newbee w/mxt has questions - needs advice please

[2106]

Hello,

Newbee here with his first detector, a MXT. Hope it was a good choice. Still much to learn but man, I never knew there were so many pull tabs out there !!!! First day found many tabs, several buried soda and beer cans, plus a (few) coins. The lincoln head penneys were 1-2 inches deep. Seems like the mxt tells me that the items I have found so far are deeper than what they actually are when I dig. Does this make sense??

more questions,
When hunting for civil war relics, how far down would you be looking for items like bullets, buckels, etc. I guess it depends on the type of soil somewhat, but is there some general formula for how deep any object goes per year? Civil war stuff should be what.... a foot deep???

I have read about the other coils on this site. Trying to decide how to spend the $150 White's shopper dollars before they expire. I guess the 5.3 round coil would be a good choice. It's a little hard to make the decision so fast, having no experiance in detecting, but can't wait for the dollars to expire and miss out on the promotion. The chioces in the catalog are somewhat limited. Already have a White's case, headphones, and letche digger.

Help please.

 

[Andy/Memphis]

get the 5.3 coil took mine out today for the first time found nickels at 4 to 5 inchs and quarters at 6 to 7 inchs liked the coin mode glad i made the choice on the mxt going to enjoy using this machine i have not tried the 9.5 coil yet

 

[DFX-Gregg]

To be honest you may want to just keep the 5.3 on. Once I put mine on DFX, I have not taken it off! Gregg Happy New Year!

 

[Bajanick]

Yes, get the 5.3 eclipse, I have one and its all I use. The stock coil is a paperweight now, but I always have it in my detector bag.
Ive been wanting to try those eliptical DD coils, I hear those are really good.

 

[MXTinNC]

Guess there are not a lot of relic hunters? In my area (and this will apply to most) Relics will on average be 6-8 inches Sandy soil will cause them to be deeper and hard clay they may be less. On average 8 inches. I have found bullets at 12 with my MXT. I would get the 5.3 it does well in bad soil and is great in trach. I have found flats and bullets at depths you would be amazed at with that coil. such as cuff flats at 6 inches. It's a winner.

 

[DFX-Gregg]

If you are working in a high trash area I would not bother with the standard 9.5 until you hit a large open field with less trash. Just keep the 5.3 on, I have used my for about a month on my DFX and have found silver and today a gold ring. Gregg

 

[markl59]

Everybody is right on, the 5.3 is a must have and it will surprise you at the depth, I dug a mercury dime at 5" and it rang out loud and clear. Oh and like Gregg said I leave the 5.3" coil on most of the time.

 

[popsmoke]

To find minnies - first you must know what one sounds like. Get one somehow - borrow one from a friend or a club, buy one from a dealer (probably a buck or two) or keep hunting. Air test it and sweep it to see what your MXT does - you can turn the gain down to not overload it.

For relic hunting:
Set your sensitivity at the indicated tick mark, maybe a lil more to +1, set to ground mode, and relic mode, set disc at around 12:00 or the second tick. This is my standard setup for Georgia hunting.
This will find a minnie at 8" with solid honk like a bicycle horn or a clown horn, the VDI will read BULLET and the number are positive aroun 70-85. Though the sound gives it away - listen for bicycle horn honk, the numbers dont always come up if it says bullet with a 3 block reading - then you got one.

Always - always - analyze your finds before your start digging -this is how you'll learn. Swing it from every angle listen for the repeatable sound and watch for a stable repeatable number - are the numbers jumping around - what do you think that means?. Raise the coil and recheck the depth - does the target still read with the coil 5" off the ground. Go to PP and see if its a small target. Reduce the sensitivity and see where it falls off, see if you can disc it out.
After you have done all this, say out loud (at least under your breath) what you think it is or the probability of it being what you think it is. (Saying it out loud really accelerate the learning.)

You certainly dont need the small coil for relic hunting. I find the stock configuration just fine - target seperation is great, depth is great. Remember - if you put a different coil on the machine your depth reading will not be calibrated correctly.
For relics and minnies - consider the 1400DD, not a smaller coil. Smaller will give you improved seperation in trash and less depth. For relics you want increased search area and depth and the seperation on the MXT is outstanding.

I'd say get a Sunray probe and use the Shopper Dollars on a 1400DD - though the 5.3 is a great coil for sharpshooting coins in trashy areas.
Either one is very useful.
Good luck - once you start finding a few and learn what it's telling you before you dig then you be alot more satisfied.

 

[2106]

Thanks for the help.

I called White's today and the lady there recommended the DFX/MXT/M6 DD (6x10) Eclipse Search Coil, instead of the 5.3 round one. This coil is $180, so I will need to come up with another few bucks to go this route. I just don't see much difference between this coil and the standard 9 inch round one. She said the 6x10 coil did not form as much of a cone shape under the coil, that the detection area was wider on the 6x10, so I could cover more ground, than the stock coil. I guess the same is said for the 1400DD coil, it's just bigger again ???

Boy, I wish I had a little while longer to practice and learn before having to make a decision.

5.3 coil = free
6x10 = $30 more
1400dd = $100 more


I haven't even paid for the basic unit yet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DFX-Gregg]

You mentioned trash/pull tabs if you are in trashy areas you need separation go with the 5.3!!! I found the gold ring today picture posted on DFX site in an area I had already used a larger coil! The larger coil could not separate as well. I was getting to many target signals to pinpoint! Gregg

 

[Hunt4Fun]

Hi 2106,

From your original post it is not clear what type of hunting you intend to do. You first mentioned tabs then soda cans then coins. That sounds like you were coin and jewelry hunting in a trash filled park or school. Then you a started asking about bullets and buckles. That sounds like you also want to do relic hunting. You need different coils for relic hunting in woods and fields than for coin and jewelry hunting in high trash areas.

You got great advice from popsmoke about what is need for relic hunting. He advised getting a Sunray probe. And then he said to consider the 1400DD coil. He also said he uses the stock 9.5 coil.

I do not know much about relic hunting but here is my advice for coin and jewelry hunting. Get a Sunray DX-1 probe. Use your shopper dollars for a 5.3 eclipse coil.

Here is my reasoning. You can use the stock 9.5 coil successfully for relic hunting. It may not be the absolute best but it works well. You can also use the stock coil for coin and jewelry hunting in relatively trash free areas. You cannot use the stock coil successfully for coin and jewelry hunting in high trash areas. For high trash area coin-shooting a small coil is needed.

Good luck and hope to see posts from you about your finds.
Bob

 

[DFX-Gregg]

I would not carry the stock coil with you unless you intend on using it! My reasoning is if someone broke into your vehicle it would be a loss! Not that this will probably happen but I would hope it is safer at home, Gregg

 

[DFX-Gregg]

This pretty much sums it up!! What Bob says is 5.3 for trash, larger coil or standard coil for relics. What Bob said should leave you with no doubt for now! Best of luck in the New Year!! By the way I believe you need to make a decision very soon don't those shopper dolars end in mid/late January??? Also the longer you wait the longer it takes to>>>GET IT AND USE IT....So go ahead send in form use it, Gregg

 

[DFX-Gregg]

One last consideration besides the trash for smaller coil and larger coil for relics is>>>remember the smaller coil is a lot easier to swing! The stock coil/larger coils can leave you in a state of confusion in a trashy park! So if you plan on relic hunting MOSTLY>large coil, coins/trashy areas>smaller coil5.3 first or 4x6, good for swinging for long periods of time, Gregg