Hunting with 15x12 S.E.F Butterfly Coil

[gibsondan]

I've been having a good time hunting with the 15x12 s.e.f. butterfly coil. I consider it a clean-up coil. After I've pounded an area with the Pro coil, I bring out the big 15x12 to get anything I may have missed. Yesterday I took it to a place I've hit hard twice with the Pro coil and never found silver. The big coil found an 1896 Barber dime. Last Thursday it found an 1892 Indian Head penny and a week prior to that it found a 1919 Mercury Dime I missed with the Pro coil. I give this coil a big thumbs up. I enjoy hunting with it and consider it a valuable tool to use in conjunction with the Pro coil.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2586/3936705055_fc0193610c.jpg

Let me emphasize that "I" missed these coins with the Pro coil. I know for sure it would've found two of the three coins above with no problem. (I don't know why it didn't hit on the Merc.) Why did I miss them with the Pro coil? I think it is because I either hunted too fast and/or didn't get the best ground coverage by making sure every swing of the coil overlapped the previous one. It's very easy to miss a small target like that - especially when you're tired. The 15x12 coil has a larger field of detection than the Pro coil and, therefore, gets better ground coverage than the smaller Pro coil. Another thing to consider is the difference in design between the two coils. This difference may cause one to hit on a target the other will not. I was surprised at the many more coins I found with the 15x12 after using the Pro coil on the same ground. In addition to the above good finds, a lot more Wheats also popped out of ground I was sure had nothing left to offer my Pro coil.

 

[NiagracountyNY]

Sounds like you have gotten to Know that coil very well Dan I think the reason ive gotten the hits I have with my 18x15 is prob Due to the large area each swing covers..Its easier to overlap and still cover alot of ground.I have also pulled shallow targets that i missed with the pro a few times..Why im not sure..Thx for posting your results..HH

 

[Barry NY]

I have had my new E-Trac with X-1 probe now for a few weeks and actually haven't gotten out yet (still pounding the beaches with my Excal until the grass starts to turn) while reading these posts and digesting Andy's book (of course a must read like CJC's series for the Excal). As this is my first land detector all the information on settings and set-up seems quite vast (especially against the set-up and go Excalibur). It's quite obvious, however, that owners of the earlier Minelab FBS machines have a strong "leg up" on those others who will become owner's of this machine - so be it and good for them for their loyalty to ML. I do feel tho that having the Excal and learning to use my ears (for tone and target identification) and the DD coil (for pinpointing) will certainly help me (and the other Excal users who decide to buy) when I start to use the E-Trac.

I also strongly believe, after what I'm reading in Andy's book and here, that for someone "who wants the best there is out there" for the types of conditions most of us are going to encounter at this point in time (fewer, deeper good targets surrounded by ever growing trash and clad), even if this is their first machine, the E-Trac (when properly and thoroughly trained on) will be their best experience with our sport.

I recently explained to a new beach detectorist, that was discouraged after the results of his second outing with his $400 "first machine to try it out" that quite possibly a $1200 investment in the Excalibur winds up being the exact same economic cost as his $400 unit - with of course much more exciting and favorable results - maybe the difference between his pursuing our sport or abandoning it from frustration in the lack of exciting finds with his machine. I told him that he would be virtually guaranteed of getting $900+ resale value if he kept the machine in good order if he decided the sport wasn't for him as opposed to maybe getting $100+ for the $400 unit - in effect either machine net costing $300. I believe this to be the case with the E-Trac too.

Thanks to both of you for your continued posts, videos and information. It is very much appreciated by those of us much less experienced.

 

[Orlensin-FL]

I havent tried that coil but I do like the coiltek 15"er

 

[Erik in NJ]

Hi Dan, I've gone over soil I hit with my Pro coil with the 15 x 12 and found nothing else - what's your secret?

 

[NiagracountyNY]

Hi Dan, I've gone over soil I hit with my Pro coil with the 15 x 12 and found nothing else - what's your secret?

Hmmm...Ive found Items with my 18x15 s.e.f I missed with my Pro coil.No secret Here.Its a Diffrenrt type of coil that seems to see things well.If you have 1 coil in your arsenal,you are gonna miss a few things.Just my Opinion.

 

[gibsondan]

Hi Dan, I've gone over soil I hit with my Pro coil with the 15 x 12 and found nothing else - what's your secret?

No secret. I just hunt an area again with the 15x12 and find more coins. I have scratched my head several times and wondered, "How did I miss that?"

 

[gregliss]

I havent tried that coil but I do like the coiltek 15"er

I've only clocked up about 8 hours with the Coiltek 15"er, I'm really impressed with it.

Cheers
Greg

 

[tony c]

the first time i tried my 12x15 sef was in my test garden in my back yard that i have had for over ten years with some very deep targets,the 12x15 sef coil hits on a brass buckle at a measured 12" with no problem where as my stock 11 pro coil sometimes gets a faint signal there is no doubt in my mind the 12x15 sef coil is deeper, tony c

 

[Derrelld]

I love mine as well,, and have found myself saying the same thing,,, Clean up coil! I dont think it goes much deeper than the pro coil! It just covers a lot more area! lol

 

[silvereagle]

are they both double d?the pro versus coilteck?

 

[bigjohn070]

Nice penny
Silver is good too.

HH
BIG JOHN