $204 incl. shipping. If I am lucky it should be here in time for the weekend.

Interestingly, in all the time I have spent geocaching over the past three years, I have only once (about a month ago, in fact) seen someone metal detecting (this was in a Cook County FP). Either you guys are very discreet, or there just aren't many of you around here. OTOH I run into other geocachers all the time.

Cheers!

Nicko

[booker]

Contgrats on you new MD

[billiard rich]

Originally Posted by Nervous Nick

Went for it. Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. I picked it up on eBay for $204 incl. shipping. If I am lucky it should be here in time for the weekend.

Interestingly, in all the time I have spent geocaching over the past three years, I have only once (about a month ago, in fact) seen someone metal detecting (this was in a Cook County FP). Either you guys are very discreet, or there just aren't many of you around here. OTOH I run into other geocachers all the time.

Cheers!

Nicko

Good choice! What part of the CCFP do you do your geocaching in? (North, South, West?)

[Nervous Nick]

I live in Cicero, so usually I am going SW. But Geocaching takes me everywhere, so I am always open to new places.

[twistidd]

Interesting. I have never ever once in my life seen anyone geocaching. Or maybe I just never noticed. However, I do agree that not many in the area metal detect. I've only seen one other detector in the area and that was about 18 years ago.

[TxDigger]

Welcome aboard Nick, don't be so nervous. The Ace 250 is an excellent machine, my son found a 71 dollar coin within the first 15 mintues with his in our backyard. Great little tector.

As for "Geocaching", we ran into one this past weekend. Couldn't figure out what the dude was doing walking around looking lost but staring at his GPS unit. Finally had to ask him and then I understood!

John

[Cladius]

Don't be nervous Nick, you'll be finding stuff in no time. Wellcome to the sport. I also cache. Cladius.