There are many variables that come into play in metal detecting. I guess that is one of the things that makes it such an interesting hobby. Let me address your questions with some of my opinions. First of all, the MXT is an excellent machine. I have been hunting for about 30 years and have had more than my share of machines. From the old BFO days, the TRs and the VLFs. From Garrett to Tesoro to Fisher to Minelab and Whites. I currently swing the MXT and a Minelab. As to how deep your machine will go depends on the coil you are using, the soil conditions, the size of the target and how long it has been buried. You didn't mention the coil, so I suspect that you are using the stock 9.5 inch concentric. The stock coil is a good one, but if your soil is highly mineralized, you would fare better with a DD coil. DD coils are more stable in highly mineralized soil and the detection depth will not be adversely affected by the mineralization. To deteremine how mineralized your soil is, you simply put the MXT in Prospecting mode and it will tell you on VDI. Anything under 70 should be OK with your concentric coil. If it is higher than 70, you may want to consider one of the DD coils. Whites makes them and so do a couple aftermarket manufacturers. Remember that, as a general rule, the larger the coil, the deeper they detect. Not always true, but a good general rule. As to detecting freshly buried targets buried at 10 inches, that probably won't happen with any coil. There is just too many air gaps and too much disturbance to allow the signal to penetrate to that depth with a fresh coin. Once a coin is buried in the ground, it starts to create a chemical reaction with the minerals in the earth and creates what some refer to as a halo effect. Basically this means that the dirt around the coin inherits some of the properties of the target and increases the area that the target is detected. The longer the coin is buried and undisturbed, the more compacted the earth becomes and the larger the halo appears to the detector. When this happens, the deeper it can be located. For your pregame warmup, you may want to bury the coins in the 6 inch range. But leave those deep ones for a few years down the road. As to moisture, that is a detectorists best friend. Just as water is a good conductor of electricity, wet ground seems to intensify the signals of buried targets. As to your comment that the machine would locate to a foot. That won't happen under normal circumstances. But don't blame the machine. Manufacturers all make great claims as to the depth of their machines, but most of that is marketing. Sure, under ideal conditions, a detector may hit on targets 12 inches deep, but for the average coin shooter, you won't be digging many holes that deep. If you are hunting in sandy soil or soil that has a lot of mulch build up (more dirt each year), then the targets will be DEEP. However, if you are like 90% of the detectorists that hunt in yards, parks, ball fields etc. most of the coins will be less than 8 inches deep anyway. So, don't throw out the MXT. It is a good one. Take some readings on your soil to make sure the coil is right for the job. Get a bigger coil if you want to get more depth, but remember that it will also be picking up more "conflicting" signals as it covers more ground with each pass. Set your threshold so you can barely hear the sputter and slow down your sweep speed to listen for the changes in tone. Run with as much gain as you can without too much chatter. I run mine with DD coils, +3 gain most of the time in soil readings in the 60's. I can hit targets at 10 inches, but the coins are seldom if ever that deep. HH
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