What's your favorite coil?

[Captain Hook]

I started using my X-Terra 70 a couple of weeks ago. I really like the light weight and how the detector performs. My unit came with the standard 9" 7.5kHz coil. I saw a chart posted on the website listing many different sizes and frequencies availble for the X-Terra 70. I would like to hear what size and frequency you like. Which coil performs best for your type of detecting? I live in North Florida. I have an Excalibur for my primary detector at the beach. I will probably not do a lot of prospecting, although I would love to. So my primary areas would be parks , schools, etc...

 

[Digger]

Different tools for different jobs. In comparing the three 9-inch concentrics, I don't see any difference in depth of detection. The lower freq is suppose to be more sensitive to higher conductive targets. And the higher freq is suppose to be more sensitive to lower conductive targets. I do find that I have to lower the sensitivity of the 18.75 (compared to the 3 kHz or the 7.5 kHz) in my soil. I hunt for old coins at old sites. Most of the places I hunt have moderately mineralized soil. For wide open farm sites and homesteads, I use the 9-inch concentric at 3 kHz. For nasty-trashy areas, I like the separation offered by the 6-inch DD at 18.75 kHz. Many folks like the elliptical for beach hunting. And those in areas with higher degrees of mineralization will benefit from one of the DD's. JMHO HH Randy

 

[xwyokid]

I have two favorites, the 18.75 and the 3 KHz. I'm trying to save nickels for the 10.5 MFDD

 

[utmike]

Just my personal preference...

The small 18.75 KHz DD coil has nabbed more good finds for me than my other coils and stays on my X70 99% of the time. The separation is excellent and the coil seems to be much less susceptible to interference than my larger 10.5"DD. Depth is respectable and it is super light weight so you can swing it for hours without fatigue.

HH and good luck with your Xterra!
Mike

 

[Android]

10.5" MF for me. I hunt old fields and the depth is amazing. Perfect conditions got me an 1806 half cent at 18".

 

[Captain Hook]

Thanks to all the great replies. I am still reading many of the post's and checking the classifieds at the same time. Thanks again to "Digger". I have read many of your great articles posted here on the forum. I know they take you awhile to do, but they are very beneficial to all of us. Thanks again!

 

[David]

Randy(Digger), I notice you almost never talk about using the round 10.5" MF and HF DD's. Do you have one or both of them and do you ever use them?

I do not own either one BUT I want to get the MF for sure, as I keep hearing amazing reports from different pleased people here about it.

Android, I asked you this question on the thread called detector and it applies here to, thanks.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,927787
"Android, you own both. How does the depth compare (in a non-wet saltwater soil) in regular soil between the X-70 w/ 10.5" MF DD and the Sov GT with the stock coil ?? (Yes I know the Sov GT will get more depth than any single frequency VLF made on the market in wet saltwater soil.)"

 

[Digger]

David, I've used them both and they were OK. But in my moderately mineralized soil, there isn't any improvement over depth compared to the 9-inch concentrics. Add that to the fact that the 10.5 is heavier and not as well balanced, and the fact that it doesn't come in the 3 kHz, there is no reason for me to use them. JMHO HH Randy

 

[rwsnc]

My 5 x 10 DD HF coils was my favorite when I first bought my XT70, then my 10.5 MF DD coil became my favorite, but now I think my 9.5 CC LF (3 kHz) coil is my favorite. I took it out today and went over an area that I had been over at least 10 - 12 times before with other coils, but today I found so many pennies that it looked like I had never been there before. I couldn't believe the signals that I was getting. Will probably go back tomorrow in case I left any silver there.