Depth test: gta1000, gti1500, mxt

[Coin Hawk]

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not to metal detecting having started in 1972 but taking off the past few years due to illness. My son recently got me back into it after I took him to a picked out area with my old gta 1000. Using a technique I've had success with he made some great finds and got hooked on the hobby. He bought an mxt which was very effective but he didn't like the chatter and needed adjustments. I got him a gti 1500 for Christmas and I decided to keep the mxt. With winter here and having the three machines I decided to to test them against each other. Being a retired science teacher I wanted the test to be as accurate as possible by reducing the variables and increasing the constants. I used telephone books at precise heights. Highly mineralized soil will get poorer results while moist compact soil with low mineralization will get much better results. This test however will keep all machines on a level playing field for competition purposes. All detectors were set on coin mode with factory settings except for sensitivity increased to 10. The depths listed are lock on depths not erratic signals to give a constant. Here are my results and conclusions. Results listed in this order 1.) ultra gta 1000 w/ 10" hot head coil 2.) gti 1500 w/ 9.5 coil 3.) gti 1500 w/ 12.5 coil 4.) mxt w/ 9.5 coil.
Wheat penny ( 5", 7", 7.5", 7" ) Buffalo ( 5", 7", 8", 7" ) Silver dime ( 5", 6.5", 7", 6.5 ) Silver quarter ( 6", 7.5", 8.5", 7.5 ) Silver half ( 7', 8.5", 10", 9" ) Miniball ( 5.5", 6.5", 8", 7" )
I'll post conclusions if anyone is interested.

 

[John-Edmonton]

At least in your particular test. Thanks

 

[metalhead]

Welcome to the forum!This is a wonderful community and a great place to share info!Welcome back to the hobby of metal detecting!Interesting test!Those are all great machines. I don't use any of those particular models. I use to have a GTA 1000 years ago and I regret letting it go. It's amazing how much more depth was gained when Garrett added that Powermaster circuitry.
Naturally the larger searchcoil should get more depth. It's incredible that the larger searcoil can pick up smaller (dime size) at depth. That 12.5 is a great coil and can pick up larger objects at even greater depths noted in this test. I believe that older Scorcher(non-imaging)12.5" search coil for the GTI got a couple inches more depth as a little depth is lost due to that imaging feature. It was lighter as well.
Thanks for sharing your test results with us.Happy Hunting!

 

[Coin Hawk]

Metalhead:
Thanks for the info on the scorcher coil. I noticed a few things I hope I can use with the gti as a strategy.
The gti loses imaging at about 7" couple this with the fact it loses lock on id by jumping around the good coin notches. It seems if you want the deep stuff you look for jumpy signals in the good notch area at a depth that can't be imaged. Just a thought.

 

[nebraskagoldhunter]

Good post. Thanks

 

[manaba]

Nice test. Things like these makes me a believer. Will post my finds somewhere (with pictures) soon.... any suggestions?

 

[DETECTORMAX]

nice test and thanx alot

if you could please test with some gold coin