need some coil input...Exp II

[dogcaught]

I know this subject has been beaten to death. I know I will get as many different answers to this question as there are coils available to choose from. I don't want to start a debate! A coil upgrade has been on my wish list for over a year now. I have taken care of everything else on my upgrade list and now I am finally to the coil.

First of all, I hunt with an Explorer II w/ stock 1050 coil. I love the Exp II and I love the 1050 coil. My only problem with the 1050 is that I feel it leaves a little to be desired in target separtion. Others may disagree but this is just my opinion. I'm looking to get a coil now and another this spring. The coil I get this spring will probably be a smaller coil for super trashy areas. Maybe a 6x8 sef,x-5,x-8, 6" excellerator, or a joey. Who knows. The coil I'm getting now will be my big coil. I'm attracted to the sunray x-12, literally. As in my wife has busted my chops for mumbling "thats just a big sexy coil" while watching videos featuring the x-12 on youtube. I want the raw depth of the x-12, more ground coverage and hopefully better separation than the 1050. I'm drawn to the pro coil. Lighter in weight than the 1050, better separation (?), and equal depth (from what I hear). Next is the 10x12 sef. This thing needs wheels. A big/deep coil with good coverage/separation.

I don't plan on buying them all. I mainly hunt parks and private property in the midwest. No beaches. Fairly mild soil conditions. Sometimes a fair amount of EMI to deal with. The old stuff around here sits 5 to 12 inches deep on average.

This is my quandary. I know everyone will have a different opinion on this. Thats ok. I would just like to see a few different points of view before I pull the trigger in the next few days. I'm leaning towards the sunray x-12. What do you think? JJ

 

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[NGE]

I know nothing about the SunRay X 12, But I do know about the Pro 11"- "DD" coil. I also have a Minelab EXP II. Since I have swapped to the Pro coil. I went to my really beat out favorite park sites, and immediately was digging silver dimes at 9 to 12 inches deep (depending on angle). Let me tell you about underground bottle caps (at least in my parks). I hunt parks that have had mom and pop beer stores across the street from them, they are long gone, but not the fruits of their labor. Most of the caps in the ground are in copious amounts really close to each other, anywheres from 5 to 8 inches deep. I have gotten many coins mixed in with these caps, and deeper down below these caps. It is a remarkable coil! Separation is awesome too, Caps and tabs under coil with target coin. I use no discrimination, sounds are set on Ferrous, gain at max ( I have very bad ears ), also have iron mask on, Response normal, Recovery fast (in super trashy areas). You will hear low tones for all iron and higher tones for coins and such, be careful, listen well, you will hear faint little blips, those are the coins, use the Minelab wiggle and HH................NGE P.S. if you have any other questions, feel free to PM or email me....Email is; [email protected]

 

[dogcaught]

Thank you very much for that reply NGE. That was exactly what I was looking for. No speculation, just- this is what i use and this is why I like it. Your settings would render me useless but as long as you know them and they work for you, thats what counts. I think thats really the beauty of these machines. You can set them up however you want and find what works best for you. Thanks again for the reply, JJ

 

[stasys]

Hello, simply test sunray 12 agains 1050, pro and sef -make air test. I know pro a bit deeper like sef against older 1050 but have some issue with rusty iron. if you want 12 sunray take it on the air test against other two and look what is the different. air test is very simple test how coil is powerful, but power is not everything, other factors like hot rocks and iron showing like good target is. good luck Stasys

 

[dogcaught]

Thank you for the response stasys. I don't have all 3 coils or know anyone nearby with all/any coils to test head-to-head. That was the purpose of posting the question. I like air testing to see how targets respond but not as a true indication of depth, especially with minelabs. I think FBS technology does much better with in ground testing than air testing. JJ

 

[dogcaught]

I purchased the sunray x-12 today and am excited for the next hunting season to get here. The X-12's intended use is for a few of my larger, more open hunting areas where targets are few and far between. I plan on getting a smaller coil early next year for use in high trash density areas. I will begin the research now to find the best all around smaller coil with good depth and separation. If I made that decision today, it would probably be the 6x8 SEF, but we will see when that time gets here. JJ

 

[gravediggermax-vabeachva]

dogcaught

back in 2004 i made my expII into a waterproof model.....called it frankensplorer.......sold it in 2005.

last april many of my friends were raving on how great the expII's were doing with the pro coil, i called the fellow up who had my old one and i traded him my f75 and got it back, added pro coil.............o m g what a beach heater it has been.

few months ago, i sold it to my buddy and waterproofed my se pro..........added sef 10 x 12 for beach hunting, it is a nice coil as well especially in the water and the water is where the 11" pro coil really improved the expII also.

had two S-12's when i owned GT's..........god they were great for beach work.

found one of my best ever diamond rings with expII with X12 also.

good luck

 

[Iron Patch]

I've already sold two (1 brand new) pro coils and keep using my white 1050. No better coil for an explorer than it. There's two things to remember.... Many people assume and want to believe everything that is new, is better, and that's not always the case.... And a coil that's less sensitive is more quiet to swing but doesn't mean it's better. (usually worse)

I'd pay $500 for a new 1050 before I'd use a free pro coil.

 

[dogcaught]

I've already sold two (1 brand new) pro coils and keep using my white 1050. No better coil for an explorer than it.

IP, I highly respect your opinion on explorers as you have been using one as long as anyone. You have a machine and coil that do exactly what you want them to do for you and you couldn't ask for anything more. There is no doubt that you know your machine and coil well. I'm not calling you out but my question to you sir is: How much time do you have on other aftermarket coils (not including the pro coil) to make the claim that there couldn't be a better coil? I also love my explorer and 1050 coil, but to make a claim that there is "no better coil for an explorer than it " (1050) is ballsy without a reasonable amount of time spent using virtually all coils compatible with the machine. Please fill me in on the coils that have failed to meet your standards over the years. JJ

 

[Iron Patch]

I've already sold two (1 brand new) pro coils and keep using my white 1050. No better coil for an explorer than it.

IP, I highly respect your opinion on explorers as you have been using one as long as anyone. You have a machine and coil that do exactly what you want them to do for you and you couldn't ask for anything more. There is no doubt that you know your machine and coil well. I'm not calling you out but my question to you sir is: How much time do you have on other aftermarket coils (not including the pro coil) to make the claim that there couldn't be a better coil? I also love my explorer and 1050 coil, but to make a claim that there is "no better coil for an explorer than it " (1050) is a ballsy claim without a reasonable amount of time spent using virtually all coils compatible with the machine. Please fill me on the coils that have failed to meet your standards over the years. JJ

I've tried a few but there wasn't really much point to put any time on them because I didn't think they were as good, and I have no problem saying I think the 1050 is the best all around coil for an explorer. After 10 years of only using the 1050 on an Explorer XS/II/SE I know how it reacts so understand pretty quick if a coil seems normal to me for where I hunt. It's just like if my detector is set slightly different... something doesn't seem right. I'm not saying other coils aren't good coils but I obviously wouldn't have sold 2 pro coils unless I believed the 1050 was better. I've also had at least five 8" Minelab coils along the way and had no use for them either. Had a couple excelerators, Sunray 12", 5", SEF.... just not for me.

 

[dogcaught]

IP, I agree the 1050 is an awesome all-around coil.

 

[dogcaught]

The plan was to wait until spring to look for a smaller coil. I just got the sunray x-12 for xmas and I am stuck inside for a few months waiting out winter. The thing I really hate about winter is when boredom sets in and your mind takes over thinking about what you can do to improve your hunts next year. I was going to wait until next spring to pick up a smaller coil but I just found a decent deal and traded for a 6x8 sef. I don't really expect it to perform night and day better than the 1050 stock coil, but more to see if it can handle a few sites better than the stock coil.

For example; I have one site that produces well. The only problem is I can only hunt half the site with the stock coil because of crippling amounts of EMI on the other half. No amount of settings changes will allow the stock coil to function here. There is also a considerable amount of trash to deal with. I am beginning to think half of this site is "Explorer proof". It might be, but I want to see if the 6x8 sef can live up to its billing and assist me in this area.

Another example; I have a site in some very dense brush where the stock coil is just a little too big to maneuver. The past finds in this area are too deep for a 5" coil, I believe. My plan is to see if the 6x8 can get in the tighter spots and still reach the same depths as the stock coil; thus producing finds I couldn't have made with the 1050. If the 6x8 doesn't live up to its billing then I probably won't keep it very long. Here's hoping for an early spring! JJ

 

[Iron Patch]

The thing I really hate about winter is when boredom sets in and your mind takes over thinking about what you can do to improve your hunts next year.

RESEARCH! No equipment even comes close.

 

[dogcaught]

The thing I really hate about winter is when boredom sets in and your mind takes over thinking about what you can do to improve your hunts next year.

RESEARCH! No equipment even comes close.

Well under way, Thank you.

 

[stasys]

dogcaught i think I have bad news for you about miracle sef8x6 coil - its not better then 1050 in trash. did long test with it with nails and coin -with 1050 and pro and posibly with x-12 you can get better results, I am long user 1050 but not pro, so not clear what spring will tell about pro. Sef 8x6 bought like new tested and I can say its very similar with minelab 8 -just face is different and price bigger so my sef is all ready in box for shipping. today had in snow for four hours Pro and i see its to have some design problems. first is light when its clean ,but in the mudpro will suck all the holes under coil cover and in spokes with dirt and it will become heavy too, second pro coil not double case and I start to feel its sensitive to bumps-solution to make pro coil in the coil case my self. sorry for my not positivness -but I wish you best Stasys