If You Only Could Own One Coil For The AT Pro And/Or At Gold, Which Would It Be? :shrug:

[WaterHound]

n/t

 

[Miser67]

If soil is mild - 6x9 concentric.

If the soil is mineralized - 5x8 DD.

 

[coinhunterseth]

Now I can say 5x8. Anywhere I would use the stock coil will now be hunted with my V3i.

 

[Waterdog]

5x8 coil all day long... I don't even know where the other coil is because I do not use it.

 

[GroundScanner]

5x8 coil on the ATGold all the time. GS

 

[ohiochris]

With only a few exceptions , the majority of the targets most of us seek are within the depth range of the 5x8

If someone is seeking clad or other modern targets, that makes sense.

But...how do you know what you are missing, if you don't even know that it exists?

There ain't no magic carpet to stop the desired target from sinking beyond maximum detection depth.

A target stops sinking when it reaches the level in the soil that is compacted enough to equal the density of the target.

It's only logical that a whole lot of older targets many of us seek are not within the depth range of the 5X8.

I guess it depends on location and particular hunting style , I do use the stock 8.5x11 sometimes if I feel I am going to need a little extra depth , but the majority of good targets Ive found including old coins.....in many locations in atleast 4 separate states were found with the 5x8 coil or were at a depth where I could have. That don't mean I am not missing anything , just that the 5x8 has proven to be the most versatile and productive coil for me. So while I would not want to part with the stock coil , since the question was " if you could have only one " ..... versatility has to be the number one factor and it would have to be the 5x8. There are sites where the good stuff is deeper and those who hunt them primarily may need and want a larger coil , but most of us average fairground and abandoned lot pounders ( high trash , dense targets ) know that for what..... WE...... do.....depth is usually a myth and more coverage per sweep is not necessarily your friend.

In most of the sites I regularly hunt or have hunted , there are very few if any old coins found below 6 to 7 inches , even with a large coil. And some of these sites go back as far as pre civil war times. Deeper sites in need of larger coils do exist , but are not as common as some think and are not hunted by everybody.

There was a time when I was all about getting bigger coils to achieve greater depth , thinking surely I was missing a lot.......but over the years Ive learned from experience that more often than not , just because something is old don't mean its deep. Peoples experiences may differ , and some may have more variables to contend with , but I can only speak for myself.

 

[jim tn]

There are more coins deeper then 8" then many of us realize. As Tom D says, you don't know what you are missing if you don't know its there. (Or something to that effect) HH jim tn

 

[ohiochris]

There are more coins deeper then 8" then many of us realize. As Tom D says, you don't know what you are missing if you don't know its there. (Or something to that effect) HH jim tn

This depends on the type of site , specific area , and soil matrix. In some sites there may be many coins deeper than 8" , but it would be wrong to assume that of every site or every area. If you read the site , its history , and soil matrix correctly you can usually tell if its even possible for coins to be that deep , sometimes its not.

 

[jim tn]

Certainly, there are numerous variables of which some or all can effect depth. Maybe coils are area specific? I just know if I was talked into just having the 5 x 8 coil, as an example, I would be missing a goodly number of older coins that the 5 x 8 can't see. Of course, in trash, the 5 x 8 will see targets that the 11" can't. We, however, were specifically talking about depth. Fortunately, confining ourselves to one coil is a decision few of us have to make. HH jim tn

 

[Dbuxnbud]

I am new at this hobby and I have a question. I purchased the AT Gold, because I want the option of gold prospecting along with relic hunting. I wanted something light and since I'm new I didn't want to spend too much money. So far, I enjoy the hobby and the relics I have found.

I'm using the 5X8 stock coil, but I'm pondering a coil that will gain depth along with target separation. I live in Northern California and the soil is med to high mineralization with hot rocks. I was looking at the NEL Thunder, but I've only seen comments from those who are using the AT PRO. Is the NEL Thunder compatible with the Garrett AT GOLD and what are your thoughts regarding this coil.

Thank you so much, I appreciate your knowledge on this subject.

 

[jim tn]

It is tough to beat the Garrett 11" DD for target separation and mineralized ground. And it is deeper then the 5 x 8. HH jim tn