coin shooting with MXT

[sterlingelastic]

I want to coin hunt with my MXT but im having touble with trash. Is there any way to set up my machine to be more likely to find coins? also I am curious about the vdi numbers and how to seperate new pulltabs from nickels. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Rob (IL)]

Use a small coil, and overlap your swings go slow. The MXT can be swung slow and this will let you better hear good targets that are close to the junk. Don't set your gain too high to minimize masking from fringe targets. If you are willing to spend the time cleaning the surface junk and good targets you can now go over the same area with a bigger coil and more gain.

Most nickels register 18 - 20 for me. The new tabs can give the exact same readings. Also bits of canslaw and the little disk the tab opens on the can gives the same reading. I've found 1092 nickels with the MXT and I don't have an answer for this one. Rob

 

[DFX-Gregg]

If you only want to coinshoot....know the exact area your coins are vdi wise...dig only those signals...on the dfx...I do get a set amount of the vdi bouncing/wrap but know the range....also I always use tone id...also a must is good spots...go where the foot traffic is... I am having my best coinshooting month of the year...I will post one pic at end of month...Great spots are required for lots of coin recoveries...do you live in a well populated area...you must know the exact vdi readings that your coins are falling in ...and to save time do not dig most of the zinc cents...

Not sure how close vdi readings are on mxt....but on dfx.... 16-20...usually a nickel...bounce and usually end up on 18, 19, or 20....while a pulltab acts quite differently...broken in signal...and bounces from 21 to 26...resting on 22.

The cents come in from 54 (bottle cap range and zinc) and go up to 80.... the wheaties usually always hide in a set area 72 to 80...normally resting around 78.... the zincs seem to float between 54 and 75...

dimes on the dfx give a nice high pitched sound...but vdi range is usually 74to81...and the quarter is usually 83 to 87....

You could go about it a few ways...ignoring the nickel, pulltab, gold, bottlecap readings(probably ignore almost right up to dime reading)...do this by digging 70 and above if vdi is similar to dfx...I dig nickels but I am able to easily pick them out from pulltabs...I think I dream the exact sounds and vdi numbers to dig...and for as many coins as I have dug this year it has become a routine...with good spots and knowing your readings...you will know exactly what to dig and what not to dig...good luck...

Remember there is nothing more important then learning which vdi numbers represent each coin and having great spots to hunt.

 

[Rob (IL)]

I don't know if the DFX's signagraph gives any more info on nickels but when the MXT gives a clean, loud, steady 18 or 20 it can still be a tab, canslaw, or disk from the can. Then there is the twisted tab, and half tab. Yes if it reads more than 20 it is USUALLY not a nickel. The problem is when it reads a steady 18-20, 18, 20, or bounces 16-18-20 and it is not a nickel. I dig many a nickel signal and it is not a nickel. As I've said, on the MXT I haven't found a way to tell the difference. I just keep digging. Rob

 

[DFX-Gregg]

With the dfx you can be fooled also...but I find myself digging mainly nickels when i try to... The way i do it is...i swing the coil in all directions crossing the target...usually at one angle...the pulltab will give itself away with a spike in vdi to 26...and come back down to 22... Sure some I notice also will sit flat on a nickel number or area...such as 18...but I am really used to the tone/response of the nickel and usually do not even need to look..at vdi..except to check to make sure it is not a pulltab once in a while...I have the tones down in my head...use vdi signagraph more as a back up to avoid a few things... Also there is a newer squared pulltab that fools me sometimes...but the dfx has 191 tones one assigned to each vdi number -95 to +95 and a total of 231 different tones available so changes in reading/tone lets me know it is junk..but we all can be fooled...I have managed to dig 717 nickels this year...for beginning coin shooting... and to dig just coins..but you will lose gold...you may want to just dig wherever the mxt starts with dimes...so you will mainly dig dimes and quarters...but location is everything! In tot lots I dig all signals...set my detector to accept up to -41...and sometimes to accept all ferrous and non ferrous signals to pick up the tiny things like earrings and trinkets...

 

[Bowie]

Using the M6 and 5.3 eclipse coil. When I get a reading that bounces from 18 to 22 I will try and scan the edge of the target,just brushing up to it,if its a pull tab the signal will break up,most times. If I get a signal thats 18 ,you can bet its a nickel, if its under five inches. This is on modern clad. I dont think Ive found a nickel any deeper than five inches so far.
Like rcasio44,I watch for bouncing numbers especially if it goes over 20. But,with the M6, I use the multi tone mode and a nickel (to me) has a unique sound and when you hit a zinc,copper,dime,quarter theres no doubt after you make multiple scans from different directions,its gonna be a coin under your coil. Nickels want give the same sound as dimes,pennys,quarters on the M6 so I dont know what it would be like on the MXT.
I have had this happen to me on the older pull tabs minus the beaver tail. Ive gotten a double beep.
I have to decide when I set out on a hunt if Im gonna cherry pick or dig most or all. Ive never found a nice ring or piece of jewelry but Ive read and been told,If you gonna find the jewelry you gotta dig the tabs.
Hope this helps from my limited experience.
HH
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