Coil Comparison 6x10 vs 10DD

[ga5150]

I just recently picked up a 10DD coil and have yet to use it. I already have a 6x10 that I've been using for about the last month. Also in my inventory are the 5.3, 4x6, 950, and Super12 (that never gets used). I've mostly used the 5.3 in the past as my primary coil, as it suits the areas I hunt very nicely. I picked up the 6x10 after reading info that the MXT was designed with this coil and I had read nice reviews of it. I enjoy using it, but a 10DD became available at a very good price so I snagged it as well.

For those of you who have used both, can you give any insight or pros/cons of the 6x10 vs the 10DD? What will one do that the other won't, or do I now have two of basically the same coil?

I tried to do a search on this site, but didn't find much in specifics to that. I remember seeing that Aaron, who posts here, uses the 10DD a lot.

I'd be interested in input regarding the uses of both of these coils.

Thanks for any insight provided!!

Rodney

 

[Aarong81]

I havn't used the 6x10 coil but as far as comparing the two side by side I believe DD coils are categorically sized(for depth) according to the narrowest width. So a 6x10 coil is a 6" coil and the D2 is a 10" coil. I would think that both coils would have the same 'coverage', 10" front/back. The width is the other factor determining 'depth'. I can only theorize what the direct comparison would be like but I think the D2 would have more depth. When I first bought mine I airtested it and it seemed to have about equal to 1/2" more depth than the 950, depending on the target used. Some targets were identical on depths but that was quite awhile back and can't recall if the large targets had more depth with the D2 or if it was smaller targets. But that is not relevant to your comparison inquiry EXCEPT that you should already have a good idea about your 950 coil. That being said, you can expect no loss of depth when using the D2 coil vs 950, plus you will have the inherit characteristics of a DD.
I would think they would have very similar traits with more accurate VDI going to the 6x10.....and more depth going to the D2. I know the D2 separates VERY well and the 6x10 should be just as good, that shouldn't be a factor with either coil.
Let us know when you get a chance to compare them on the same natural undug targets.

 

[RedRockNv]

If you have time give us some side by side. I really like the 6x10 but have heard good things about the 10DD just never had one to compare the two.

 

[mouseman]

I have the 6x10dd but not the 10"dd how does the 10" do in wet sand? Because, my 6x10 doesn't do wet sand. I would think the depth,and width would be different and the factoring of the type of ground you search oh, and weight would be the difference. I hope my two cent was helpful. Mouseman, crescent city,ca

 

[Topo]

never used the 10DD, I just have to add that I find the 950 deeper and more sensitive to small targets than the 6x10DD, this in common non very mineralized soils

 

[ga5150]

I will be using it extensively over the next month. I should have enough feeling on how it compares by then. I'll post more once I've done a lot more swinging with it.

If you have time give us some side by side. I really like the 6x10 but have heard good things about the 10DD just never had one to compare the two.

 

[ga5150]

I won't be able to give any input on how it acts in wet sand (or dry sand for that matter). I'm not near the coast. I'll provide some feedback on plain old dirt though!

I have the 6x10dd but not the 10"dd how does the 10" do in wet sand? Because, my 6x10 doesn't do wet sand. I would think the depth,and width would be different and the factoring of the type of ground you search oh, and weight would be the difference. I hope my two cent was helpful. Mouseman, crescent city,ca

 

[bigtim1973]

I have used both. The D2 is deeper and also has a slightly wider footpath. It also tends to be hot on screw caps too. But the 6x10 is better in and around trashy areas. It has a smaller footpath and it ID's screw caps better. The 6x10 tends to pinpoint better that the D2 but there is a noticeable difference in depth. If I was going to be looking around an old house site I would prefer the 6X10. If I was going to be in a more open area relic hunting or parks, beaches, etc., I would choose the D2. The 6X10 gets in and around shrubs real good, the D2 has an open design and it tends to snag on small stalks and such but in an area that is mowed frequently and all it does real good keeping it close to the ground. You will notice a difference once you start using the D2. Both are great coils but the D2 will get you some deeper finds. Tim

 

[dixiedigger57]

Dave Johnson designed the MXT around the 6x10 coil. I have the 6x10 and have used it with success, but i prefer my 950 and 5.3 for my hunting. Just me, just my preference. this is a very good coil, but again, i just prefer the concentric. Georgia soild vary at the fall line, from extreme to mild.

i am going to sell my 6x10 i believe for a very reasonable amount since i acquired the 5.3 and i hunt the absolute garbage areas and need small coils to cherry pick.

anyone wants it let me know. coil only. $125 includes shipping.

 

[mouseman]

Let us know what the d2 does in wet sand.

 

[ga5150]

Ok, update- I've been using the D2 the last few weeks. I took it to one of my standby sites that has a lot of trash, but a lot of good finds come from there too. My first 8 targets that came out of the ground were bottle caps. This thing loves bottle caps! I got so frustrated digging these caps, that I switched back to the 6x10 and pulled some more clad, wheats, and a couple of silver Rosie's.

I also used the 10DD at a Civil War site that I've hit hard over the last year. I can definitely tell a difference in depth. I went over a small area that I've pounded several times and was able to pull a wheat cent and an Indian Head, as well as two more .58 cal Minie's and my very first staff officers button. The button rang up in the 26-30 range and was a bit jumpy, but I was digging almost all my signals just trying to get lucky.

I can see that I won't be able to use the 10DD in heavy trash, but it seemed to perform very nicely in the other areas Ive used it.

Sorry Mouseman, I can't tell you how it does in sand, as I don't live near the coast or do any beach hunting.

 

[Aarong81]

I agree that the D2 makes you dig all the bottle caps, But I would assume that any trash target will inhibit you from finding targets under the trash. Those lightweight bottle caps will not be nearly as deep as a solid copper IH cent or silver coin dropped many decades or 100 years before the modern bottle cap was ever invented. If you know of a good place to metal detect with 100+ year old traffic on it and it is littered with bottle caps, they need to be dug in order to find older targets.

This is a problem in public areas like parks. No matter the coil, any shallow target with a positive VDI will null or mask other targets below it to some extent. You simply cannot set your detector/coil setup to find old coins below bottle caps, either choose to search those areas or not but leaving the bottle caps there will not make the coins jump out of the ground on their own.
On the other hand, I am thankful to all the metal detectorist that have left bottle caps in these areas because it is positive evidence that nobody has detected underneath them before me unless they are evil people dropping their trash behind them as they detect.

I have a love/hate relationship with the park by my house. One day I detect it I hate it because I only find recent trash. Then the next day I find old targets such as IH cents or silver dimes that, by all rights, should have already been found. I have removed a lot of trash targets and that could be why the older targets are eventually found. I know that a deep coin does not always sound or look(VDI) like a coin. Sometimes, a faint and bouncy +20 to +40(or even so weak it doesn't give a VDI) turns out to be a deep copper cent at the maximum detection range of the coil with iron or mineralization to boot. How would you be able to dig those signals if there are bottle caps above or near it that you choose to ignore, no matter the choice of coil. If you want a coil to differentiate between a bottle cap and a wheat/IH cent you won't be digging targets that "look" like bottle caps, Those deep coins that won't read accurately due to many reasons including bottle caps near them and mineralization. I always struggle with the habit of deciding that every non-coin signal is trash but many times they are coins being masked by trash or harsh ground.

According to your own chart comparing 6 different coils HERE, and pictured below, the screw cap reads the same on the D2 as a zinc penny with the 6x10 which happens to be between a wheat penny and an IH cent. Anything anywhere near that VDI range should be dug. The fact that the D2 fools you into digging targets that another coil would let you walk past is exactly what will help you find coins that have previously been walked past for the same reason. A +60 VDI target is just too risky to leave in the ground if you're in a good area. Although, if it's shallow you can be pretty certain it is trash or a Zincoln. Albeit, you won't be able to detect below it until you remove it.

To be fair, +70(bottle caps with the D2) is as similar as +60(bottle caps with the 6x10). Can you really afford to skip either +60 or +70? If you leave BOTH those targets in the ground you will not dig many IH cents/Wheat cents or any coin in a natural imperfect scenario causing masking or nulling. Most of the easy silver coins have already been dug, the iffy/trashy signals make up most of the remaining ones and many of those look like bottle caps until separated from the trash next to it.
http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt103/ga5150/Other/VDIAirTestSheet1-page-001.jpg

 

[mouseman]

Aarong81, Very well put, I hope people see this and get the message . I'm not an expert but, it makes since to me.

 

[ga5150]

Aaron,

Thank you for the long thoughtful reply. I completely understand your logic here. Every visit I make to this site, I always remove more and more trash and usually get a few keepers along the way. Eventually, I'll have it cleaned up and in doing so, as your post explains, I'm sure I'll have many more silvers and IH's.

Thanks for the great post!

Rodney