Performance of Garrett At coils

[Waterdog]

I wanted to see how others are doing with the Garrett AT coils. What do you feel the coils offer for you in depth and performance. Would you feel like you was missing out hunting with the 5x8 coil while your hunting buddy has the 8.5x11 ?

 

[Southwind]

Would you feel like you was missing out hunting with the 5x8 coil while your hunting buddy has the 8.5x11 ?

Yes! Don't get me wrong the 5x8 is a great coil and I use it most of all on my ATP, but it is not as deep and the stock 8.5x11. Especially on gold. Now that being said. For you average yard/school hunting the 5x8 is a great choice. Only when in an area where depth of targets is expected to be 8" or more would I change to my 8.5x11

 

[William-NM]

Depends on the site. If it's a very trashy site I'd go with the 5x8 for it's outstanding ability to pick out good targets from next to, and even under, the junk. If it's a relatively clean park, sport, or farm field, or an area where the targets run deep, the 8.5x11 will be a great choice. It's not just about raw depth - that 5x8 has helped me sift through some sites that I found un-huntable with the larger coil. Choose the right tool for the job

 

[jim tn]

For a lot of my hunting, I need the extra depth of the 8.5x11. And it is deeper then the 5x8. As has been mentioned, though, for coins and jewelry hunting, there is a definite place for the 5x8. HH jim tn

 

[fongu]

I've had more experience and finds with the 8.5 X 11 coil, but the 5 X 8 picked up the end of a rivet at between 4-5 inches a week ago.
If it will find that tiny target it will find coins a little bit deeper. It just depends on the ground you are detecting in.

 

[mudpuppy]

Judging by your name, You are a water hunter...I am too, and have only the 8.5x11...I like it...hits gold tones/nickels very deep...got a nice buff nickel out in Lake Mich this summer that I remember was really deep...and a little 10k ring that was really deep too...so yeah, the 11 is perfect for hunting the big water...even in some real trashy spots it works ok and a guy can pick his way through...never tried the smaller one, and have never yet hunted the dirt with the Pro, but for wide open sand and beaches, the 11 has given me much confidence in the rig.
Mud

 

[2wheeldevil]

The small coil has its place but I had an experience this summer when my buddy had a deep dime hit with the standard coil and he called me over. I could not get a
reading with the small coil. He dug a mercury dime at about 7 inches from the hole.

 

[BarryL]

I've had more experience and finds with the 8.5 X 11 coil, but the 5 X 8 picked up the end of a rivet at between 4-5 inches a week ago.
If it will find that tiny target it will find coins a little bit deeper. It just depends on the ground you are detecting in.

I agree and the ground balance needs to be correct . I have dug Dimes at 6 to 7 inches with the 5x8 coil not saying the stock coil is not deeper because we all know it is , just saying that the 5x8 will hit a target at good depth . I have also hit 22 rounds at over 5 inches and that is a very small target . even gave the Propointer a tough time finding it once retrieved from the whole

 

[ajaj]

The larger coil will give you a little extra depth, maybe an inch or two, if you're looking for the perfect sound. The smaller coil is absolutely awesome in trashy parks and the depth is surprising.

aj

 

[Ytcoinshooter]

I have and use both coils. Trash density determines my choice on turf or in a freshwater site. Having both coils makes sense to me.

 

[nugget71]

I have been hunting with the stock coil ever since I bought the ATP (17/11/2012) and have had great success in and out of the water across different terrains. Santa passed by my house at Xmas just gone and dropped off a 5x8" coil for me to play with. First thing is the weight difference I found was very nice as I just kept swinging the ATP without any problems, secondly and I'm not sure if anyone else here has experienced the same behaviour is that in pro mode be it custom / coin or zero the 5x8 coil was very chattery and I had to decrease the sensitivity by 3 notches off max, however and this is the strange thing, turning over to standard mode took the problem away and was able to increase the sensitivity back to just off max without any problems. On the same ground my standard coil 8x11 can run 1 notch off max in all pro modes very smoothly. Besides the latter I love the 5x8 coil and thank Santa every night before I go to bed for getting me one (wink wink) as I was impressed with target separation, sensitivity and depth, deepest target on the beach being the full length of the 5x8 coil (10c) 3 notches off max sensitivity in pro zero mode (that impressed me) and I'm sure it will go deeper. I will take some photo's and do a write up after this weekend as I want to hit a water hole to cover all three terrains, beach / freshwater creek and local park. The 5x8 is worth every penny in my opinion.
Cheers!

 

[Night Crawler]

Hi Waterdog

I have the 5x8 coil and have tested it myself in the area I hunt in. My personal take is this, I will be using the stock coil for relic hunting and prospecting as I have had good results from it. The 5x8 coil I will use in parks and maybe beaches.

The reason for this decision is after using the 5x8 coil relic hunting, I found it not quite as deep and it doesn't see things under rocks as well as the stock coil. Having said that, while testing the 5x8 coil out in the bush, I was walking down a dried out river bed of high mineral content (94 on the screen) and had a clear sounding hit on a peace of gum wrapper (1/2"WX1"L) at 8"s deep. This suprised me because it was a very clear sound with a solid VDI.

The down side of the 5x8 coil (unfortunately) when out in the river beds and bush area, is it doesn't see things under the rocks like the stock coil does. I tested both with a 7" thick high mineral rock and a canadian nickel, the stock coil saw that (Just) but the 5x8 coil was blind to it all togther (not a peep). The 5x8 coil is a "great" coil to have no doubt in certian areas, but me being a hard core relic hunter the only time I use the 5x8 coil is when my buddy and I stop by a park or the occasional beach.

Just my take on the subject.

 

[artman60]

I gotta say, I agree with you all! That is both coils have their places/jobs. In terms of importance, 1- get AT Pro, 2- get Propointer, 3 get Lesche or equivalent for target recovery 4-get 5X8 coil. For parks and the such, I think I would start with the 5X8. I even like using it to rehunt yards after first hunting them with the stock coil. And for old farts in decrepit shape (ME), the smaller coil makes it a whole lot easier to swing for four hours. Artie