New Detector better than Explorer SE from Minelab

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Just curious if Minelab has a better detector than the Explorer SE as far as depth and separation of targets?
Or should I get a better coil that detects better than the coil that came with my detector? And if so, what coil would you suggest for not very trashy sites?

 

[D&P-OR]

Tony-----As I'm sure you well know--better depth & separation is hard to come by at the same time.-----But----As to better depth than the 11" Pro stock coil---the 13" Ultimate or the 12X13" Tornado coils are killer coils.-----The Tornado is heavier than the Ultimate but that thing is a beast (depth).------They are both really good on depth on the FBS detectors.-----I have both & neither one of them are going anywhere (except on a hunt with me)! -------------Del

 

[Explorer.se]

Tony-----As I'm sure you well know--better depth & separation is hard to come by at the same time.-----But----As to better depth than the 11" Pro stock coil---the 13" Ultimate or the 12X13" Tornado coils are killer coils.-----The Tornado is heavier than the Ultimate but that thing is a beast (depth).------They are both really good on depth on the FBS detectors.-----I have both & neither one of them are going anywhere (except on a hunt with me)! -------------Del

Hi D&P have you used the WOT and if you have what can be said about it. I have an E trac and an Explorer SE Pro.

 

[D&P-OR]

Hi------Yes, I have owned/used the 15" WOT but it's been several years since I had it.----My opinion on it: Man I couldn't hardly dig deep enough on deep targets (coins) it found in the sand along the Colorado River.----Using it in parks (turf)--I just didn't like it there as it was to "ratty" (unstable in that situation) on my Explorers.-----Overall, I just didn't seem to "click" with that coil for some reason & got rid of it.------The Ultimate & Tornado---both my wife & I have found a whole lot of deep silver coins in both parks & old fairgrounds with them.-----Actually, my wife has found more silver with the Tornado than I have. -----We love both those coils.------------Del

Tony-----As I'm sure you well know--better depth & separation is hard to come by at the same time.-----But----As to better depth than the 11" Pro stock coil---the 13" Ultimate or the 12X13" Tornado coils are killer coils.-----The Tornado is heavier than the Ultimate but that thing is a beast (depth).------They are both really good on depth on the FBS detectors.-----I have both & neither one of them are going anywhere (except on a hunt with me)! -------------Del

Hi D&P have you used the WOT and if you have what can be said about it. I have an E trac and an Explorer SE Pro.

 

[Explorer.se]

Hi------Yes, I have owned/used the 15" WOT but it's been several years since I had it.----My opinion on it: Man I couldn't hardly dig deep enough on deep targets (coins) it found in the sand along the Colorado River.----Using it in parks (turf)--I just didn't like it there as it was to "ratty" (unstable in that situation) on my Explorers.-----Overall, I just didn't seem to "click" with that coil for some reason & got rid of it.------The Ultimate & Tornado---both my wife & I have found a whole lot of deep silver coins in both parks & old fairgrounds with them.-----Actually, my wife has found more silver with the Tornado than I have. -----We love both those coils.------------Del

Tony-----As I'm sure you well know--better depth & separation is hard to come by at the same time.-----But----As to better depth than the 11" Pro stock coil---the 13" Ultimate or the 12X13" Tornado coils are killer coils.-----The Tornado is heavier than the Ultimate but that thing is a beast (depth).------They are both really good on depth on the FBS detectors.-----I have both & neither one of them are going anywhere (except on a hunt with me)! -------------Del

Hi D&P have you used the WOT and if you have what can be said about it. I have an E trac and an Explorer SE Pro.

That's Awesome Del, I wish my wife liked detecting then I would be able to hunt more often! I get to go every other weekend because of my Honey do list Thanks for sharing your input on the WOT and HH!

 

[IDXMonster]

Tony...I'll echo what Del said about the Ultimate. I haven't used my Explorer2 a WHOLE lot, having the CTX,but...a couple weeks ago I went to a small park near me with the Ultimate on what is the second hunt with it and found 2 clad quarters at a foot deep. This was running manual 22...not even the CTX found those before with the 17" coil, though I do run it in Auto almost all the time. So yeah, at least the depth is there. Depth AND separation always gets a bit weird....something about physics....

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Do you know how much heavier the Tornado is than the Pro and Ultimate?

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Thanks for the reply. I went to the Detech website. Are you talking about the 13" Ultimate for the Explorer? Do you know how much it weighs?

 

[D&P-OR]

According to my very accurate postal scales: Tornado with coil cover 27.5 oz.--Tornado without coil cover 23.8 oz.-----13" Ultimate with coil cover 21.5 oz.-------Because of the way it's designed, you don't want to run the Ultimate without a coil cover.-----With the Tornado, it's ok to use without cover.---You're not going to hurt it using it that way & it holds down quite a bit of weight out there on the end of the stick.-----I run my Tornado without a coil cover all the time.----With the Tornado--you have to be more concerned about connector damage where the coil cable enters the coil.----Give that baby enough slack so there's no pulling on that area when the coil is "swiveled".----I think that is a weak point on the Tornado design (the cable wires that goes into/connects right inside the coil entrance).------Of course you need to allow that slack/loop on ALL detector coils---but with the Tornado it's critical.------Oh, I forgot to mention---the Minelab 11" Pro stock coil weighs 19.3 oz (with coil cover).-----Pick your poison!---------------Del

Do you know how much heavier the Tornado is than the Pro and Ultimate?

 

[D&P-OR]

Yes--we are talking about the Detech 13" Ultimate coil.---Works on all the Explorers, Safari & Etrac.------Again, 21.5 oz (with coil cover).

Thanks for the reply. I went to the Detech website. Are you talking about the 13" Ultimate for the Explorer? Do you know how much it weighs?

 

[IDXMonster]

Thanks Del! I was a bit late looking at this again....the Ultimate 13" really is light for its size. I have to get out this weekend with that thing again!

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Thanks for the excellent reply.
Kellyco is out of the 13" Tornado which is the one I'm looking to buy. I notice some places have a picture of a white 13" Tornado and some a black 13" Tornado.
Do you know if there is any difference, such as if one is newer or better made?

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Tony...I'll echo what Del said about the Ultimate. I haven't used my Explorer2 a WHOLE lot, having the CTX,but...a couple weeks ago I went to a small park near me with the Ultimate on what is the second hunt with it and found 2 clad quarters at a foot deep. This was running manual 22...not even the CTX found those before with the 17" coil, though I do run it in Auto almost all the time. So yeah, at least the depth is there. Depth AND separation always gets a bit weird....something about physics....

Have you tried the 13" Tornado and if so, is it only slightly different?

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

What about the 10" x 5" Ultimate coil? Has anyone here tried that?
It looks like it will do good in trash and is about 8 ounces.
But I'm curious about the depth. If I went with the Ultimate 13" would I be missing some smaller coins such as dimes or half-dimes? Kellyco says the 13" coils is around 16.9 ounces.
I like hunting old farms but some have a lot of those pesky square nails.

So there is the 10" x 5" and 13" Ultimate coil.
Does the 10" x 5" have a lot less depth than the 13"?

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Then there's the NEL Tornado 12.5" x 8.5" DD Hunter Coil weighing in at 1lb.6oz.
Appears to be as sensitive to smaller silver as the 12" x 13" Tornado.
The 12.5 x 8.5 has a depth rating of 7 out of 10.
The 12 x 13 had a depth rating of 8 out of 10.
I'm not sure what that translates into inches of depth though.
You can find the differences here by clicking on the coil and seeing the charts: http://www.colonialmetaldetectors.com/search.asp?keyword=Tornado+coil+explorer&search=

When a lot of money is at stake in a new purchase, I wish I really knew what is best for me.
I'm sacrificing 4 1/2 inches of coil width if I go with the 12.5 x 8.5. But if it does almost as deep but separates better in trash, it would be the one to purchase.
What are your thoughts?

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Depth in open ground with light trash, WOT. Depth in moderate trash and iron SE Pro stock coil. Target separation in dense trash and iron, Minelab 8 inch coil. I just ordered an 8 inch from my Minelab pusher the other day. If you don't have an early SE you are fine with that detector, I kick the snot out of etracs and CTX machines with my SE Pro. Early SE's however there were a bunch of bad units.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Depth in open ground with light trash, WOT. Depth in moderate trash and iron SE Pro stock coil. Target separation in dense trash and iron, Minelab 8 inch coil. I just ordered an 8 inch from my Minelab pusher the other day. If you don't have an early SE you are fine with that detector, I kick the snot out of etracs and CTX machines with my SE Pro. Early SE's however there were a bunch of bad units.

Hi Charles! It's been a long time since we have communicated here on these boards! Are you the one that got robbed of your finds years ago? If so, did they ever get caught?

I don't know if I have an early version of my SE or not. Do you know what was wrong with some of the early versions? Mine has always seemed to work okay. But how would I know if something was wrong with it?
I have a HUGE WOT coil and a bunch of other coils. I just ordered a Tornado coil 12x13 the other day. Can't wait to try it.

Thanks for posting!
Tony

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

If you get the WOT I would suggest getting a sling that goes over your shoulder that holds up the detector because that WOT coil takes a lot out of your arm swinging it.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Depth in open ground with light trash, WOT. Depth in moderate trash and iron SE Pro stock coil. Target separation in dense trash and iron, Minelab 8 inch coil. I just ordered an 8 inch from my Minelab pusher the other day. If you don't have an early SE you are fine with that detector, I kick the snot out of etracs and CTX machines with my SE Pro. Early SE's however there were a bunch of bad units.

Hi Charles! It's been a long time since we have communicated here on these boards! Are you the one that got robbed of your finds years ago? If so, did they ever get caught?

I don't know if I have an early version of my SE or not. Do you know what was wrong with some of the early versions? Mine has always seemed to work okay. But how would I know if something was wrong with it?
I have a HUGE WOT coil and a bunch of other coils. I just ordered a Tornado coil 12x13 the other day. Can't wait to try it.

Thanks for posting!
Tony

The early units had screens that went bonkers, plus just didn't work in terms of depth/performance. That SE stock coil was also crap, the SE Pro coil is brilliant I'd run that on an SE. No my finds are protected by Colt, Ruger, and Sig Sauer.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

If you get the WOT I would suggest getting a sling that goes over your shoulder that holds up the detector because that WOT coil takes a lot out of your arm swinging it.

OR...remove the Explorer control box and mount it on a featherweight Whites S shaft, use an Excalibur battery pack mounted to the extreme rear of the S shaft. The WOT will now feel as light as the the factory coil.