For those who have used the Gold Bug Pro or G2 w/ BOTH 5" and 5X10 coils,

[Monte]

let me ask you to narrow down your search coil choices to just TWO Double-D coils.

If you were limited to having only two (2) search coils, one mounted and one to back it up, what would be your choices?:

A.. The11" DD and 5" DD.

B.. The 11" DD and 5X10 DD.

C.. The 5" DD and 5X10 DD.

Please, select your 2-Coil combination preference, and give a brief explanation why those two ... as well as why NOT the 3rd coil choice.

Thanks,

Monte

 

[Girffy]

My opinion:
I have all three coils and for my use which is mostly prospecting I prefer the 5" and the 5"X10". The 5" is a must for very small gold and in tight spots when prospecting and has great target separation for coin hunting in trash. The 5"x10" covers almost as much ground as the 11" and is very close in depth but it hits small gold better, is more accurate pinpointing, the shape makes it easier to maneuver between rocks and it is solid rather than open which keeps it from catching in the brush.

 

[John(Tx)]

I have the 5" and 5"x10". I use the 5x10 for open areas because it covers more ground and the 5" in trashy/tight areas. I don't use the 11" anymore but probably would if I was to search a clean field with deeper targets . The 5x10 gives better separation than the 11" and the 5" will see thru trash better than any other coil I have used. HH John

 

[berryman]

Option B

 

[sgoss66]

Hi Monte! Nice to see you posting.

For me, it's option A, with a caveat.

The caveat is, I haven't had my 5x10 long enough to be TOTALLY sure on its performance.

Having said that, I am not sure it's offering me any more depth, in my ground, than the 5" coil does. I air-tested it, and in an air test, it is definitely deeper than the 5"; it fell about halfway between the 5" and the 11", actually a tad closer to the 11" on a couple of targets (nickels, for one).

HOWEVER, when I tested it in my test garden, it was no deeper than the 5" coil, and in fact gave a bit less consistent ID on 6" coins than the 5" does. Not a lot, but a little less consistent (a tad more variance in the ID numbers, as opposed to the fairly sharp, accurate range of ID numbers I am used to from this unit.)

In my soil, the 11" coil is a FAR deeper coil, overall, and I would not do without it. I was hoping when I got the 5x10 that it would be deeper than the 5", and not TOO much shallower than the 11" -- which is what others have reported as their results, and which is what an air test showed me. HOWEVER, in my test garden, that is NOT the case. I need some more "field time" with the 5x10 to see if it gives me more depth than my test garden (my garden is only a couple of years old, and obviously not a perfect representation of "in the field" conditions...)

I was pretty sure that it would offer good separation; what I was hoping for was more depth. If it does not prove to be at least an inch or so better in the field, than the 5" coil, then I will be more comfortable having the 11" coil for "deep" hunts, and the 5" for "trashy site" hunts; with no extra depth (if that proves to be the case), then it has no advantage over the 5" coil, for me.

Thanks for the post, interesting indeed.

Steve

 

[markg]

If I remember correctly, Gene Scullion use the 5x10 coil on his Gold Bug.
Not sure if he will chime in on this one, he is extremely busy these days.

 

[gmanlight]

I will add a write in vote of the 13 inch and the 5 x 10 combo.
The 13 for open ground and the beach and the
5 x 10 for everything else.

 

[Tony from Tidewater]

I love them all for various reasons!

 

[Mike Hillis]

B

 

[JimGilmore]

I have the % inch and he stock 7x10 coil.
I have to say they right now I am only using the 5 inch coil.
The reason being that I use a different detector to cover large areas, and the goldbug pro to cover areas in playgrounds looking for tiny gold closer to the equipment than the big cleansweep coil will let me get.

 

[CladDog]

C. The 5 inch works very well in trash and is used most often. I feel the 11 inch is inferior to the 5x10 inch because it does not have the same sensitivity to small gold. At least that has been my experience in ground tests. I also find the overall construction of the 5x10 is better. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

 

[Monte]

made thru the 20th.

For me and my hunting site preferences, I have other detectors for certain applications that outshine the 11" DD coil. I don't care for the coils balance or performance where I use my G2.

I keep the 5" DD mounted almost full-time on my G2. On occasion I will use the 5X10 simply for a little added coverage, but 90+% of the time it's the G2 w/5" DD. I parted with my 11" DD to a fellow who boughta n Omega and wanted to add an 11" coil. (Later he sold it off, too. Didn't like it and just added the 5" DD and round 8" coils.)

I was mainly curious about use of Teknetics factory coils.

Monte

 

[Monte]

My opinion:
I have all three coils and for my use which is mostly prospecting I prefer the 5" and the 5"X10". The 5" is a must for very small gold and in tight spots when prospecting and has great target separation for coin hunting in trash. The 5"x10" covers almost as much ground as the 11" and is very close in depth but it hits small gold better, is more accurate pinpointing, the shape makes it easier to maneuver between rocks and it is solid rather than open which keeps it from catching in the brush.

I agree and that's why I use the 5" the most, the 5X10 "as needed."

Monte

 

[Monte]

I have the 5" and 5"x10". I use the 5x10 for open areas because it covers more ground and the 5" in trashy/tight areas. I don't use the 11" anymore but probably would if I was to search a clean field with deeper targets . The 5x10 gives better separation than the 11" and the 5" will see thru trash better than any other coil I have used. HH John

Yep, I didn't like or use the 11". I use the 5" the most because I use the G2 mainly in heavily littered sites.

For larger, more open areas where I want depth, I use a different detector. I work the 5X10 in open areas simply for coverage.

Monte

 

[Monte]

Option B

Thanks. Mine is 'C', heavy on the 5" DD.

Monte

 

[Monte]

Hi Monte! Nice to see you posting.

Thanks. Too many health issues taking their toll this past 10 months to 3 years have slowed my detecting, kept me isolated, and now slowly mending. Partial foot amputation in mid-December, but now trying to learn to walk and maneuver, plagued by two or three herniated disks. I'll see the doctor about it next week, but mobiity sure has cut my detecting way, way down.

For me, it's option A, with a caveat.

The caveat is, I haven't had my 5x10 long enough to be TOTALLY sure on its performance.

In time you'll maybe get a better 'feel' for the 5X10. For me and my hunting needs I use it to replace the stock coil for open areas, but for depth and better performance I grab a different detector. The 5" DD is my primary G2 coil.

Having said that, I am not sure it's offering me any more depth, in my ground, than the 5" coil does. I air-tested it, and in an air test, it is definitely deeper than the 5"; it fell about halfway between the 5" and the 11", actually a tad closer to the 11" on a couple of targets (nickels, for one).

Air tests didn't convince me. The 5X10 looked better than my in-ground results.

HOWEVER, when I tested it in my test garden, it was no deeper than the 5" coil, and in fact gave a bit less consistent ID on 6" coins than the 5" does. Not a lot, but a little less consistent (a tad more variance in the ID numbers, as opposed to the fairly sharp, accurate range of ID numbers I am used to from this unit.)

DD's generally don't have Disc. or TID's/VDI's as accurate as Concentric coils, especially wen larger-size. The 5" DD works much better for me. Also, the 5X10 depth and performance was not as good as the 5" for me.

In my soil, the 11" coil is a FAR deeper coil, overall, and I would not do without it. I was hoping when I got the 5x10 that it would be deeper than the 5", and not TOO much shallower than the 11" -- which is what others have reported as their results, and which is what an air test showed me. HOWEVER, in my test garden, that is NOT the case. I need some more "field time" with the 5x10 to see if it gives me more depth than my test garden (my garden is only a couple of years old, and obviously not a perfect representation of "in the field" conditions...)

I was pretty sure that it would offer good separation; what I was hoping for was more depth. If it does not prove to be at least an inch or so better in the field, than the 5" coil, then I will be more comfortable having the 11" coil for "deep" hunts, and the 5" for "trashy site" hunts; with no extra depth (if that proves to be the case), then it has no advantage over the 5" coil, for me.

Thanks for the post, interesting indeed.

Steve

For depth I use a 950 or 12" on my other-brand model that is my #1 use detector for most hunting. I go with the Omega, VX3, Classic ID (modified) and G2 for several other applications as needed. I keep a main-use coil assigned to/on each detector.

Monte

 

[sgoss66]

Monte --

First off, sorry to hear about your foot, and your back -- and that both have cut back on your detecting. Was the foot issue diabetes-related?

I will have to give that 5x10 coil some more time in the field, to see for sure what I think. But, I am one of the apparently few that DOES like the 11" coil.

This has been a very interesting thread.

Steve

 

[Monte]

If I remember correctly, Gene Scullion use the 5x10 coil on his Gold Bug.
Not sure if he will chime in on this one, he is extremely busy these days.

That would be nice to hear from Gene. I have tried to use he 5X10 more since I like it over he stock 11" DD, but the tight spots I need the sub-5" DD just call fr it to be the one in action most of the time. Building rubble at tear-downs and renovation work in town.

Monte

 

[Monte]

I will add a write in vote of the 13 inch and the 5 x 10 combo.
The 13 for open ground and the beach and the 5 x 10 for everything else.

Well, I wanted to know about Tek. factory coils, and I usually haven't had good success with the aftermarket coils, but .... if the U-13 coil works better than the 11" I'd likely consider it. Most big-coil tasks are handled by other units I use.

Monte

 

[Monte]

[cvolor=#00008B]I love them all for various reasons![/color]

I am that way with each detector and each coil I keep in my inventory, and usually assigned to a specific detector. I do change on occasion, such as swap the 5" onto my Omega, but for most uses now I have the round 8" mounted on my Omega, and the round 5" DD on my G2.p

Monte