F70 coil options

[firefitr227]

Hello. I am new to the forum and had a question about coils. First some background info. I have never owned or been around any metal detector in my life. I will be retiring in a few years and wanted to pick up a hobby that gets me outside yet is somewhat low impact, so here I am. I purchased a Fisher F70 with a 11" double d coil and a Garrett pro pin pointer in mid November 2014. The weather hasn't been all that great but I tried to get out whenever I could. I have been reading a lot of debate about the larger coils vs smaller "sharp shooter" coils and was looking for some feedback as to what you all use and why. I have been finding lots of things with the 11" coil but am just wondering if there are things I'm missing. Also everything I have found has been 6" or less, so that makes me wonder about depth. Maybe targets just aren't that deep. So far I have found about 50 wheat pennies, 5 Indian head pennies, 19 silver coins and two silver rings. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll put some on here. Just looking for some more experienced folks to pick their brains.

 

[kt]

I too am new, but it sounds to me like you are rocking and rolling, with those kinds of results. I wouldn't change a thing if I were you.

 

[firefitr227]

Thanks kt. I feel like I'm doing okay, but I can't help but wonder.

 

[MarkCZ]

Hello. I am new to the forum and had a question about coils. First some background info. I have never owned or been around any metal detector in my life. I will be retiring in a few years and wanted to pick up a hobby that gets me outside yet is somewhat low impact, so here I am. I purchased a Fisher F70 with a 11" double d coil and a Garrett pro pin pointer in mid November 2014. The weather hasn't been all that great but I tried to get out whenever I could. I have been reading a lot of debate about the larger coils vs smaller "sharp shooter" coils and was looking for some feedback as to what you all use and why. I have been finding lots of things with the 11" coil but am just wondering if there are things I'm missing. Also everything I have found has been 6" or less, so that makes me wonder about depth. Maybe targets just aren't that deep. So far I have found about 50 wheat pennies, 5 Indian head pennies, 19 silver coins and two silver rings. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll put some on here. Just looking for some more experienced folks to pick their brains.

Let me get this straight!
50 Wheat Pennies!
5 Indian Cents,
19 Silver coins,
2 Silver rings,
Sense Mid November with to much bad weather to get out much and you want advice on which coil to use??
First off, I've been detecting sense 1981, although back then silver was way more abundant. So, lets move to modern times say the past five years, no wait lets say ten years. I've not found 19 total silver coins in that time!!
One Indian Head,
Maybe 50 wheat's but not any more than that.
I've found one 10k ring, NO Silver ones.
I did find one little silver earring.
Now, you need to cough up your tips for doing so well

Welcome to the forum!

Mark

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I don't go for the big coils - but that is because I'm either hunting is trashy town parks, among vegitation or poking around old structures. I like he 6.5" concentric in most spots. Haven't had the 11" stock coil on mine in three seasons past.

I just bought a 9.5" x 5.5" NEL Sharpshooter DD coil that looks like it will be a good compromise in the parks and fairgrounds.

 

[WV62]

Also welcome to the forum.

I must say I agree you are doing something right and you made a good choice of equipment. Mostly I have been reading that the 11"DD coil is one of the best coils going. I like to have several different kinds of coils, but I am not for the most part looking for more depth. So I am running a F75 and if I only had the 11"DD coil and know what I know now I would make my next coil the 6.5" elliptical, it is not as deep as the 11" but it does really well working in between the trash. I will say if you have the 6.5" coil you don't need the 5" DD coil, it also goes the other way if you have the 5" I would say you don't need the 6.5". I just said that but my machine came with the 5" DD coil, and love the 6.5" so much I started looking for one as soon as my machine came in the door.

Now that NEL sharpshooter, also came with my detector as a package deal. I like that coil but it is pretty close to the same as the 11"DD coil, with as shade less depth. So for me I wouldn't buy the NEL sharpshooter.

Now when you go with a bigger coil than the 11" you will gain a little depth like a 1" or 2" is about it. For the most part when guys go with the bigger coils they are hunting relics, not so much for coins. But I need to say I did buy a 13" ultimate coil back in the winter to hunt coins with. I have not had it out yet so I can't say anything good or bad yet. If it works out I will keep it and if not I will put it up for sale and you can buy it for your next coil.

You are doing good don't wonder to much.

Ron in WV

 

[mudpuppy]

I had to read your post about 3 times and let it sink in! uke: A guy cant argue with results like you are getting, or in any way possibly improve on them this soon!

The F70 with the 11"dd was also my first rig...now, coming up on 5 yrs in April, that same package is still my primary dirt weapon of choice...every once in a while I think I might like to try a small coil, but then, I get in field and just love how that big dd pays off, even in the trash, I cant justify the expense in both dollars and time to experiment!

I must ask, what settings are you running? Tones? Where are you at in the World in general?...give us a bit of your backstory about how you got this good so fast....

We all 'wonder' what we may be missing or have missed, but buddy, like kt said, you aint missing much with results like you are putting up in such a short time, so keep slinging that 11"dd and dont worry about it...in fact, give us a much info as you can about how you hunt and think and your settings...the F70 can be a complicated rig to figure out, what with all the settings and whatnot, yet you seemed to have it dialed in just perfect!
Mud

 

[MarkCZ]

Hello. I am new to the forum and had a question about coils. First some background info. I have never owned or been around any metal detector in my life. I will be retiring in a few years and wanted to pick up a hobby that gets me outside yet is somewhat low impact, so here I am. I purchased a Fisher F70 with a 11" double d coil and a Garrett pro pin pointer in mid November 2014. The weather hasn't been all that great but I tried to get out whenever I could. I have been reading a lot of debate about the larger coils vs smaller "sharp shooter" coils and was looking for some feedback as to what you all use and why. I have been finding lots of things with the 11" coil but am just wondering if there are things I'm missing. Also everything I have found has been 6" or less, so that makes me wonder about depth. Maybe targets just aren't that deep. So far I have found about 50 wheat pennies, 5 Indian head pennies, 19 silver coins and two silver rings. If I can figure out how to post pictures I'll put some on here. Just looking for some more experienced folks to pick their brains.

Hey! don't run off, some of our post could look to be sarcastic, but they're really not! in the short of amount of time you've been hunting and as many good finds you've already found is pretty amazing!
Your researching the forums, studying the manuals is working for you for sure!
Next, is your area your hunting in, it doesn't sound like its been beat to death with treasure hunters. If that's the case then we are looking forward to your future post and keeping us updated.

Its a little hard for us to focus on another coil choice for you because of the results your getting now.
My brother Ron (WV62) does really well with that 6.5" elliptical, especially in smaller trashy areas.

Keep us updated!
Its obvious you have blown us away and your just getting started!

Mark

 

[WV62]

Yes I agree you gave us a little bit of a curve ball with how well you are doing. I retired in 2010 and have only found 26 silver coins, and I thought I was doing pretty good, but I am not doing nothing like you are.

You keep it up and let us know how you do it.

Ron in WV

 

[firefitr227]

I appreciate the kind words. Maybe just beginners luck, I don't know. As to where I hunt- I live in Kentucky, kinda north central. If you are familiar with the civil war or wanted to do a little research on John Hunt Morgan, you could probably pinpoint me fairly easily. I am 45 and have lived here all my life, minus my time in the military(another story, another day). I have never seen anyone with a metal detector EVER. Now as to where I'm hunting- Pretty much have only hit 4 good places: My parents house and yard. It was built in 1890 and comes with two acres, complete with carriage house for the old buggy. Its where i cut my teeth(and dads yard until I figured out how to be a little neater). There I found 3 IH, 2 barber dimes, 2 mercs, 2 harmonica reeds, an old lead bullet(no idea) and a bunch of wheat pennies. The second place is where an old tavern used to sit. Built around 1845-1850. Only been there once for just a few hours. Found 1 wheat, 1 barber dime, and one seated liberty dime. I'm going back. The old boy scout camp was next. Not sure when it became the camp, but found out that prior to that it was an old river bottom farm. Found a silver roosevelt, several wheat pennies, a real nice crotal bell, and a cool looking boy scout thing. March 15 I went to the house of a guy I work with, built in 1882 according to him. Best day ever! 4 merc dimes, 1937 Washington quarter, 3 V nickels, buffalo nickel, 1897 IH penny, a pile of wheaties, AND 1897 O barber quarter! and a silver ring. I'm afraid I may have peaked early in my career lol. And around the local parks picked up about $50 clad and another silver ring. My settings: I use a two program kind of system. Program 1 Disc 10, Sens 65-70, I can usually run around 4 Thresh(have to back it down sometimes), tones 3H. Program 2 Disc 45 but I notch in iron. Everything else on Program 2 is basically the same. So I hunt in program 1 then verify a target with program 2. Kind of like using iron audio I suppose. I'm not sure I really understand everything I'm doing. Just making it up as I go. I looked around on here and got a lot of good info to get me started. I'll try to get some pics on here.

 

[MarkCZ]

I appreciate the kind words. Maybe just beginners luck, I don't know. As to where I hunt- I live in Kentucky, kinda north central. If you are familiar with the civil war or wanted to do a little research on John Hunt Morgan, you could probably pinpoint me fairly easily. I am 45 and have lived here all my life, minus my time in the military(another story, another day). I have never seen anyone with a metal detector EVER. Now as to where I'm hunting- Pretty much have only hit 4 good places: My parents house and yard. It was built in 1890 and comes with two acres, complete with carriage house for the old buggy. Its where i cut my teeth(and dads yard until I figured out how to be a little neater). There I found 3 IH, 2 barber dimes, 2 mercs, 2 harmonica reeds, an old lead bullet(no idea) and a bunch of wheat pennies. The second place is where an old tavern used to sit. Built around 1845-1850. Only been there once for just a few hours. Found 1 wheat, 1 barber dime, and one seated liberty dime. I'm going back. The old boy scout camp was next. Not sure when it became the camp, but found out that prior to that it was an old river bottom farm. Found a silver roosevelt, several wheat pennies, a real nice crotal bell, and a cool looking boy scout thing. March 15 I went to the house of a guy I work with, built in 1882 according to him. Best day ever! 4 merc dimes, 1937 Washington quarter, 3 V nickels, buffalo nickel, 1897 IH penny, a pile of wheaties, AND 1897 O barber quarter! and a silver ring. I'm afraid I may have peaked early in my career lol. And around the local parks picked up about $50 clad and another silver ring. My settings: I use a two program kind of system. Program 1 Disc 10, Sens 65-70, I can usually run around 4 Thresh(have to back it down sometimes), tones 3H. Program 2 Disc 45 but I notch in iron. Everything else on Program 2 is basically the same. So I hunt in program 1 then verify a target with program 2. Kind of like using iron audio I suppose. I'm not sure I really understand everything I'm doing. Just making it up as I go. I looked around on here and got a lot of good info to get me started. I'll try to get some pics on here.

Yep! sounds like your in a GOOD area for a beginner for sure. As you get better at his you'll be able to go to those same places pick up some more good stuff too, it will just be a little thinned out. Sometimes going back to a really good spot and just changing directions will turn up more stuff, go back in warm weather but VERY early in the morning before solar radiation has a chance to charge things up will sometime be productive, a different coil or even a different detector will be different enough to make an area turn lose of some more stuff.
Another thing you can do is post pictures of those items you not able to identify and somebody on here will be able to tell your what they are and what they were used for.

Good Job For Sure!

Mark

 

[mudpuppy]

Only $50 bucks in clad? Perhaps I should scuttle on down to KY and give you some personal lessons with the F70? Like show you how to change the batteries or something? You are probably still running the originals!
Free of course.. I can be there in 8hrs!

If I may make a tiny little suggestion...with these kind of sites, SCREW THE CLAD!

This is outstanding Fireftr! thanks for the backstory, it helped us a lot.....We sure are going to enjoy watching you work those places!

I'm thinking that tavern spot holds a very high chance for a gold coin or two..and you are on a roll! So you might as well get that ticket punched off the bucket list this week...

Maybe just out back where they might have gambled and fought when it was too hot to be inside?...Big shade tree where the horses were parked maybe?...nearest little creek to water them or camp, or sleep it off, or pitch a bit of naughty outdoor woo with the local tawdry tavern trollop or something? Walk out there and take a look at the topograqhy, before you even fire up your rig...listen and look around and try to think back about what went on here in the surrounding area 170yrs ago...the dirt and finds will tell you the rest....there must have been an old well, unless theres a spring close by..imagine what might be at the bottom of that?.

There was also certainly an outhouse!, with a thin probe you may find it, just think where it SHOULD have been dug, and poke around a bit...(near the back door and downwind)....and that will be full of bottles and Lord knows what all! You have some really great places to work for many years in these areas as you become better and better...go read the Bottle Hunters Forum...lots of youtube vids on how to hunt an old privy..certainly on your family farm and also on the Boyscout camp there were outhouses too...Heck, there may be a cache of silver on the Farm, a mega spill at the tavern, and certainly more coins at the boyscout place.....

Warning, be very careful when you post pics and whatnot..theres a lot of folks that read these forums to try to find places like yours..and will try to jump right on in and hunt them...just a bit of advice there..get on it though, like Mark said, Springtime before the weeds come up and it gets too hot is best...
Good Luck!
Mud

ps: I bet theres a lot of us reading your post and sitting here shaking our heads and either chuckling or muttering a 'daaaaamn' right about now! I'm doing a little of both!

 

[Ed Steinhoff]

Well I just had a big slice of humble pie! My learning curve with the f-70 took almost a year before I had much confidence and began fiddling with settings and coils, good job!!
My machine came with the f-75 11" and the stock 10". I have used them both very successfully and don't really see any loss or gain in depth between the two.
The 11" is noticeably heavier but is nice to cover large areas like a baseball field, would probably be great for relic hunting plowed fields too.
The stock 10" is lighter and does a better job unmasking coins in a trashy spot and works up tight to the equipment in tot lots if you don't have it cranked up to high.
That is most likely the worst mistake to make with the f series machines, higher settings is definitely not always better.
I did purchase a 5" DD coil for baaadd trash areas and it is a lot of fun to go back in those pull tab, screw top, foil infested sites and pick out coin after coin where it was just overwhelming noise.
The f-70 is a real superstar of sensitivity and the only human on the planet that can deal with the noises it produces if it is turned all the way up would be Reiver! Check out His posts, lots of good stuff there.
Come to think of it Mud could probably handle the full crank noise, He would just think it was the normal noise in His head anyway!!
HH Ed in co.

 

[firefitr227]

Well after much ado, I finally figured this out. Or at least I think I have. So here are a few pictures from my blossoming metal detecting career.

 

[MarkCZ]

Well after much ado, I finally figured this out. Or at least I think I have. So here are a few pictures from my blossoming metal detecting career.

Well, this is a bad dream for me, in thirty years I've only found THREE half dollars, and one of them was a clad! just amazing.

Mud, I'm thinking "firefite227" isn't 8 hours from me, I think I could beat you to the draw, I'm in south/west West Virginia So, only 10 minutes to the KY state line.

WOW, what great finds in such a short period of time! you my friend are on a ROLL. And NO what your finding isn't even in the realm of normal or average, the only other person that is that regular on finding silver coins is "Tabman" but I think he puts a great deal of time getting his silver coin numbers.

Mark

 

[tabman]

Thanks kt. I feel like I'm doing okay, but I can't help but wonder.

You're doing great! Welcome to the forum!

tabman

 

[MarkCZ]

Well, "tabman" you and "ff227" are going to be the two that shows us the good stuff is out there, and to keep our "Coils To The Soil"
Where my brother's and I live its like a few millions aliens came in the 80's and the 90's and stripped the area of all SILVER, I just don't know why they didn't hit Kentucky

Mark

 

[firefitr227]

Mark the half dollar is a funny story. I was talking about detecting at work and one of my colleagues was curious. So we went out to the parking lot beside the fire station(I am a firefighter, just in case my handle wasn't clear). Anyway there is about a 2 feet grass strip between the side walk and the street. I figured maybe a coin or two and some bottle caps, just a quick demonstration to show my new toy. Well as my luck seems to be, I flipped over the plug and she was gleaming! To be honest I didn't know what it was and had to look it up lol. Turns out it was a 1936 D walking half. My first silver coin ever in my first month of detecting. Talk about blind luck!!

 

[MarkCZ]

Mark the half dollar is a funny story. I was talking about detecting at work and one of my colleagues was curious. So we went out to the parking lot beside the fire station(I am a firefighter, just in case my handle wasn't clear). Anyway there is about a 2 feet grass strip between the side walk and the street. I figured maybe a coin or two and some bottle caps, just a quick demonstration to show my new toy. Well as my luck seems to be, I flipped over the plug and she was gleaming! To be honest I didn't know what it was and had to look it up lol. Turns out it was a 1936 D walking half. My first silver coin ever in my first month of detecting. Talk about blind luck!!

I've got to go lay down now

Really, those little grass strips in the right places can be some of the best places to hunt. I'm sure they're is people here that have hunted for years and not found a silver half dollar, those walking liberty halves are on the top ten coin hit list for about all coin hunters. Two of the only three silver halves I have ever found were in little grassy strips, I found two of them in the 80's and the third just last season and it was in a closed down section of our city park, and that was the only silver coin I found last year!

Mark

 

[ddmk6]

Mark the half dollar is a funny story. I was talking about detecting at work and one of my colleagues was curious. So we went out to the parking lot beside the fire station(I am a firefighter, just in case my handle wasn't clear). Anyway there is about a 2 feet grass strip between the side walk and the street. I figured maybe a coin or two and some bottle caps, just a quick demonstration to show my new toy. Well as my luck seems to be, I flipped over the plug and she was gleaming! To be honest I didn't know what it was and had to look it up lol. Turns out it was a 1936 D walking half. My first silver coin ever in my first month of detecting. Talk about blind luck!!

You were meant to have a detector in your hands LOL. Great finds and nice story.

Thanks for sharing.

Kenny