6x10 dd vs. 5.3 eclipse

[gonediggin]

I am new to md so any help would be appreciated. I bought a mxt pro a few weeks ago with the 12 inch coil. I have found some good relics with it and it seems to go pretty deep. Seems to work good in open areas with little trash. But i have some old house sites ive been digging and it doesnt work so good there. From the research i have done everyone says the 5.3 eclipse or the 6x10 dd. Im not sure which to go with. What are the differences? Which one would work better for me?

 

[srf2112]

That choice, if you're deciding between the two, will mostly be determined by what type of ground you're hunting i.e. what is the level of mineralization in your particular soil. If your ground is highly mineralized the 6x10 DD will do better in dealing with that and thus more effective. If the ground is milder the 5.3 can be a formidable weapon and a better choice. There's other factors to consider when choosing between these coils such as terrain, physical structures, etc but this is the main consideration. Eventually I would try and acquire BOTH of these coils if I was you . ..JMHO.

 

[BarberBill]

The 6X10 will give a bit more coverage and similar depth with pretty good separation in trashy areas. In mild ground the 5.3 may be a bit deeper and is small enough to give good separation in trash as well, so it's a hard decision. I have and like both, but find myself using the 6X10 the most, but that may just be me. I know Monte is a real fan of the 5.3 and many other posters like the 6X10 so, in the end, you probably can't go too wrong with either.
BB

 

[Nancy-IL]

I like the way the 5.3" handles. There's a lot of information in past posts if you do a search. HH, Nancy

 

[Monte]

I am new to md so any help would be appreciated.

First, let me welcome you to this great outdoor sport!

Next, let me tell you that it is going to take time in the field to get to know your detector well and then you can start to master it. Time and patience will help a lot, then you just need to hit the right site (location, location, location) and make sure you're using a versatile search coil and proper settings.

Third, I can tell you that there are a lot of detectors on the market that are easy-to-use with a factory preset Ground Balance, and a few of them work okay. there are quite a few higher-dollar detectors out there with a lot of functions and adjustments that can seem overwhelming, even to a more savvy detectorist. Then, there are the select few models (few in my opinion) that are what I consider to be excellent performers and a very good value for the investment. From White's current production, I rank the MXT Pro as the best, but closely followed by the MXT and M6.

There have been some excellent former models, but of those made today? You've got a great one.

I bought a mxt pro a few weeks ago with the 12 inch coil. I have found some good relics with it and it seems to go pretty deep.

The MXT Pro is great, but the 12" Concentric coil, which I do happen to like, is really a best-pick coil if you're hunting for slightly larger targets and/or deeper targets. I have opted for the 12" Concentric coil when hunting specifically for old brass railroad locks and similar items around old railroad sidings, depots, switch yards, etc. Also, when I am searching for a cache that I have info on as to what it contains and what type of container it is in.

For smaller-size targets, such as common coins, metal buttons, spent bullets and similar small-objects, I prefer a smaller-than-stock coil. I know that White's okayed selling the MXT Pro with the 950 for a little less than the price with the 12" coil and I think that would have been a better 'general use' coil for you.

You mentioned that you're looking for 'relics' but haven't specified what type of detecting you are mainly interested in. Knowing that would help, as well as having an idea about which part of the country because ground conditions do change and can have an effect on the results you might anticipate.

Seems to work good in open areas with little trash. But i have some old house sites ive been digging and it doesnt work so good there.

Nope, the 12" is too big, but so is the 950 coil White's makes for these models when you get hunting around old home-sites or other junky environments.

From the research i have done everyone says the 5.3 eclipse or the 6x10 dd. Im not sure which to go with. What are the differences? Which one would work better for me?

The stock coil for the original MXT was the round, concentric 950. The elliptical Double-D design that is called the 6X10 is almost the same length as the 950 coil. You didn't mention the type of detecting you do overall, but if you are hunting around old house sites and similar places then you might want to be able to deal with dense brush or perhaps a lot of trash in some areas. You might want to use some discrimination or you could just dig-it-all.

I've used every coil White's makes for the MXT series and, for all-around performance, I use the 5.3 Eclipse 95% of the time. Why, you might ask? Because I usually get detection depth close to or sometimes better than I did with the 6X10 Double-D and even the round 950 concentric. It 'fits' in and around brush and building rubble better. It 'fits' in between trash better.

Being a concentric design the discrimination qualities are better and the VDI/TID can be more accurate and consistent. I also like it because it does 'see' as much ground as a larger coil, such as the 950 or 12', and therefore it is less bothered by ground make-up. Also, I live in NW Oregon and we have some very high iron mineralization here, almost everywhere, and I don't see the problems that some alleged to with regard to favoring a Double-D coil design over a concentric.

Through the years I've used the 5.3 (actually 6

 

[widebody]

[size=large]ya heard it from the MXT guru. ya want to listen grasshopper.

HH[/size]

 

[gonediggin]

Thanks for all your input. By the way i live in eastern Virgina and i am interested in metal detecting civil war relics, buttons, and old coins. I think im leaning more towards the 5.3 elipse, seems like it will work good around the old wooded home sites. But in my research i also came across the whites 4x6 dd coil. What are your views on this coil? Do you think it could be another good option for me. thanks for the help.

 

[srf2112]

Thanks for all your input. By the way i live in eastern Virgina and i am interested in metal detecting civil war relics, buttons, and old coins. I think im leaning more towards the 5.3 elipse, seems like it will work good around the old wooded home sites. But in my research i also came across the whites 4x6 dd coil. What are your views on this coil? Do you think it could be another good option for me. thanks for the help.

Check some of the other current posts in this forum regarding these coils . . . you may find just the answer you're looking for.

 

[nyrelichunter101]

You can never have too many coils. I have hunted with a 5.3 inch coil on the Eagle Spectrum, XLT, and 6000XL Pro. I hunt a lot of cellar holes here the northeast and they are loaded with trash. The 5.3 worked really well for me in helping to sort through the trash and I plan on buying one for the MXT Pro. Still there were some sites that were still too trashy. When I got my MXT Pro, I called White's they recommended the 4x6 for extreme trash, so I plan on buying both coils. Give them a call. They have great customer service.

 

[bb]

Monte,
How does the 5.3 "see" as much ground as a larger coil?


[/quote]Being a concentric design the discrimination qualities are better and the VDI/TID can be more accurate and consistent. I also like it because it does 'see' as much ground as a larger coil, such as the 950 or 12', and therefore it is less bothered by ground make-up.
Monte[/quote]


Thanks,
BB

 

[nyrelichunter101]

I don't know what kind of trash people have on the west coast, but the home sites in New England where I hunt are loaded. I own both the 10 x 6 and the 5.3. I also own the 4 x 6. I did a cellar hole on Sunday that looked like a junkyard and I couldn't use the 5.3, so I switched to the 4x6 and found a large cent and a bat wing buckle. Yes the 5.3 goes deeper than the 4 x 6, but what good does it do if you can't get through the trash? Remember, White's recommends the 4 x 6 for EXTREME trash. Depth isn't always everything.

 

[srf2112]

I don't know what kind of trash people have on the west coast, but the home sites in New England where I hunt are loaded. I own both the 10 x 6 and the 5.3. I also own the 4 x 6. I did a cellar hole on Sunday that looked like a junkyard and I couldn't use the 5.3, so I switched to the 4x6 and found a large cent and a bat wing buckle. Yes the 5.3 goes deeper than the 4 x 6, but what good does it do if you can't get through the trash? Remember, White's recommends the 4 x 6 for EXTREME trash. Depth isn't always everything.

Good point.

 

[Lodihunter]

Just ordered the 6 x 10" and can't wait to start using it! Thanks for all of the reviews!

Lodihunter

 

[triplehooked]

I have both and like them both! I mainly use the 6x10 unless it's super trashy, then the 5.3 comes in and kicks butt. If you are looking for a good all around coil the 6x10 is the one I'd suggest.

Good huntin'