1st Run w/ 17" Feedback

[Prodigy]

Got the 17" for Xmas and it was off to the pounded park ball field. With the 11" I had found over 30 wheats, 2 Indians, a handful of dimes, and 3 silver quarters. After 2 hours with the 17" I managed to find a v nickel that I got lucky on and one wheat. The V was in with a handful of iron nails that gave a repeatable signal. I never heard or saw a nickel tone. Overall, I'm not too impressed for the price. Does anyone have any special settings they run specifically for the 17"? I may have too many numbers discriminated out since readings become more varied at further depths. Thanks

 

[trojdor]

Well, I can only say that it's impossible to judge a coil from one outing. I've gone out and been totally skunked for hours, only to return to the exact area with the exact setup/equipment and had coins all but jump out of the ground.

That said, it would help if you could let us know the settings you were using...disc ranges, sep mode, sensitivity, ground mineralization, ground moisture etc...to see if we can help optimize the settings.

(And Merry Christmas!)

mike

 

[Jason in Enid]

Did you think the price would make the coins magically appear? The 17" coil is a great piece of kit for the right locations. My experience (echoed by many other users) is that the 17" coil will get you 2 - 3 extra inches of depth. I make ZERO changes to my settings, just swap coils and go hunt.

But just because you can get a couple extra inches, doesn't mean that next 2" layer is a carpet of silver. You can't find what isn't there to begin with. Like trojdor said, you can't condemn a coil from a single outting.

 

[KinTN]

Did you think the price would make the coins magically appear? The 17" coil is a great piece of kit for the right locations. My experience (echoed by many other users) is that the 17" coil will get you 2 - 3 extra inches of depth. I make ZERO changes to my settings, just swap coils and go hunt.

But just because you can get a couple extra inches, doesn't mean that next 2" layer is a carpet of silver. You can't find what isn't there to begin with. Like trojdor said, you can't condemn a coil from a single outting.

Yep, I agree with all that.
Around here at many sites you don't even need more depth. Much of the rich soil is underlain by a shallow clay layer and when a 'sinking coin' hits that clay, its descent rate go to effectively zero. With a clay layer at a depth of 4", 6" is plenty of depth. Now when you switch to hunting the river/creek bottoms, the loamy soil layer can become Feet thick and the 17 really shine there for me.

I would also note that if you are hunting amongst a pile of nails, the 17" probably isn't the best choice of coil for that location. Also Prodigy, I agree with your last line in the OP that if you discriminate too much out, the iffier deep signals may have a hard time singing you a song that you want to hear.

 

[SandShaker]

I hunt exclusively with the 17". Only thing is that I am a beach hunter. I can't say much about hard compact but in the wet, the 17 is a BEAST! I detect 15" deep targets routinely and often get stuff nearly 2 ft down. Not sure if that helps any but maybe it's just your settings. When I take my 11 to the beach it acts much different than the 17 does. You need to fine tune it.

 

[tcornel]

I hunt primarily old houses with some parks. I use the 17" coil primarily with the 6" for around basketball courts. The standard coil rarely gets used. Buying Sabich's book and adjust your settings.

The HUGE advantage with the 17" coil is the amount of ground covered with each swing. It is way too easy to miss targets with the 11" coil.