Is there a best

[E-Trac-Ohio]

All of the coils that have already been mentioned here are great coils - I'm sure you will be happy with any of them.
Here's my two cents ...

SMALL COILS - I hunt a lot of overgrown areas and tight spots so I decided to go with a solid type coil instead of an open spoke coil like the Detech 6" x 8".
I used my round 6" Excelerator coil for well over 1000 hrs. ( till it shorted out ) - this coil is fantastic - lots of 7"+ Dimes.
Now I have a 4.5" x 7" Excelerator coil - this coil is the best I've ever seen at getting into tight spots - but won't hit as deep and the 6" Excelerator that I had.
I never used a Sunray X-5 but I've never heard one negative thing about it - this coil has a great reputation !

MID SIZED COILS - I use the Sunray Stealth X-8 as my primary coil` - it seems to be the perfect in between size coil.
It covers a good amount of ground - hit's deep - small enough to separate targets in iron and it's still able to get into tight spots where the stock 11" coil can't.


Good Hunting !

 

[UtahRich]

Hi Ron,

Changing coils by removal at the lower rod is a hassle on any detector; changing coils on the Explorers & Etracs more so because of the internal cable. Early on I bought lowers for my spare coils to make changes quicker. I think having a lower for each coil simplifies things greatly, if you can afford it.

Lately, I've been using the 7" Minelab coil for poking around in high trash. I got it used for a reasonably good price. So far, it has done well. I've also used the 5" SunRay; a good option as well. Goes4ever uses the 8x6 coil almost exclusively and swears by it. I would just make sure that you have a NEED for it rather than getting one because others are using it. I've had accessory coils for many detectors in the past that were used very little or not at all because I bought them with the IDEA of using it, but not the need.

Rich (Utah)

 

[techtony]

I have used the 6x8 for several years but I had to replace it last January due to the wires developed a short. Where the wire comes from the coil into the shaft the wire has to bend sharply to go in the hole in the shaft. If the coil can pivot forward and back the wire will crack and start falsing.

 

[sd51]

Got my Detech 8x6 coil when I attended Andy's Minelab Bootcamp the end of July. Haven't taken it off since then.

Last week I found a 1918S Merc...

Today I found this 1948D Quarter...

 

[cz70pro]

Got my Detech 8x6 coil when I attended Andy's Minelab Bootcamp the end of July. Haven't taken it off since then.

Last week I found a 1918S Merc...

Today I found this 1948D Quarter...

Great finds sd51!

 

[kgramlich]

I use a old shoe string to change my coils it works like magic !!

 

[cz70pro]

I use a old shoe string to change my coils it works like magic !!

Yep, I use a length of picture hanging wire.

 

[synthnut]

I really like my SunRay X5 ...... I've heard really good things about the NEL Sharpshooter as well as the Snake coil.....

 

[daddyflea]

Not to be a Naysayer here but to me a Sunray X5 is just too small. I have a 6" and I really dont like it. The Sunray X8 seems to be just right. I have two Etracs and both have the Sunray X8 on nearly all the time.

 

[cz70pro]

Not to be a Naysayer here but to me a Sunray X5 is just too small. I have a 6" and I really dont like it. The Sunray X8 seems to be just right. I have two Etracs and both have the Sunray X8 on nearly all the time.

Both coils are excellent and have their place and function. The X5 is a coil that, in my opinion, serves a specific purpose and I don't think many would elect to use it as their main hunting coil. It's purpose is to get in between the really thick junk and iron when needed and not about how much ground it can cover. Hunting with it is not for everyone and it definitely requires a lot of patience to use but it has found tons of great finds that had been hiding from the other coils before. An X8 or the 6X8 SEF are great coils that can get between most junk and gives you some decent ground coverage at the same time. They are all great tools to have in the tool box.

 

[sprchng]

OP was asking about little coils , littler the better.
8" coil is really a midsize , as is the 6x8 and the 5x10s , all of which are great coils with very similar performance.
I look at a small/little coil as being 6" or less.