Need opinions on best small coil

[Bobby Moyers]

I recently purchased an Explorer SE and It came with the 10" FSB coil. I would like some opinions on the best small coil to hunt real trashy areas. I am new to the Minelab brand and any help would be appreciated. I've read and lurked on this forum for a long time now and will post some finds when I get started. you are a nice bunch of guys and help each other out alot! Bryce, If your could only buy one small coil to hunt really trashy parks, which one would you buy? I need help from any and everybody Just starting out! I am headed off to work and won't be able to respond to your posts until lake this evening. Thanks in advance!

 

[metaldetectingtaylor]

I have been only hunting for a year now and just bought the 6'' Excelerator and am very impressed. Every time I have tried it out at a place that I've already pounded heavily, I still end up finding some coins/smaller objects that were masked by all the trash. Also the depth is great, still hitting even up to 8 inches.

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

I have the Sunray 5" & 8" coil, 5" & 6" EXcelerator EQ2 Pro DD Search Coils, 4.5 x 7" Elliptical EXcelerator Search Coil, and the stock 8" coil. Although I think having a smaller coil is nice to have I would buy the Sunray 8" coil first because it's a great all around coil to carry with you. Works super in the trash and gets very good depth.

If I had to choose between my Sunray 5" coil or my 5", 6", or 4.5x7 Excelerator coils I would have to choose the 6" excelerator coil. You can't go wrong with any of them. (it's almost a toss up between the Sunray 5" and the 6" Excelerator coil. I choose the Excelerator coil because you can cover more ground and I feel it goes a tad deeper than the 5" coil)

If you haven't bought Sunrays X-1 probe I'd buy that before I would buy another coil. The X-1 probe will be the best accessory you'll ever buy.

 

[Hotcz70]

I have a vast array of coils and EACH of them has a trait...or some unique traits that make it perform or "shine" in a way as to bring another coin or two to the surface that for some reason the other coils might have missed.

There's no way I can pin myself down and give an iron clad answer to what I think the perfect coil is...because there isn't one.

I can only post my tests and hunts with each coil....be 100% honest when reporting my results...and be very thorough when posting said results.

After that point...it is up to each individual hunter to make up his or her mind when choosing the "right" coil for their specific hunting style.

What works well for me and my buddies here in my soil while using my settings might not give you the same results for you at your sites.

Sure I could tell you that one coil might separate a little better...go a little deeper...handle iron better...ID a little better...false a little less...have a combo of some or all I just mentioned...etc.

The fact of the matter is though that no matter what coil you choose...it's still up to you to understand what the machine is saying to you and how you interperate the signals it gives you.

My reputation has always been...and always will be...to just simply post what each coil has done for me...and be 100% honest when doing so.

My field tests and hunts link posted at the top of the page speaks for itself about each small coil...as does the article just published in Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine about the 5" Sunray coil.

Just make sure you give them all a good read again...get some input from other forum members here as well ...and then it must be up to you to make the final decision on which coil to try.

Good luck hunting.

 

[Bobby Moyers]

Thanks to everyone who responded! I stated in my post that Minelabs are new to me, but I wanted to try one and I chose the SE. I purchased it off Craigs List and it was advertised as an SE Pro, but since it didn't have the Pro coil with It then I assume that you guy's just call it an SE. It looks new and it turns on, and thats about all I know at this point. My first detector was a Garrett ADS lll from the 70's and I guess I've used about ever other brand except a Minelab. Been coin hunting a long time, but still wonder if I know anything.
I will purchase a X-1 probe first, based on Randy's suggestion and continue to read and learn as I go. Thanks again for everything! Bryce hope everything Is going okay with your father! You Guys have a good forum and you're always willing to help us newbies out!

 

[dirt doctor]

Great advice from Randy . The Sunray X-8 stays on my SE pretty much all of the time now .

 

[HaroldILL.]

I agree with dirt doctor on the x-8 sunray. I tryed one last year on my E-tarc to help lighten the machine up a little. The depth really surprised me to the point to were it is my main coil! And the pro coil is my back up!

 

[Bobby Moyers]

The X-8 will probably be my first coil. Thanks to everyone for helping with this question!