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Here is my very well taken care of Bigfoot for DFX - MXT serial #914. It is 17-3/4" x 3-1/4" x 1" and weighs exactly 12 oz (no scuff cover) This is a later model; the earlier ones were thicker and more rounded in profile (see sales brochure below). Following that is a scanned/ocr copy of the hard to find instructions that came with these coils. JIMMY SIERRA BIGFOOT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS DFX/MXT This NEW Bigfoot coil is a completely new concept, designed especially for the DFX. It is not shaped differently JUST to LOOK high tech. IT IS HIGH TECH! This particular shape is necessary to house a coil design known as differential geometry. This design has two goals. First to cancel the effect of much of the ground mineralization before it gets to the detector and secondly to cover a large area of ground in one sweep from tip to tip for the full 18 inches of the coil length, much like a windshield wiper. An added bonus is that it helps to reduce 60 cycle interference, such as transformers and power lines. The BIGFOOT is 18 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide. The DFX Bigfoot will work on the New MXT, but in a unique fashion. The Bigfoot on the MXT will produce a single beep on the front half of the coil and either a double or a wide beep on the rear half of the coil when passing over a target. In addition, it may read about 2 numbers higher on certain targets, which can skew the Icons (eg quarter to read half-dollar). The front half of the loop should be used when trying to identify targets on the MXT, as it is more dependable. Even though the MXT tracks the ground automatically while searching, do not forget to ground balance initially by pump-the the coil up and down a couple of times with the tip of the coil on the ground at a 45 degree angle as noted in the last paragraph below, with Track toggle set to GND. After that you can either leave tracking ON or set toggle to LOCK. I prefer to lock tracking off except in heavy mineralization. While the detector is operating in the GEB DISC (motion mode) the BIGFOOT detecting targets across the entire 18 inches of coil. When the detector is operating in the GEB all metal (non-motion) mode, the BIGFOOT is detecting targets ONLY on the front half (9 inches) of the searchcoil. Unlike the Spectrum & XLT, the DFX does NOT require the use of "Absolute Value" as the DFX only detects on the front half in the all metal mode, such as when in the Prospecting Mode. Pinpointing with the BIGFOOT is very simple and accurate. Squeezing the pinpoint trigger on the detector will make the BIGFOOT go blank (negative) on the back half (9 inches) of the coil. The front half of the BIGFOOT remains sensitive (positive). In other words, the target will only be heard under the front half of the coil. The trick, then, is to center the target by moving the coil from side to side till is seems to be midway from either edge and then squeeze the pinpoint trigger and push the coil forward like on a shuffleboard. The target will disappear as it leaves the midsection of the coil (marked by the two arrows) Thus by pushing the coil forward and backward you can easily hear the sound of the target appear (when it is under the front part of the coil) and disappear (when it is under the rear half of the coil) That point where it appears and disappears is exactly at the center of the coil between the arrows. The rear half of the coil is actually rejecting the target and so you hear a very distinct sound when the coil is pushed forward and the front half leaves the target. You might note that the coil is first moved side to side to center the target between the side edges of the coil, much like with a round coil and after it is centered, squeeze the trigger and posh the coil forward. Of course, if no target is heard when the pinpoint trigger is squeezed, the target is probably under the back half of the coil and being rejected. You should then just pull the coil backward a bit to get the target under the front half where it will be detected and then push and pull as described. Some users prefer to pinpoint right off of the front of the coil. This is OK, but I prefer to use the above method as it is more precise and very fast and easy once you get used to it IMPORTANT: You may AIR BALANCE the BIGFOOT the same as any coil, with the Bigfoot held in the air....HOWEVER, you MUST GROUND BALANCE the detector with the BIGFOOT pointed at the ground at about a 45 degree angle , with the FRONT tip of the coil touching or just above the ground and the REAR of the coil held OFF the ground at 45 degrees, You will then lower the coil parallel to the ground for searching as with a standard coil. It is, of course, best to keep the front and rear halves of the coil as close to parallel to the ground as possible. Use shorter strokes in trashy areas and broader strokes for covering larger, cleaner areas. If at any time, the Bigfoot appears to loosen up on the rod and wants to tip or paddle, it is time to either clean or replace the rubber washers where the rod joins the coil. The nut should only be tightened "finger tight".

Rumor mill sounding off on possible new coil for older model GPX, is it true?

I was trying to figure it out, hell I have no clue.. when I use it on the V3i I can run the RX to 15 and sensitivity to 90 with no problem, really quite .. But the nickels ID in the 50s, at least in 3 frequency…I put it on my M6 tho and it rocks, ID for a nickel is 18-20 and all other coins ID correctly too…thing just kills mid conductors at depth on the M6,,But is it a DD or concentric,the Bigfoot coil? I’m in western Pennsylvania, not mild but not real mineralized either, just old coal ashes occasionally..Seems to get the depth of a DD here,,concentric coils usually don’t do as well it seems in my area for depth.

As most know - the standard package deal in Australia was the 11x7" Mono and 13x11" DD-FC. The areas I detect are quite heavily mineralised soils, and at times the Mono has struggled with hot soils. I've done a few back to back checks vs a friend's 6000 and I found on the Mono that I wasn't able to detect some of the flatter alluvial pieces that the 6000 would get. Most of the gold here is definitely the smaller end of 0.5g. A few years into the Axiom existing - I'm now wondering if a 11x7" DD-FC with the ultra hot centre might be a good addition to the arsenal? it comes with a change in technique required and a lot of overlap, but I guess that's par for the course with small gold. Does anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone in Australia picked up the 11x7" DD-FC and found it better? I'm probably inspired by a post a long time back by @Steve Herschbach saying all the gold he found in Australia was actually with the DD-FC, and not the Mono.

These are now released and available on Ebay. 'Prospectre Coils' have 2 sizes right now, a 12x8 and an 8x6 in both an epoxy sealed 'All terrain' version and a lightweight standard version. Even the epoxy one is lighter than similar coils. Ive been trialing and evaluating these for some months now. These are standard bundle wound but are super quiet. Ive commonly run these at a gain of over 20-22 with barely a murmur. I got maybe 20 bits of gold with them (mostly the 8x6). They are 3D printed in PETG and so far, barely a scratch to them with over 100 hours of use combined. They say 'coming soon' is a 16x10 light weight and a 10x7 block wound version (which Im excited about). Very reasonable pricing too, the 12x8 is only AU$395!

COILS: Small v's BIG Coils. This was the day I was using a BIG COIL. My friend was behind me with an 11" DD He asked if I checked the tree that I just passed by. I stated my COIL was TOO BIG to fit inside the HOLLOW of the tree so my mate detected it. This 12 oz nugget was hidden inside the STUMP of the TREE. The Moral of the story is BIG isn't always better especially when you miss nuggets like these.

Over the years I've had several old sd detectors and collected a batch of coils. These 2 + the 18" garbage can lid. The ones in the photo are 8" and 10 1/2". They are not marked mono or dd. How can you tell what they are?

If you talk with a gold prospector, saying about a gold chain as the hardest item to uncover, it is a joke. In my still modest 20+ years experience, I found no more than 12 or so. Every time cause of a pendant still there in the same hole, or at least an eye visible piece. Long story short, I found at some depth (2" more or less) one little pendant with a weight of only 0.32 gram. I know, the shape can do miracles in terms of response to the coil, but hey...With the M9 this opened my eyes and that's the reason for the title. There will be no more progress on a Vlf to avoid salt and listen to chains. I'm sure now. Still today, smaller items barely covered in sand can be reached but forget about decent depth perception of it, not underwater. The low conductors program performs to a limit where I can barely realize if I'm running way hot at 22 or something reacts for real to the coil. Wrong program underwater, wrong approach to the usual work, I know. Using different settings and programs will only get You a blind machine like many others on micro targets. Steve explained long ago the "salt against chains ratio" and now, again I crashed my nose on it. For peace of mind, I'm considering to stay for some time with a pulse machine and forget micro targets for a while... I think that I've been lucky enough to push the Manticore to the limit underwater in salt. Skull

I watched a test on a test-bed where a 2oz lump of lead was detected at its max depth with BOTH the stock 14 DOD and the 19 DOD. Same depth, same settings, same signal strength, the 19 provided absolutely zero benefit. The owners played with it for hours on 2 detectors....then gave it back to the Gold Center in Maryborough. None of the 5 Zed owners present, bought one. Not saying that the coil wouldn't have some benefits on bigger targets or worse/better ground conditions, but that day's 'presentation' didn't sell any....

Let's say I'm getting a gpx 5000 / 4500 and going to use it in the Victorian gold feilds (Australia) What coils would you recommend to have to cover most situations. Thanks in advance Roy

Huge Tesoro Vintage coil my friend gave me attached to another Conquistador. Nice. George.

Is the Coiltek 14" DD waterproof? I know my 6" Coiltek is waterproof as I've used it in 2 feet of water. The other coils in the photo are 8" and 11" Super Goldsearch coils, are they waterproof? They are old so that worries me somewhat. What happens if a coil was to let water in? Would it kill the machine? I have had a coil in the past signal coil overload before when the grass was wet, but fully submerged is something else I presume.

I recently bought a GP3000 which came with a few coils. When winding them around the detector shaft the outer cable started peeling off. I've got some dual-walled heat shrink that I was going to apply, but I'm not sure about the white paper that has also peeled off in some areas. Any suggestions about what that white tape is? Or what I could use in place of it? The coil has barely been used but I assume storage wasn't the best as my 2200d and its coils are older and the cables are still in good nick. There is a possibility that the internals of the coil have dried out and the windings move, causing noise but I'll attempt to fix the cable first and see if it works first.

I was wondering what you serious “Water” hunters use to weigh down your coils. Someone once suggested taking a “tube” sock, filling it with sand, tying it in a circle (like an ankle weight) and sliding in over your lower rod having it lay on the coil. I’ve also seen bandanas (to keep you cool) with Silica Gel sewed in to them. They absorb the water and expand making them heavier than they are dry. I wonder if you had enough in there, would that work also? Thanks!

Something I have wondered for some years now and have never asked, especially as there has been close to a 4 years hiatus for me in getting out and detecting- Is there a correct way to store a metal detector coil? Laying Flat maybe? Hung up on the wall on a hook or nail? leaning against a wall, left on a detector etc.,?..... On various forums and in different photos over the years I have seen them stored in all of the above ways, which also makes me think that perhaps it doesn't really matter either way? Also, with the exception of my Detech 32" CC I have simply left the small DD & Mono coils that came with the 5000 sitting flat in a cupboard. The Detech has its own foam-lined hard Pelican case, but do I risk warping/ affecting a large coils operation if I leave say my NF 25"DDX coil leaning up against a wall? There is no other option for leaving larger coils laying flat where we are currently living without risking them getting damaged. Thanks in advance, -Gary

I'm recently short of time to search, but almost sure there's still no trace of a 10x5 for the Manticore. Even if really satisfied by the 8x5, trust me, the exact same 10x5 for the Nox will be my last Coil when this happens! @Coiltek Do the miracle please...

I recently purchased the excellent LG 24 coil for the Legend for under $130. Why are similar sized coils by Coiltek (Equinox)and Minelab (Manticore) coils twice that price? Are they twice as good? lol

Anyone know for certain what the MX stamp on the coil ears means for the 6" DD Shooter. I know the V stamp stands for V rated and will work on a variety of higher end detectors, but what models can accept the MX stamp? I was always under the impression the 6" DD Shooter was originally designed for MXT but then White's started making different versions of MXT (will this coil work on all of the different MXT series) and to make things even more complicated, they then made a detector series called the MX. Could this coil stamped MX, only be used for those MX models? I don't think so, since the decal is exactly the same as the one for the MXT. Thanks folks your help.

The other day I ventured into a not so hunted area of my permission. It is a steep hill on the backside of a cut stone foundation... No doubt an embankment where the inhabitants tossed their discards long ago. The incline is tough as is the ground. The ground there is like cement as large Locust trees help shield rain. The finds were not deep, possibly the deepest being 6", but the entire hill side is blanketed with small square lathe and framing nails. I generally don't use discrimination on my Apex and I hunt with wide open sensitivity. I listen for pitch level and watch display readings. My iron volume is set lower to "2" allowing me to hear the nail concentrations, but keep my sanity. I have always liked Garrett's elliptical searchcoils starting back with the AT-PRO for their shape, quality of construction, and the ability to hunt closer to objects like rocks and trees. Today I was hunting with the elliptical stock coil "Viper", 6 x 11". When I first purchased the Apex, I did some air tests to see the extent of the coil's unfettered electromagnetic reach and I was surprised to get a small clear signal on my custom 14K gold wedding ring at a measured 14". Hunting the embankment was difficult. You lay the detector down, it wants to slide down the hill along with yourself and your digging tools, but the chances of finding targets here was fairly good. In one hour I found the targets in the first photo below. The targets were tough to discern mixed with the nails given the Apex has only one processing speed... But that speed affords good depth amongst target concentration. Two days later I would saddle up Garrett's smaller elliptical "Ripper" coil (5 x 8") and head back to the embankment. It was a calculated purchase awhile ago, but I had yet to really give it a workout. As a side note, before I left I did the same same air test with my wedding band and was again surprised to find it had nearly the same reach as the Viper coil. But how would it do given the smaller footprint? As a test, I carefully hunted the exact same areas to see if I could define more targets amongst the chatter. As you can see in the photo below, I found twice what I found before! Signals were easier to confine and all were found at the same depths as the stock coil. The spoon was actually buried vertically with the bowl deepest in the ground. As I brushed the leaves away I could just see the handle's back edge at the surface. Even though the Viper coil weighs about 1.0 lb., it is still nice to swing in high grass, but the little Ripper (0.8 lbs.) is an absolute crowd pleaser! Less resistance to grass and weeds and the depth is not too far from the Viper. What I came away with from those two days is the Ripper forced me to hunt with a slower swing speed given less ground coverage. Slower works well to give the Apex more processing time between crowded targets... Also, not as much depth loss as detectors with higher processing speeds. I would not want to hunt farm land with smaller coils because the matrix is not as crowded and you might miss those targets on the fringe of detection depth. Cellar hole grounds is where the little "Ripper" rips it up!

Woody's done a decent video on the chip in the 6000's coils. It's there for absolutely no reason other than being an authenticator to prevent unsanctioned aftermarket coils. You can read about the security chip here at the manufacturer's website. Video is of the newer model. This video shows how they program the chips, all very interesting stuff. There were rumours flying around Nugget Finder did this wrong when the Xceed coil was delayed, no idea if that was true, probably not. It's really not all that hard to do a dongle using the chip, the only thing different to the GPZ is you have to cut open the coil to make it a donor coil rather than just chopping the cord like the GPZ, the coil can work on the dongle without a chip in it so can still be used but I think many aftermarket coils are more likely to appear once GPX's are out of warranty and the stock coils are prone to failure so once people have a heap of dead genuine coils what other use do they have other than dongle coils 🙂 It's a shame Minelab are so against aftermarket non-sanctioned coils, they're holding back their detectors doing this, I suppose it makes life easier to bring out future models by doing so with self-imposed performance restrictions though. The funny thing is another common use of that chip is printer cartridge authentication to prevent people using aftermarket printer cartridges. We all know the agony of buying printer ink. There is big money in printer ink, Minelab gold detectors feel like they're worth their weight in gold, printer ink actually is worth more than its own weight in gold :)

Which atv mounted / drag coil is better? A wide area, looking for gold nuggets,

Does anyone have any experience with these Fisher/Tek coils? FirstTexas has them listed on eBay for most of their machines. I remember seeing them in the past for F75 but never heard much reporting on their performance.

I currently have an SD 2100v2. There may be an upgrade to a new machine in the future, but thats not the question. I would like to know what series coils will work with the 2100v2. Will coils labled GP Extreme work? I know one of the coils I currently have is marked GP series. As I said, I may upgrade someday so also asking so I know what machines my current coils might fit I is lost!!!

I've got a lot of clad coins I was going to cash in. Coinstar has no fee if you put the coins into a gift card. Anyone know of a seller that sells coils on Amazon? I've looked but only see full machines.

A MD dealer/distributor from Canada has some rare Tesoro coils listed on ebay. There is an elliptical for the waterproof PIs (sandshark/piranha) and the 7” for the waterproof vlfs (tigershark/stingray). They have a couple others for the land machines as well. I finally managed to get a 4” concentric and a 7” widescan! https://www.ebay.com/usr/cts300551