It's really just a mid-size search coil you really need to find.

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OregonGregg
Honestly, I don't know if there will be that many benefits to changing.

Yes, there will. You were initially thinking about an additional detector for your outfit to be used for 'scouting' purposes and hitting the 'fringe areas' where it is less trashy. Fringe areas are, therefore, a bit more open, as are the any plowed fields, or if you are on a 'scouting mission' and, in all these situations, you might be better served with a slightly bigger coil for coverage. That could be a 5X8 DD on a Vanquish 540 or a 5X9½ DD on a Simplex +, or either the stock 6X11 DD 'Viper' on an Apex or their new 5X8 DD 'Ripper'. Any of those would be an advantage to the roundish-shaped 7" DD.

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OregonGregg
My M6 w 7" or 4x6 will do as much or more in your test situations.

One of those might do a little better, but I don't think so, and I know the two combined are not going to be great picks. The Test Scenarios I used, the M6 w/4X6 scored '32', with a 4X6½ '35', and the 6X8 SEF only made it to '29'.. The new 7" Detech DD didn't do as well, and I know didn't match the Apex, V-540 or Simplex +.

Besides, both those M6 coils are smaller than the better 'fringe-size' and 'scouting-size' coils, and you don't need a smaller-size coil because it wouldn't match the Relic or CoRe in performance in the really nasty environments.

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OregonGregg
The only benefit I might lose over the Vanquish is depth. The Apex is undetermined until we can get some mid & small coils to try.

Yes, the Vanquish might get you a little improved depth, but remember, 'depth' is not a real need where we typically hunt. You're looking for a bit of improved 'coverage' for more open ares and that might hint to a coil bigger than 7".



Then there are the other considerations when it comes to detector choice, such as:

Tone ID Modes or design:
Apex - 5-Tone
V-540 - 5-Tone
Simplex + 2-Tone and 3-Tone
M6 - Single-Tone or drive-you-nuts 7-Tone


Ground Balance / Ground Phase read-out:
Apex - Yes, numeric GB references
V-540 - No GB option
Simplex + - Yes, numeric GB reference
M6 - None


Iron Audio Volume Control:
Apex - Yes
V-540 - Yes
Simplex _ - Yes
M6 - No


Excellent Ergonomics and Light-Weight / Well Balanced:
Apex - Yes
V-540 - Yes
Simplex + - Yes
M6 - (Use your imagination)

I better quit. Don't want him to be stuck inside all winter all mopey and depressed.

Monte

"Your EYES ... the only 100% accurate form of Discrimination!"
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Metal Detector Evaluations and Product Reviews monte@ahrps.org ... or ... monte@stinkwaterwells.com 503-481-8147Daily-Use Team: F5 w/7" Con. .. Apex w/5X8 DD .. Apex w/NEL 5" DD .. Vanquish 540 w/5X8 DD
Simplex + w/5X9½ DD .. Silver Sabre µMAX w/6" Con.Special-Use Team: CoRe w/'OOR' DD .. Relic w/5" DD .. XLT w/6½" Con. .. Bandido II µMAX w/6" Con.Pinpointers: Pulse-Dive & ProPointer AT .. Headphones: 'Hornet' & 'Wasp' .. MS-3 Z-Lynk .. ML-80 .. N/M Green editionNote: Detectors are listed alphabetically by Brand. Models are chosen based on search site conditions.*** All working well today to make memories for tomorrow. ***