Pro Coil and Rusty Iron

[RLOH]

Several years back there was some discussion about the Pro coil not doing well reading rusty iron. I have had every Explorer series made and I even bought a Pro coil for my Ex 11 when the coil was introduced. I never had any problem dealing with iron, but recently I am digging more deep rusty iron than ever with my SE Pro. I seem to remember several of the regulars including the former moderator swearing by the SEF 10x12 on an Explorer. I hunt in iron mask screen with the setting at 22-24 and manual sens between 20 and 26. If any of the old timers are still swinging an Explorer with an aftermarket big coil, please share your experiences with me. Thanks!

 

[Nw digger]

I have the se pro with the pro coil and had the same issue. On digital a deep rusty nail will sometimes give me a 3/28 and a 19/28 but I've learned to turn 90 deg and the signal usually nulls out so I know it's a nail. On smart find if it lands top middle I turn 90 and then move on. I guy I know has a explorer se with the coil you mentioned and says its great on iron and a gain of an inch over the stock coil.

 

[TwistedTig3r]

The SEF 10X12 coil handles iron very well.

In the parks and fairgrounds that I hunt I have to chase signals. Often I have a feeling it's a nail but have to go for it if I want to find silver. I would say over 80% of all the silver I have found has had nails or other trash in the same hole. Running in Ferrous sounds seems to help me.

Currently I'm using the 13" Ultimate coil. It tends to make coins really pop but it also seems to bring iron a little more to the right.

Each coil seems to have a personallity of it's own. Based on my hearing and my ground for instance the SEF sounds better in Ferous to me while the Ultimate makes everything sound sweeter in Conductive sounds. Also when switching over to IM in AM I almost feel like it gets a boost that I didn't notice with SEF. Keep in mind that is just a feeling and not a scientific thing.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

The pro coil is fine in rusty iron, I have hunted rusty nail hell holes with it. If you hit the nail at the right angle, or more often than not catch the nail with just the edge or front/rear of your coil it can false. Its important to get your coil centered over the nail for accurate ID of iron. Its important to turn 90 degrees and sweep it again. Its important to check a coil size area around where you think the target is, often you will find your signal is actually a nail a few inches away. Its important to watch the bounce pattern for rusty nails, its a classic pattern repeated by no other target, credit to Mike M if memory serves. The rusty nail bounce pattern is between upper left edge of the screen to upper right edge of the screen on a slight downward angle left to right. I have dug many of those signals just to confirm and they are always rusty nails. If you see that bounce pattern you are pretty much guaranteed there is a rusty nail down there. The thing to watch out for are mixed bounce patterns, bounces to coin locations mixed in with the rusty nail bounce pattern. If its sometimes bounces to a silver dime location, cursor half off the top of the screen, or the indian head location you may have a coin hiding next to the nail. Be advised rusty nails can throw a signal a few inches beyond the end of the nail along its length (sometimes goodies hide under this iron umbrella). The wetter the ground the bigger the umbrella which is why I go back later when the ground dries out. The old Minelab 8" DD coil which is really more like 7" has made some finds in thick nails that proved too much for the larger Pro coil.

 

[nge]

I have an EXII and the S .E.F. 8X6", coil is awesome for separation in very naily (is that a word?) and trashy areas....nge