Your coil Recommendations and COMMENTS for the GTAx 550?

[Nestor Cerpa]

Had the opportunity to buy a GTAx 550 at one heck of a price. Has only one coil.

Any comments, pro or con on the detector are welcome, along with coil recommendations that I should keep my eyes open for in the forums. I do have an ad posted down in the "Metal Detector Accessories Forum."

It's a first time Garretts, and a back up machine for me, but I have a friend with the highway department who swears by Garretts.

Thanks for any help and suggestions that you can give.

 

[Orion42]

That was my first Garrett and I won't let go of it, even though most of the time I use my 2500. I usually keep a sniper coil on the 550. Highly recommend getting one of those.

John

 

[BigCatDaddy]

What coil does it have on it now??

 

[Nestor Cerpa]

Hi, John,

Thank you very much for your recommendation of getting a sniper coil for the GTAx 550. I will check out the classifieds here to see if one comes up and then get it. Also, thanks for your loyality to it, even though you have moved, primarily, to the 2500.

All the best,

Nestor

 

[nova74]

I've been running with the 550 for 3 years now and its a coin shooting monster and well as sniffs out silvers with ease. I ran the factory concentric coil for 2 years and this year I'm running it with the 10x14 DD which has given me extra inches of depth comparable to my explorer II. Its reliable with its IDing but does has limited ability to sniff out gold. My suggestion would be to air test the machine on gold to learn the sound as it reads just to the right of pull tab and has a flat sound unlike anything else you'll come across.

 

[Nestor Cerpa]

Thank you, Nova 74. I will certainly put the 10x14 DD on my list to be on the look out for in the classifieds here. Great to hear that the 550 loves silver, and very interesting about the flat sound that you said it makes when it comes to gold.

Some other machines are not so good when it comes to gold chains. What is your opinion, or, experience with the 550 when it comes light weight gold chains?

Thank you,

Nestor

 

[nova74]

It doesn't hit on them at all. If the links are small it won't register, make a sound, nothing. perhaps I had to sensetivity up to high but just won't read it. I've read somewhere that the machine like most machines focus in on a singlular link and if its small has a very difficult time picking it up. I even found the same problem with my explorer. If you dig the targets sooner or later the goldies will show. If you do end up getting the 10x14 you'll need to purchase and longer lower rod bolt as the lobes on the coil are quite large and you'll only have a few turns holding the coil on. With this machine last year I pulled 94 silver coins and a handful of silver rings as well. Its a great machine and for what you paid for it I'm sure it will reward you well.

 

[Nestor Cerpa]

Nova74,

Thank you for the great insight on the 10x14 coil and the GTAx 550.