MXT question

[Coinseeker 78]

I have owned my MXT for about 11 months now. It has provided me with many good finds such as, rings various old coins as well as clad, Indian artifacts, Civil war buttons and Civil war artifacts,and toy cars. Some items as deep as 12 inches with my bigger coils. I am proud of this detector and would not have another at this time. However, I have a question. Having heard many times on Metal detector forums and articles that the MXT is not a good silver coin finder I wonder if it is true and why. I have found 2 silver rings and they showed up as quarters with a VDI of a quarter. But when searching with other detectorist they manage to find silver coins. They use our competitors products when searching. Is the silver finding ability of the MXT weak or am I doing anything wrong? I use the Coin and Jewelry mode as well as the relic mode when searching for coins but have not found a Rosie or any other silver coin. I have placed a silver standing liberty half dollar on the ground and find it has a slightly higher VDI than than a Kennedy Half dollar 40 percent silver But I just don't seem to find any Silver coins. What is my problem other I than I am just not sweeping my coils over silver. Thank you in advance.

 

[Larry (IL)]

The MXT will hold it's own with just about any detector Ron. Some other brands might have a slight edge on silver coins, but they lack in other areas the MXT excels in as well. What is the experience factor with your hunting buddies? Some of us "old timers" have been at this a long time and have developed an ear, so to speak for deep targets.

You are right that a 90% silver coin will have a slightly higher VDI than a 40% silver, but if you are hunting "by the numbers" so to speak, that is probably why you are being out hunted for silver, especially deeper, older silver. When hunting for deep targets, pretty much disregard what the meter says and rely on the audio and dig what sounds like might be something good. Good deep targets can make the VDI swing wildly by 30 to 50 numbers. A coin on edge or coins near other coins or trash will be way off. An old thin dime, even shallow, will read much different than a newer one. An example would be if your VDI is jumping from the 70's to the 90's, especially if it is deeper, that is a "digger" in my book. I would suggest digging any target that repeats with a good audio and the VDI might mentally average from the high 50's on up for starters if you primarily want coins. If you are hunting for gold rings and other goodies, you will have to lower that mental average.

Good luck Ron.

 

[Hillbilly Bob]

The older silver coins are almost pure silver, that is a non ferrous metal. I personally prefer the prospecting mode when hunting for gold and silver items, this setting will give you a tone difference on ferrous or non ferrous metals. This seems to help me if I don't want to dig any thing but gold or silver. Now you will still have the problem of pull tabs because they are aluminum and that's a non ferrous metal but they have a little different tone and after digging a few of them you will tell the difference...............

Also I never even look at the VDI # to me that's a waste of time by the time you try to determine what it might be you can dig it and know for sure.............

 

[Nancy-IL]

I have found many silver coins with my MXT. I won't repeat what Hillbilly Bob and Larry (my hubby) said, but they're right on! Remember, your coil has to be over the target. If it's there, you'll find it. And you don't have to be an "old timer" to hear that deeper target.....you just have to know your machine and listen for that 'oh so faint deep target'. HH to all, Nancy

 

[khouse]

It could be as simple as coil technique. Maybe your not overlapping your sweeps? Maybe your coil is not flat and low throughout the sweep? Maybe your gain is set too low? Or maybe your coil has just not been directly over silver?

 

[Coinseeker 78]

Thanks for all the help on my question. The remarks have given me some suggestions I will try. I think I have been paying to much attention to the VDI readings and may have passed over some silver. I will start to dig good signals at any depth. By that I mean fairly consistent readings. I prefer the relic mode with the trigger forward for coin hunting because I can readily hear the non-ferrous signals. I firmly believe the MXT is a very capable detector and will hold its own with any other detector out there. I am sure it is operator Malfunction and not detector malfunction. Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[supersonicf111]

Titan Man,

Something that helped me really start to hear difference was going out in the dark and detecting in my yard.

Obviously, I couldn't see the VDI, so I dug everything and I started to find things that I'd missed the first time or two.

If it sounded good from two directions, then it usually was a good target. Taking that visual sense away, really heightened my listening skills.

Give it a try, but please do it on known territory; or otherwise you might hurt yourself by falling or running into something unknown.

 

[bula]

I to have only had my MXT for a year & so far I have found 4 silver dimes, 3 quarters & 8 silver rings. Listen to these folks and you will learn, I did.

 

[Larry (IL)]

What a great idea SSf111. I would have never thought of doing that and welcome to the forum.

 

[dirtdigginlady]

Why not just tape a "seethroughless" cover over your screen and hunt in the light, smile?