I have favored smaller-than-stock, or at least smaller-size, search coils since this time in '68, but the coil's appearance, alone or with a particular detector, sometimes has a lot of appeal to me, or a lack there-of. For example, on my two Tesoro models, I keep a thin-profile 6" Concentric mounted full-time. I like their looks, balance and feel, and most importantly I like their performance.

I have my two favorite Whit's units at-the-ready with their round 6½" Concentric coils which look good, balance well and work well. When I had my Teknetics Omega 8000's the elliptical Concentric worked, and I used to like the round 8" Concentric, but if I get another Omega 8000 I have a round 7" Concentric coil that I favor over the others. I tried a couple of different coils on a Fisher F44, but for general purpose use I also favored the round 7" Concentric coil.

On the Minelab Equinox 800 I had I did like the smaller round 6" DD better for many trashier applications, however, I much prefer the 5X8 DD of the Minelab Vanquish 540 over the round 6" on the Equinox. The package balances well, but it also 'looks' good and works just fine. I like some detectors I have had using a ±5" search coil, and others just didn't 'feel' right nor perform well enough for me with the detectors they were attached to.

With some recent Garrett models, I liked using the 5X8 more than their other coil sizes, plus the smaller 4½" in trashier environments. I didn't like any of the AT's or Ace series with the larger-size available coils. On the new Apex model, that I wish it would not be an 'Ace' but develop it's own 'series' based on the Apex, I would also like to see a couple of smaller-size coils, such as something in a round-shape of about 4½" to 5½" diameter, and perhaps something 'mid-size' like the 5X8. For hunting trashier or brushier or other confined spaces, the Apex is going to need a smaller-size search coil to make it more versatile and appealing. The 6X11 'Viper' might do as a mid-big coil for more wide-open areas.

Monte

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Metal Detector Evaluations and Product Reviews monte@ahrps.org ... or ... monte@stinkwaterwells.com 503-481-8147Detectors: Fisher F5; Garrett Apex; Minelab Vanquish 540; Nokta / Makro FORS CoRe, FORS Relic & Simplex +;
Teknetics T2+; Tesoro Bandido II µMAX & Silver Sabre µMAX; White's XLTPinpointers: Pulse-Dive -- ProPointer AT .. Headphones: 'Hornet' & 'Wasp' -- MS-3 Z-Lynk -- ML-80 -- N/M Green Edition Note: Detectors are listed alphabetically by Brand. Models are chosen based on search site conditions.*** All working well today to make memories for tomorrow. ***