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6" coils, a thing of the past? Do Manufacturers care?

utmike

utmike

Well-known member
I've whined about this with the Manticore before but....

I noticed the Legend 2 and others are following suit with the supposed "small 5x8".

There are some of us who enjoy hunting the overwhelming trash of ghost towns and tear downs.


The BEST way to be successful in these areas is a small coil footprint that won't be overwhelmed by co-located targets. The little coils can get into/under sagebrush and other obstacles and send those little "squeaky" audio responses you get with a coin hiding near iron.

It seems that the manufacturers have walked away from producing them and if you're a small coil hunter, stocking up on older models like the Equinox 800 with the 6" might be the way to go.

Curious what others think?
 
A tesoro with all metal. motion and all motion, and a 6 inch coil is pretty effective. It sees things in nails that my Equinox with the 6 inch coil doesn't. Both pick out things better than any of my larger coils. I believe the Tesoro Bandido 2 micromax was Monte's favorite until his passing for the conditions you are describing. I agree with the need for small coils.
 
For the last three year of when I was using the 800 I never took the 6 in. coil off. That was when I found the most keepers. I tried the 10x5 but the 6 in. just did better. Depth, separation and getting in tight and sniffing out coins hiding close to trees and in the brush, and another place was tight up to sidewalks that have rebar in them. The last year and a half I have been using the Manticore w/ 9 in. The 9's performance has been nothing less than exceptional but I would buy a 6in. if Minelab would bring one out. I hunt alot of woods and think at times I can't get in tight enough with the 9. But then up comes the question, would a 6in. coil perform as well as the 9 in. I remember digging some pretty deep silver dimes with the 800/6in. but the Manticore/9in., its depth is almost uncanny. So there might be a trade off there but I would absolutely give a 6in. coil a try.
 
Picketwire said:
A tesoro with all metal. motion and all motion, and a 6 inch coil is pretty effective. It sees things in nails that my Equinox with the 6 inch coil doesn't. Both pick out things better than any of my larger coils. I believe the Tesoro Bandido 2 micromax was Monte's favorite until his passing for the conditions you are describing. I agree with the need for small coils.
Click to expand...
I am not sure I understand what you mean when you made the statement “A Tesoro with all metal motion and and all motion”.
Can you explain in more detail please?
 
I agree on the advantages of the 6” coils
I have the 6”, 5x8”, and the 5x10” coils that I use on my 800 and XTP.
I have gone behind the stock coil and made additional finds with the 6” coil and like using it.
I started river detecting two years ago and for this, I prefer the 5x8” for its slightly narrow footprint for getting into small areas between rocks.
The 5x10 I use for general detecting and really like it.
One thing for sure is that the stock coils keep getting bigger and bigger it seems.
 
Have always been a fan for small coils - working slow in trashy area's is one of my things. Besides, don't wonder all over the place - pick an area and work it.
I've used 4", 6" 6x? and also a fan of the 5.75 on my Compadre...
Anything smaller than 4 I might as well just lay on the ground and use my pinpointer,, scoot over, repeat old man :D
 
markinswpa said:
For the last three year of when I was using the 800 I never took the 6 in. coil off. That was when I found the most keepers. I tried the 10x5 but the 6 in. just did better. Depth, separation and getting in tight and sniffing out coins hiding close to trees and in the brush, and another place was tight up to sidewalks that have rebar in them. The last year and a half I have been using the Manticore w/ 9 in. The 9's performance has been nothing less than exceptional but I would buy a 6in. if Minelab would bring one out. I hunt alot of woods and think at times I can't get in tight enough with the 9. But then up comes the question, would a 6in. coil perform as well as the 9 in. I remember digging some pretty deep silver dimes with the 800/6in. but the Manticore/9in., its depth is almost uncanny. So there might be a trade off there but I would absolutely give a 6in. coil a try.
Click to expand...
Agreed, the Manticore 9" is a very good coil. I've personally done better in ghost towns with the 5x8 on it. Have a coastal vacation coming up and am looking forward to beach hunting with the 9".
However, so far...the 800 with the 6" has crushed every other detector I've owned on quality finds in tough terrain. Interestingly, 2nd place in silver and trade tokens is still held by an old Xterra 70 with the 6" 18 KHz coil.
 
fwcrawford said:
I agree on the advantages of the 6” coils
I have the 6”, 5x8”, and the 5x10” coils that I use on my 800 and XTP.
I have gone behind the stock coil and made additional finds with the 6” coil and like using it.
I started river detecting two years ago and for this, I prefer the 5x8” for its slightly narrow footprint for getting into small areas between rocks.
The 5x10 I use for general detecting and really like it.
One thing for sure is that the stock coils keep getting bigger and bigger it seems.
Click to expand...
I've seen your river success and you definitely have dialed in a combo that works. My Manticore has become my primary machine and of the coil choices available, the 5x8 fits my hunting style. It did hit a cc minted seated last year in a tough location so, it's a capable combo. I just feel like Minelab is missing the boat (and probably a lot of sales) not offering a 6 inch. Until that day comes, the 800 will be in close reach.
 
utmike said:
I've seen your river success and you definitely have dialed in a combo that works. My Manticore has become my primary machine and of the coil choices available, the 5x8 fits my hunting style. It did hit a cc minted seated last year in a tough location so, it's a capable combo. I just feel like Minelab is missing the boat (and probably a lot of sales) not offering a 6 inch. Until that day comes, the 800 will be in close reach.
Click to expand...
I know exactly why you are holding on to that 800……if not for the water leak issues they have had, I would be using that in rivers and lakes, but do not want to take the chance.
That is the reason I bought the XTerra Pro, but I am very happy with it, and it paid for itself in no time at all.
It is no slouch on land either…..I found two gold rings on land with it, returned both to the owners and even got $120 reward for finding one of them.
The other one was a class ring and was lost 22 years ago.
 
fwcrawford said:
That is the reason I bought the XTerra Pro, but I am very happy with it, and it paid for itself in no time at all.
Click to expand...
I bought a Xterra Pro awhile back also. It's great that Minelab allowed the coils to be interchangeable with the 800. There's a theory out there that ML left a little hidden programming magic from the Equinox in the Pro's beach mode.

Great little back up machine with the 6" in 15 KHz as well.
 
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