new guy and question on coils

[prpht3]

new to the forum not new to detecting though.going on third. My sons and I have ben doing detecting in the city of Grand Rapids, MI. Lots of old houses- mid to late 1800's. You can amagine some of the junk that come up amid the good finds, but sometimes it's hard to get those good signals to be consistant. I use the stock coil on my AT Pro. I am looking at getting the 5x8 coil to be able to seperate the targets better. Is it worth it? How much depth am I giving up going to the smaller target?
Now, most of my good finds have been 6 and 8 inches with a few shallow and even less at 10 inches. If I go with a smaller coil, should the machine be adjusted to compensate?
Love my AT Pro, now if the snow will only melt............
bob

 

[fongu]

Welcome to the forum. The 5 X 8 can come in handy with some trashy areas, but I like the 8.5 X 11 when I'm in wide open land or water.
The At/Pro can pick out good targets out of the trash because of the coil pattern and if you go slow with it you won't lost too much depth.
Whether it's the 8.5 X 11 or the 5 X 8 coil. They both work great and some of the guys with lots more experience than me can help you with this question. Good luck & happy hunting.

 

[mudpuppy]

Welcome to the Forum!

Sad to report the Pro with ANY coil does not work at all anywhere west of GR! Must be some sort of EMI vortex or something, Pretty much Coopersville and east they are OK, so if you and your boys ever think about coming over here to the West side to beach or park hunt, forget it!...especially over by GH or MKG...you just stay over in GR and use any old coil you wish, deal?

Seriously, stay in touch and hang out here a little, who knows? I might run into you guys someday...I have a few parks I may need some backup in that could make for some adventure over here in the MKG especially if you and your boys are big, fearless, packing, and maybe not as fast as myself on foot!

Note to all: There are some serious long time real good hunters from GR, good clubs and dealers too...makes for tough hunting...the dirt around here has seen a LOT of coils...
Mud

 

[Wandering Yoda]

Ha ha ha Mud, hope that "EMI vortex" doesn't go walkabout like the "polar vortex" does!!! And prpht3, I think that even if you didn't like the 5x8 coil you could sale it and recoup your cost.

 

[artman60]

First, please let me say that I am no expert! I bought my Pro in January 2013, and while researching it, heard too any people rave about the 5X8 coil. I bought the coil at the same time as the Pro. Found my first two gold rings ever with the Pro, last April, with the 5X8 coil. They were down only about 4 inches, womens rings, small. I like the weight of the machine with the smaller coil on it, I have found clad quarters at 8-10 inches with the smaller coil, and of course on most sized objects the larger coil should be deeper. My experience, in my neck of the woods, is there is not a large depth difference. Stock coil will cover a lot more ground in the same time frame. I kinda look at it as like golf, different circumstances need different clubs/coils. I have a friend out in California who swears by the 4 inch sniper coil on the Pro, in the parks. Good luck, keep us posted on your finds. Artie

 

[prpht3]

thanks for all your help.
and MUDPUPPY, I'll stay here on my side of the fence if you stay in yours!!!! but if you need help, I do pack heat while I detect. One close call is too many when a pit bull is 5 feet away in the woods.
anyways, just going to wait for the snow to melt..............late June by the looks of it.LOL
Meanwhile, my gear is all cleaned up. my AT Pro is put away waiting for that day. going through 2013 finds deciding what to keep and what to toss.
You all behave yourselves
bob

 

[mudpuppy]

Deal! I could use a partner that carries! Yeah, in the interim, Bob, hunt some snow or something!...this summer, you guys gotta come across to the Big Wet and lets have a go with the Pros!...theres a lot of sand, and a few locations we might be able to do some real damage in.. Take a pic of your "junk shot" and let us have a look at what you found?
Mud