Pinpointers are important when metal detecting because they help in the process of pinpointing the metal objects you find with your metal detector. A pinpointer probe will save you time digging in the dirt and will guide you in finding the object quickly decreasing the risk of damaging it.
Pinpointer probes are basically handheld metal detectors with a small search coil in them. They are used to precisely find what you are looking for when metal detecting. They work wonders especially when you have detected an object the is buried around the roots of trees you can just dig the probe around and under the roots to locate your find.
Finding the area where the treasure is hidden is only half the battle when metal detecting. The other have is locating exactly where that object is and retrieving it from the ground.
Digging Deeper: What Is The Best Pinpointer For Small Gold?
In this article, we have reviewed 5 of the best pinpointers that you can buy and what to look for in a quality pinpointer before you purchase one. After this article, you should have enough information to make an informed purchasing decision.
Many advanced metal detectors come equipped with a pinpointer on the search coil but since the search coil is larger than you would want for detecting right in the hole you have dug a handheld pinpointer is much easier to maneuver inside the hole.
What to Look For In a Pinpointer Probe
There are many sizes and shapes of pinpointers on the market and the more high-end pinpointers are made of better, stronger materials and they offer more features as well. There are a few things you want to consider before purchasing a metal detecting pinpointer.
Where Will You Be Detecting?
Deciding where you will be metal detecting will help you in the process of picking out the right pinpointer probe for you. If you will be detecting where there is water you will want a pinpointer that is waterproof since you will be holding it close to the ground and in the dirt having a waterproof pinpointer is important.
At the very least you will want to choose a pinpointer that is weather resistant because you never know what type of weather you are going to find yourself in. It only takes once to get a pinpointer wet and if it isn’t waterproof or weather resistant that will be the last time you use it.
Target Response
The target response is the sound or vibration you get when you have located the object you are searching for. Some pinpointers come with an audible target response sound and some will vibrate when the target is located. Sometimes you will get a target indicator light feature that comes on the pinpointer.
Best Pinpointers For Metal Detecting
Now that you know a few things to look for before you purchase a pinpointer I present you with five of the best pinpointers for metal detecting. Anyone of these pinpointers would be a handy addition to any detectorist arsenal of metal detecting tools.
Garrett Pro-Pointer AT
The Pro-Pointer AT by Garrett is the best of the best when it comes to pinpointers. This pinpointer has all the top features you would expect to find in a premium pinpointer.
With the Pro-Pointer AT you get a tough rugged pinpointer that can be used in any terrain and weather condition. As a matter of fact, the AT stands for all-terrain and that’s exactly where you can use this pinpoint in any terrain imaginable.
This pinpointer will not get ruined even in up to 10 feet of water so it’s perfect for detecting around rivers, streams, and even the ocean. Not many pinpointers are as tough and rugged as the Pro-Pointer AT!
You will love some of its key features such as a scraping blade for sifting around for the target object, LED light to see what you are doing, a speaker that is waterproof, and the sealed battery cover. With the original Pro-Pointer, you had a speaker that had to be covered when you were around water making it a big pain in you know what.
360 Degrees of Detection
You also get 360 degrees of detection all the way around the first couple of inches of the pinpointer. The color of the AT is orange so you can see it better underwater making for a very handy underwater metal detecting tool.
Find small objects at deeper ranges with the 3 sensitivity modes of low, medium and high. There is even a feature called retune which allows you to shrink the signal so that you can detect even more precisely. Retune is a feature you don’t find on many pinpointers and its really helpful for finding very tiny objects quickly.
Key Features
- 3 Levels of sensitivity
- 3 modes of retuning
- Single-button operation
- LED light
- Lasts 30 hours on a 9-volt battery
- Waterproof up to 10 feet
- Lightweight at 6.5 ounces
- Scraping blade
If you want the best of the best in pinpointers that won’t fail in the field and can be used in every terrain and even underwater then the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is the pinpointer you will want to get.
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Garrett Pro-Pointer II
One of the big differences the pro pointer ll is compared to the pro pointer at is that the pro pointer ll is not waterproof otherwise this version is another excellent pinpointer made by a company that knows metal detecting.
The fast retuning you find on the Pro pointer ll is one of its best features. With the retuning on this pinpointer, you can tune out sand, saltwater, ground minerals, and junk. It helps in telling the size of the object found and how deep it’s buried.
You can pinpoint large objects more precisely with the shrinking detection field. And you can even tell between targets if there is more than one.
You will also appreciate the 360 degrees of protection, a large on of button that is easily controlled with or without gloves. Also featured on the Pro-Pointer II is a side scraper to sift through the dirt to more easily find the target
Easy automatic tuning and also an LED light so you can better see your search area. There’s nothing quite like a Garrett pinpointer when it comes to quality and features.
The Pro-Pointer II runs on a 9-volt battery that can last for 30 hours and also included is a woven carry case.
Key Features
- Fast retuning capability
- Sturdy
- Increase sensitivity
- Lanyard attachment clip
- Audio and vibration when a target is located
- 360 degrees and pinpoint detection
- Automatic tuning
- Warning chirps when the unit has been on for 5 minutes without pushing any buttons
- Automatically shuts off after 60 minutes without pushing any buttons
- Scraping blade for sifting through soil
- Can be rinsed and cleaned with water
- Woven belt holster included
- Runs on a 9-volt battery
- Weatherproof
- 2-year limited warranty on parts and labor
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Minelab Pro Find 35
Minelab is another solid company that makes quality high-tech metal detectors and they also manufacture quality metal detecting accessories like the Pro Find 35 pinpointer.
With the Pro Find 35, you can get into small holes where a large metal detectors search coil cannot reach. You will also recover your objects much faster with little environmental impact on the soil caused by excessive digging.
The Pro Find 35 has detector interference-free technology (DIF) that helps in reducing the interference sometimes caused by a metal detector that is on. This technology shuts off the search coil inside the pinpointer when the pinpointer is turned off.
If you lose the Pro Find 35 like in tall grass or weeds an alarm will sound after the pinpointer has not been in use so that you can hear it and locate it if you are close by. Never lose your pinpointer again.
I don’t know how many times I have laid my pinpointer down while recovering an object and couldn’t find it without a lot of searching. So the alarm is a very handy feature to have.
Key Features
- Waterproof up to 10 feet
- Audio and vibration indication to let you know when you are close to your target
- Ferrous Tone ID to help discriminate between junk and treasure
- An alarm that sounds when the pinpointer is lost
- Five sensitivity adjustments that allow for deep detecting and to minimize noise in all ground conditions
- Holster and lanyard included so you can attach the Pro Find 35 to your belt for easy transport
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Whites Bullseye TRX
The Bullseye TRX by Whites is another quality pinpointer that has made the top 5 list. The TRX is a handy addition to your metal detector. Find coins, jewelry, and relics much faster than with a metal detector alone.
The Bullseye TRX is completely automatic so no tuning involved. Just point in the area where your metal detector indicated an object and precisely pinpoint where that object is buried.
You can see your target area clearly with the LED light that is enabled when pushed. This pinpointer is powered by 2 AA or a 9-volt battery that can last up to 20 hours of use. The bullseye makes detection easy and more precise with the detection area that’s concentrated on the tip.
Key Features
- Frequency of 12 kHz that doesn’t interfere with metal detectors
- Audio and vibrate alert
- Dual battery operation either 2-AA batteries or 1-9-volt battery (detect to a deeper depth using the 9-volt battery option)
- Holster included can clip up to a 3†wide belt
- Lanyard attachment loop on the pinpointer and the holster
- LED light to help illuminate the target area so you can see exactly what you are doing
- Two-year warranty
- Inch markings on the pinpointer so you can measure the objects found
- Overload indicator
- Lost alarm so you can easily hear where your pinpointer is in case you lose it
- Weatherproof design
- Single-button operation automatically tuned
- Target Ratcheting for easy junk to treasure discrimination
- Replaceable shell in case of damage to your pinpointer
Makro Pointer – Waterproof Pinpointer
Last but not least is the Makro Pointer waterproof pinpointer. The Makro Pointer is designed with waterproofing in mind that meets the IP67 waterproof standard making it perfect for detecting in water or on land. You get 360 degrees of detection around the tip making it easy to locate your target easily and quickly.
You will love the LED light that makes finding your object easy in dark places or for nighttime treasure hunting. You get 3 different target alert options:
- Audio alert
- Vibration alert
- Both audio and vibration alert
You are able to change sensitivity easily with the push of a button so you can change depending on the environment that you are detecting in. The coils transmission is disconnected when turned off so that the magnetic field of the pinpointer doesn’t interfere with other metal detectors working in the area.
Included are two hardshell cases to help in protecting the detecting tip. The first is a standard hardshell case to protect the tip and the second one has a built-in scraping blade for sifting through soil to that helps in more easily finding the target.
Key Features
- Waterproof (IP 67)
- LED light
- 360-degree detection tip
- 3 target alert options
- Sensitivity control for better environmental control
- Magnetic transmission of coils is disconnected when the unit is shut off so that the magnetic field doesn’t interfere with other metal detectors
- 2 hardshell cases included for protection of the detection tip
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Conclusion
Now that you understand more about pinpointers and what to look for before purchasing you can make an informed purchasing decision. Pinpointers are not absolutely necessary but they are critical if you want to find your targets easily and fast. I personally never go treasuring hunting without a pinpointer on hand.
Once again here are the best pinpointers for metal detecting:
- Garrett Pro-Pointer AT
- Garrett Pro-Pointer II
- Minelab Pro Find 35
- Whites Bullseye TRX
- Makro Pointer
All five of these pinpointers are quality units well worth investing in for an easier time at finding the treasure that you are hunting for.
Thanks for reading and until next time Happy Treasure Hunting!
