GPX6000 Coils, Opinions Sought

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Thanks Mountaineer. Your help has been invaluable. I am feeling more positive about the weight issue and are looking at coil options to keep weight down a little without compromising the overall efficiency of the 7000, if that is possible. Detecting less hours per day and getting better results is my aim.
What coil or coils are you using with your 7000?
PS - Has anyone used the Nugget Finder Z Search 12" coil? Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
 
I used the Z Search coil on my 7, never used any other coil, it found tiny pieces as well as multi gram pieces at depth, and it ran quiet, settings and getting to know your machine are the key to getting good results.
 
I used the Z Search coil on my 7, never used any other coil, it found tiny pieces as well as multi gram pieces at depth, and it ran quiet, settings and getting to know your machine are the key to getting good results.
Thanks for your feedback. That is good to hear. It gives me an alternative if the standard coil is not working out for me. Agree fully with your final words of wisdom.
 
I really want to see a 15" round with same ultralightweight construction as the ML 11" become available but alas nothing in sight.
If we are to believe the math to find the equivalent size of a round coil to an elliptical coil, then the 17"x 13" coil would be equivalent in depth to a 15" round.
 
If we are to believe the math to find the equivalent size of a round coil to an elliptical coil, then the 17"x 13" coil would be equivalent in depth to a 15" round.
Very true 17 +13 =30/2 =15.

I havent used the ML 17x 13 but I have seen 2 different weights quoted - 800g and 1106g. If it was 800g then i would be very interested as that is lower than the Coiltek Goldhawk 14x9 (900g).

At 600g the ML 11 coil is very light for its size. It is actually the same weight as a 8x6 Sadie !

The ML 11 is a very lightweight construction. It doesnt even have a base plate - the skid plate is the base.

Can someone with a ML 17x13 GPX6000 coil weigh it for me?
 
Very true 17 +13 =30/2 =15.

Can someone with a ML 17x13 GPX6000 coil weigh it for me?
Yes, I agree with that math and also if you were to squash 17"x13" elliptical coil into a round it should create a 15" diameter round coil.

Okay since I also have and use the 17x13 coil along with my spare lower shaft still connected I then placed the coil with the shaft on my scales which displayed a total weight of 1023g.

Also, in my opinion, I have been surprised how well the 17"x13" depth tested on my Gpx 6000 when compared to my tests results on the same large test pieces with the Gpx 5000 in its Fine Gold setting and an 18" mono coil.. Unfortunately, those large test pieces are not of the yellow variety.
 
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The attached link on Dectector Prospector shows current GPX-6000 coil sizes, weights, and areas.
GPX 6000 Coil Chart
Thanks.

1100g is more than I am willing to swing these days and having tasted the freedom of wires, bungees, harness etc that the 6k provides I cant go back, I wont go back, I just cant :(

I note in the D-P table 10x16 spoked NF (=13") is 800g but I dont think that coil is actually available and i dont think I would pay for effectively just 2" extra.

A 15" spoked NF Evo is 995g so maybe my hopes of a 850g 15" are too optimistic.
 
Yes, I agree with that math and also if you were to squash 17"x13" elliptical coil into a round it should create a 15" diameter round coil.

Okay since I also have and use the 17x13 coil along with my spare lower shaft still connected I then placed the coil with the shaft on my scales which displayed a total weight of 1023g.

Also, in my opinion, I have been surprised how well the 17"x13" depth tested on my Gpx 6000 when compared to my tests results on the same large test pieces with the Gpx 5000 in its Fine Gold setting. Unfortunately, those large test pieces are not of the yellow variety.

Hey Wow shaft plus coil 1023g? that would make it slightly over 900g coil.

Hmm it is back in the race...I will have to borrow one next time I am out in company.
 
Thanks Mountaineer. Your help has been invaluable. I am feeling more positive about the weight issue and are looking at coil options to keep weight down a little without compromising the overall efficiency of the 7000, if that is possible. Detecting less hours per day and getting better results is my aim.
What coil or coils are you using with your 7000?
PS - Has anyone used the Nugget Finder Z Search 12" coil? Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
Thank you NedK, I am so happy I could be of help!
As for coils, I use both the 14" standard Minelab coil and... yes, the Nugget Finder Z Search 12" coil!
I'd have to quote Dave's Office here, because I agree completely! Probably the 14" Minelab has some advantage in depth (from my testing, I'd say 30-40 mm on a 3 gram nugget), but it is definitely not as quiet as the NF 12", and not having to foot scrape all day long chasing false signals is a great bonus! Plus it is lighter and easier to pin-point small gold with. I think to have both would be ideal! Finally, yes, don't be too worried with weight, as you say it is better to detect less hours but with a better chance of success. Cheers!
 
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Great feedback regarding the coils. Chasing false signals is tiring especially in hard clay and is one thing I am certainly trying to avoid. It can take the fun out of detecting. Swinging the detector is the easy part in comparison.
Thanks again.
 
Thanks Mountaineer. Your help has been invaluable. I am feeling more positive about the weight issue and are looking at coil options to keep weight down a little without compromising the overall efficiency of the 7000, if that is possible. Detecting less hours per day and getting better results is my aim.
What coil or coils are you using with your 7000?
PS - Has anyone used the Nugget Finder Z Search 12" coil? Any feedback welcome.
Thanks
I have both the 12" and the 17x13" NF zed coils.
The 12" is a great coil. The standard 14" coil from minelab is also a great coil. I got the 12" nf as a weight saver, and you really can tell the difference. It has found me a lot of gold from 5oz plus bits to tiny bits the scales can't weigh. It's a great all rounder.
It runs quietly, which allows for hot settings.
 

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Thanks for feedback. I am looking to go GPZ7000 with NF 12" to start. Sounds like the right choice.
Do you run 2 batteries?
I do have 2 batteries for my zed, but have never flattend one in a day. I do get fatigue from swing the zed for more than 4 or 5 hours at a time, and I bought a 6000 to help with that. I still have more confidence in my zed, I find it runs quite most of the time, and handles ground noise much better than the 6k.
 
I only ever used one battery on my Z, and as it was getting on in age, I rang Coden and asked one of the Tech gurus if I should have a second battery and his reply was "If you're battery is holding its charge for a full days detecting and recharging in a timely manner,you don't need a second battery for performance, but if you're detecting in remote areas it's wise to have a second battery in case you either forget to charge the battery or for some other reason the battery hasn't charged.
 
Good info thanks Davent. Just came home with a new zed and NF 12".
6000 gone and I will miss it. Can only use 1 detector a time though.
Thanks again to everyone for your posts. It was really helpful.
Wow, well done NedK, so you also now went from the 6k to the 7k! I am not the only "crazy" one anymore! Ha! Ha! Plus you got a 12" NF coil! Great choice, I am sure it won't let you down, it still punches deep and weighs much less than the 14" factory coil.
Please keep us posted with your first impressions of your new tools, but I'm confident you won't regret your choice. Cheers
 
I think what swung me toward the 7000 was trying to detect highly mineralised ground with the 6000 knowing gold was under my feet and not being able to detect it and have to walk away. The NF 12" coil being available for the 7000 was the clincher.
The 6000 was a great way to understand what prospecting is all about and a good starting point. To take it one step further the 7000 I think is the way to go. The help I have received from this forum it has made the transition so much easier.
Thanks.
 
Just back from breaking in the new 7k. A couple of days getting to know it then 6 days of serious detecting. Able to average 6 hours a day with the NF 12 inch coil. I found it impressive that picking up signals in High Yield outside the extremities of the coil was not unusual. Most targets were small shot with one .37g nugget found at 20cm in loose soil on ground where I had found gold previously. I tend to run at a high sensitivity setting and adjust it as required. Only used a bungee hooked up to my Camelbak.
The standard ML 14×13" coil required the Hip Stick and was not as comfortable as using the NF 12" coil.
The areas detected had been done over with the GPX6000 lots of times. Overall happy with the Z.
Question of 7k owners - What am I giving up not using the standard ML 14×13" coil performance wise? Depth, how much? Other?
 
Just back from breaking in the new 7k. A couple of days getting to know it then 6 days of serious detecting. Able to average 6 hours a day with the NF 12 inch coil. I found it impressive that picking up signals in High Yield outside the extremities of the coil was not unusual. Most targets were small shot with one .37g nugget found at 20cm in loose soil on ground where I had found gold previously. I tend to run at a high sensitivity setting and adjust it as required. Only used a bungee hooked up to my Camelbak.
The standard ML 14×13" coil required the Hip Stick and was not as comfortable as using the NF 12" coil.
The areas detected had been done over with the GPX6000 lots of times. Overall happy with the Z.
Question of 7k owners - What am I giving up not using the standard ML 14×13" coil performance wise? Depth, how much? Other?
In my experience, by not using the standard 14" coil you're probably just losing some depth, quantifiable (depending on ground type, specific settings and nugget sizes) at best in something like 1 inch, or 25 mm - after all, the 14x13" coil is bigger and therefore it will inevitably punch a little deeper, but not to the point of making a huge difference when tested against the NF 12" coil. I recently tried them both on a test pad with 4 differently-sized targets buried at 300mm, 350mm, 450mm and 600mm and I must say that I did not notice such a big difference; only with the last one, a 1 oz target 600mm deep, the 14" performed better than the 12", meaning with the 14" I could hear a very faint signal that would have made me stop and investigate, while the 12" didn't really pick it up - anyway hard to say it exactly because the test pad is unfortunately positioned in a highly mineralised ground. In any case, for me the biggest problem with the 14" is its instability, especially if compared to how quietly the 12" runs. Just my two cents, I'd love to hear the opinion of more experienced detectorists!
 

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