Choice of coils for different uses for MXT?

[Reggie]

I have the 5.3 (6"), 9.5" and 5" excellarator coils for the MXT. Questions: (1) which coil (eliptical, DD, etc) is best for coin hunting; ((2) Which coil (eliptical, DD, etc) is best for relic hunting? Brand names, types, etc. ? Price not an object. Do I have the best already, or is there some superduper eliptical DD or the new White's 12" DD coil the best? What say you? Thanks.

 

[Mike Livingston]

I'd say you'd be hard pressed to get better, use what you have.

 

[Scottowl]

When I first started out, I had only the stock coil. It was very frustrating in trash areas, to the point I almost gave up on the whole thing.

The first coil I got was the 5.3, which improved things tremendously. I was finding AT LEAST 3 times the amount as before, along with the occasional silver or gold ring.

I did alot more reading on the various forums, and learned that a DD coil would allow me to run the gain wide open. I got the 6x10, and later the 3x6, and have used them exclusively for the last 2 years.

The last few weeks I got to thinking about the old 5.3. I came to the realization that wide open gain is not always the best policy, particularly if you are trying to sort out more than one item under your coil. I put the 5.3 back on, and I MUCH prefer it in general hunting applications. There is a better sound quality on coins, and it is easier to audiblly discriminate bottle caps and other iron. I can also more accurately determine the physical size of a detected object with this coil. (Ever dug out a squashed beer can at 6" looking for a quarter?)

I will still use the little DD for working small areas, or overgrown areas, at least until I try one of the small Excellerator coils out.

The DD coil has its place. I read some hunters thoroughly enjoy using them to dig little bits of non ferrous metal (small VDI number targets) out of a bed of iron laced sand. It is also excellent at finding tiny wads of tinfoil at 4" or more!

Seriously, I think your 9.5 will do well with the old relics, and I KNOW the 5.3 gets coins and jewelry in the trash. I have not tried the little Excell coil, but most that have say it does a better job than the Shooter coil I use.

I think I am at the point where I need to concentrate on learning more about the equipment I already have, and not chase the latest and greatest innovations. Then again, I have to spend all that clad on something...

 

[Tin Nugget]

Money not an issue, I would add the 6X10 DD for bad ground with low trash and the 4X6 for very trashy places.

 

[Rob (IL)]

For my MXT, I've got the 5" excelerator for trashy areas and it is super. I don't have to run it in the plus numbers if I'm worried about masking. I'm not going to get the 5.3 because the size is so close to the 5". Besides I keep a 5.3 on my modded IDX.

The 9.5 is deeper than the 6x10 (which I have) if the ground is good. The 6x10 works well for me but I seem to find as much with my 8" excelerator.

Since you have the 5's you might want to check out the 4.5x7 excelerator which would be a little bigger. I actually need to sell either the 8" excelerator or the 6x10. That would leave me with a 5 DD, (8 DD or 6x10 DD) and a 9.5. Then if I could afford it the new 12 for deeper stuff. Rob

 

[kneelever]

what do you all think about the 1400 eclipse dd coil on the mxt ? and a 6x10

 

[Rob (IL)]

Well Jeff Foster said,"The 9.5 inch coil appears to outperform the 6x10DD in ferrous mineralization up to about a 4 to 3 MXT coin-inch mineralization strength. For stronger soil, the 6x10DD outperforms the 9.5 for coin-sized targets. (But, the 1400DD easily out does both in mineralization that is bad, for coin-size targets.)"

He knows more than me. If the soil is good I don't think you need the DD's.