or with Teknetics' factory accessory coils? Too often I think some people get caught up in the aftermarket coil concept due to all the posts and passing comments they reads on different forums, yet never really know what a detector can do as designed-and-delivered.
Often I note that some people who are newer to the metal detecting hobby buy a detector and never use any coil except what comes on it, figuring that the stock coil must be all they need and what the maker feels is best. That reasoning has fallen on some sour ideas, in my opinion, because there are quite a few "entry level" detectors, those made for the 'average' hobbyists who are going to go Coin Hunt all the local parks and schools and playgrounds that have a lot of trash and metal structures, but the detector was offered with a larger search coil that is NOT well suited for the 'average' or 'newer' hobbyist. Oversize coils that are often Double-D design and are not as easy to Pinpoint with, especially for a 'beginner' or only a periodic hunter.
Almost 100% of the aftermarket coil offerings, by the way, are a Double-D design, such as the Excelerator and SEF coils from Detech or the NEL offerings and others. DD coils, as a rule, do not pinpoint as easily as a comparable-size Concentric coil, and they do not Discriminate as cleanly, especially in iron trash, and that means the Target ID and VDI read-outs are very often a little jumpier or broader and not as solid and repeatable.
Yes, sometimes DD coils works 'OK' and I have some in my personal detector arsenal, such as the 'stock' 6" and 8" round DD coils on my two Compass models that date back about 40+ years, and the coils for my Makro Racer because that's all they make for them. I also have the round 5" DD for the Teknetics Omega 8000's and Gamma that I had, and I kept it on a lower rod, ready-to-go, hoping the Omega 8500 will be out soon to wear it. Everything else I own and use has a proper-size Concentric coil mounted for the types of sites I will use them the most.
amcjavelin said:
well got my brand new gamma 6000 today ...
While I prefer the Omega 8000 to the Gamma 6000, I have friends who favor the Gamma due to the 'S' rod grip and performance afield that almost matches the Omega. It has been, I believe, one of the overlooked offerings out there that provides versatile performance for a reasonable price. I hope you learn and enjoy it.
amcjavelin said:
... and looking at nel coils and looking for something best separation of trash and depth so either the snake or sharp?
Well, as I frequently state, I
usually prefer a Concentric coil over a DD, and I also like something close to a 'stock-size' coil for hunting typical grassy areas or dirt site with a lower target count. Something like the 8" or 8X9 Concentric on a Tesoro, or an 8" or 9" spider Concentric on a White's, and the 10" elliptical [size=small](5½X9¾)[/size] on the Omega or 8" round Concentric on the Gamma.
But since I place myself in a densely littered, ferrous-target challenged site most of the time, I prefer a smaller-than-stock coil on most models I use. That's a 6½" Concentric on White's, a 6" Concentric on Tesoro, but the smaller 4.[size=small]7[/size]X5.[size=small]2[/size] DD on a Makro or round 5" DD on my Teknetics. By the way, these smaller-size DD coils I like to use get me surprising depth in areas with sparse targets which can mask nearby keepers, and dense target conditions also hamper trying to achieve any reasonable depth. Other than the 5" accessory DD on a Teknetics, the only other coil I like to use
at times, although closer in physical size as the 'standard' coil, is the Teknetics 5X10 DD.
You just can't enjoy a benefit of 'separation' as well as achieve meaningful 'depth' in a densely littered site. Too much close or shallow-target masking.
amcjavelin said:
any of you guys running them?
Buy now you can figure that 'NO' is my answer, although I do prefer a non-stock coil on the Omega 8000 which I let go to a family member [size=small](anticipating the apparently delayed 8500
)[/size]. I DO like the Omega 8000's stock elliptical Concentric coil, but after comparing it with all the other Teknetics coils, my favorite open-area, sparse-target coil is the round 8" Concentric, standard on the Gamma, and most-used in any trashier environment is the round 5" DD. The standard elliptical 5½X9¾ Concentric is tied for 3rd pick with the 5X10 Double-D. The round 8" works very well for me, even in the higher iron mineralized soils I mostly search.
amcjavelin said:
probably this ?? has been asked a million times but thought I'd ask anyways?
Yes, it gets asked, but often I read where someone buys one of the aftermarket DD coils and had b[]never even hunted with the stock coil to have their own comparisons of performance, then they ask about how others like the aftermarket DD. They wonder about TID performance which is sometimes 'jittery,' or about the depth folks are getting because they don't seem to be achieving what they imagined they might get from the posts they had read.
[size=large]... but the good news is ...[/size]
amcjavelin said:
well went back where I've been pulling goodies out with my vista gold and found a few more things today my very first dig was small button and a old pistol shot in the same hole! I have to admit it does like its square nails ......couple of times I was frustrated but I did dig some some targets from iron so its a good machine still trying to learn the iron tricks to it.....these finds were on average anywhere from 7 to 9" and using the round 8" concentric coil
You hunted a sites you have previously worked using a detector that is promoted as getting decent depth, and you used the stock 8" round Concentric coil, and still managed to dig some smaller, desired targets from amongst some iron and 'average' 7" to 9" with that stock coil.
I wouldn't suggest shopping for an aftermarket coil for now. Use the Gamma with the coil it came with and master it to gain the best performance at sites you hunt. Then, if any are trashy, shop for one of Teknetics' own round 5" DD coils.
Congrats on your success this far and the best to you on future outings with your Gamma.
Monte
