Just got my New 8" minelab Coil...Haven't tried yet but I must be excited about it!

[KCK]

Everyone that actually uses this smaller coil you guys more tahn likely understand it the best!

Can you hear faint sounds with this coil like with the stock 10 1/2"?

Or will I need to make some changes to sensitivity settings or my gain settings?


I'm still like a baby with my ExplorerII and am just touching first base with it! I'm definitely wanting to round second and do the advanced thing but I know I'm not ready yet!

I'm still torn as to the many programs and which is best for my area. I'd even like to try the All Metal thing some time, But I know that's just going to be confusing at first. I've already did a test run and I see some potential, but I get mixed up easily in this mode yet!

I have decided to use the 10 1/2" coil in the Competition hunt even though I've been warned that the Explorer is not a good competition detector.
If any of you experienced Pro Explorer guys have any good ideas for me try in the competition at Shreve Ohio Treasure Week PLEASE.... give me some your pointers...
1)Do you guys think the sensitivity setting on 1 is a good idea?
Gold and Silver Coins are to be buried only about 1 inch? They say!
2)Some say that the Explorer doesn't like freshly buried Silver? However I buried several silver coins and tested the detector over a period of 3-8 days and found good hits on all coins every day?
Guys thanks for the help and advise you have been I really appreciate Finds Forum and the people who frequent the boards!

Again please if you have programs or advice you'd like to see tried or tested at the Shreve Treasure Week Hunts...Post them here and I'll see what happens as I haven't a clue how the Explorer will fair in the hunts.
The wife and I have entered all the hunts 5 morning Gold Hunts and I believe it was 14 Silver and Token Hunts over the 7 day period!One at 11:00am and another at 2:00pm.

As the times draw closer to the hunts and we're getting more excited each day, the anticipation is thought provoking and your expertise is important to any success we may or may not have. Oh yea there is quite a bit of luck factor already involved for us...but I'd still rather count on your ideas and wisdom.

Thanks Guys!

KCK

 

[Knipper]

KCK,

With the 8" coil, I see no reason why it wouldn't be a good machine in a competition hunt. I would set the machine at FAST response, though, and definitely run the noise cancel a bit AFTER others have turned on their machines at the starting line. I would think the default coin program would be fine (unless they are burying some odd type metal as a 'challenge' type token find for prizes. Depending on what they are burying in the ground, you can also use the digital to be a bit more selective as to what you choose to take the time to recover. For example, if they are burying tokens, and you can find one early, you can note what numbers they register and be sure to dig those. If they seed the field with a base of wheat cents, you know that the 7-27 (or thereabouts), signals can be walked over, and you can spend more time looking for silver or larger denomination coin readings. For speed, though, listen for the high pitches and don't look at the screen any more than you have too!

I used to compete with some of the old big box Garrett's so I don't think the SE is too heavy at all. Most of the finds are usually recovered in the first 10 to 15 minutes of the hunt. People burying them usually so do in some pattern, unconscious or not. Eyeball where the signal is. You can see the slit where coins were slipped under the sod and save time pinpointing. Of course, if this is a beach or sand hunt, that won't apply.

I don't think you have to 'whip' any machine in these hunts for speed. Ground coverage is more important and the Double D on the 8" should be fine. Just make long arcs with the detector and take a step forward on each sweep. Listen for high pitch signals and watch for the slits in the ground. I've seen other hunters swing their machines like a pendulum, having the effect of the coil only getting near the ground on the bottom of the down sweep swing. They are really only effectively hitting less than a square foot with each sweep. Much better to make a long arc keeping the coil to the ground...you 'see' much more ground that way.

Again, I don't think any special programming is necessary other than setting the machine for "FAST" response and using the default coin mode. Sophisticated machines really don't fare too much better than the basic old beepers when coins are 1" or so in the dirt. Ground coverage and other strategies is what will fill your pouch.

Just my opinion...

Knipper

 

[Arturo de Zorro]

The Minelab 7.5" coil is my favorite over the Sunray 8, Joey 5X10, or the Excellerator 4x7. Sensitivity 1 is to low for manual sensitivity you need aleast 12, but if you use semi-auto sensitivity, a setting of one or two is OK. I have never used an Explorer in a planted hunt, it would not be my first choice but if thats all you got put it in audio one or two. anybody need an Excell. 4x7 coil??

 

[KCK]

n/t

 

[KCK]

I'm sure Minelab has a decent coil! It feels a little lighter. I wonder how the stock 10 1/2 coil would do as I could get much better ground coverage with it!


KCK

 

[KCK]

of Teknetic's Competition Turbo's with us as well. We have had them for a few years now. The wife always uses it and won't switch no matter what she could use. Her backup will a Ace 250, however it will only get used if I decide to try it in one of the hunts. The Tek Turbos are great machines down to about 6 inches. They are fast recovery as well. But I'm still wanted my Explorer to fair well.
I've used lots of models and brands, For my hunting I prefer the Explorer over anything Whites or Garrett has out there! It seems to keep me more into the Finds Box as I call it!


The GTI 2500 was heavy as well and I really liked the Imagining on it, but it didn't find the stuff that the Explorer has found.

Watch the Tek Turbo's out do everthing else I hav...Then I'll have to listen to the better half for the next two weeks! hehehehe

Alls fun in love and war!

 

[Holedigger]

I'm one of those who swing a coil very fast during a seeded club hunt and miss the best ones my coil passes over. I've learned my lesson! The people planting the coins are "evil" and plant the silver halves and silver dollars on edge, so swinging like the dickens will not detect them like a flat dime or flat quarter. Other than that the most important things are noise canceling and selection of your operating frequency during a competition hunt like Mr. Knipper suggests. There is nothing worse that constant falsing and chattering from other detectors even 12 feet away! Good luck and HH...