Minelab Excallibur..8" or 10" ??

Irishgoldhound

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Trying to decide which to get and what I will end up liking the most. Don't want to buy a 1500$ machine and wish I went for the other coil. What do most guys like on here? I know bigger coil you cover more ground but just wanting to know what other guys like. Anyone have used both and which do you like better?
 

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cudamark

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The bigger the better on the beach. I had one of mine converted to the 15" WOT coil. It still finds tiny rivets and ear rings so I don't think I've lost any small targets making that decision. Good ground coverage is the key at the beach these days. Now if you want to be the hero and clean out around the fire rings, get a small coil. Personally, I'd rather use a sifter!
 

Fletch88

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So is then 10" easy to pin point in the water.

I bought the Excal with 10" and like it. Don't have any trouble pinpointing. The stock shaft is difficult to hunt with for anything less than waist deep water due to weight/balance. Check out www.rodsbyplugger.com. That's the 3 piece carbon fiber in pic. You can hip mount or rear mount pod and the rod clamps are much better than stock. It makes hunting much more enjoyable. Good luck!
 

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firemac

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Mines a 10" also, enjoy it a lot and the more you use the excal the easier it is to master, I do want to add the disc/pinpoint switch to the handle though. HH
 

Fletch88

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Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
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FYI there's an Excal ll with Sunray X-12 coil and gray ghost headphones in Marketplace. Setup with Plugger shaft. Looks to be in great condition.
 

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Irishgoldhound

Irishgoldhound

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Thanks for the info! 10" coil sounds like the better choice. Can you not just buy one of those chest or hip sacks they sell at Cabelas for hunting and use that as a harness?
 

Fletch88

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Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
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Well you could but the chest or hip mount you can get for $30-50. It mounts the battery and control on a short shaft and provides a means to secure cables so there's no strain on them. If you just put these in a bag they would probably get banged up pretty good.
 

Fletch88

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Garrett ATPro- 8.5x11, 5x8, CORS Fotune 5.5x9.5
Tesoro Silver microMax- 8 donut, 8x11 RSD, 3x18 Cleansweep
Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
12" coil on an excal. That thing prob tears up the beach.

I run a 13" Ultimate on my Sovereign GT and love it. When the surfs too rough to water detect its my goto machine for wet/dry sand.
 

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Irishgoldhound

Irishgoldhound

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Wow. Probably no goodies left after you've been on a beach with that.
 

Fletch88

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Garrett ATPro- 8.5x11, 5x8, CORS Fotune 5.5x9.5
Tesoro Silver microMax- 8 donut, 8x11 RSD, 3x18 Cleansweep
Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Oh yea it's been so sanded in lately all I'm finding is fresh drops anyway and they've been few and far between. I'm waiting in a good storm to move some sand around. The bigger coil is great for covering more ground when you have to look for fresh drops. I run it hip mounted and its a great balanced setup with 13" coil. It's feels lighter than stock 10" Tornado.
 

Fletch88

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Mar 7, 2013
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Detector(s) used
Garrett ATPro- 8.5x11, 5x8, CORS Fotune 5.5x9.5
Tesoro Silver microMax- 8 donut, 8x11 RSD, 3x18 Cleansweep
Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Oh yes, I certainly haven't done any damage!
 

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Irishgoldhound

Irishgoldhound

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Yeah a good storm always turns up some new stuff. Sounds like you got a great set up there. Just one more question. I was looking at the beach hunter ID and was liking the price compared to excal but is that machine gonna do as well as the excal? I heard its like a water proof DFX. Sounds like I should just spend the extra $$ and get the excal. ???
 

Fletch88

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Mar 7, 2013
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Valdosta, GA
Detector(s) used
Garrett ATPro- 8.5x11, 5x8, CORS Fotune 5.5x9.5
Tesoro Silver microMax- 8 donut, 8x11 RSD, 3x18 Cleansweep
Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I'm not familiar with that detector, so I can't comment. I do love Minelab as you may be able to tell.
 

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cudamark

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🏆 Honorable Mentions:
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Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2, Equinox 800/900, Fisher Impulse AQ, E-Trac, 3 Excal 1000's, White's TM808, VibraProbe, 15" NEL Attack, Mi6, Steath 920ix and 720i scoops, TRX, etc....
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
So is then 10" easy to pin point in the water.
The 8" would be easier but you get used to the bigger coils. Even with the 15" WOT, it's not bad pin pointing at the beach. Just get a good wide scoop!
 

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Irishgoldhound

Irishgoldhound

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Thanks! Think I'm gonna go with the 10". In murky water it may be a little harder to recover my target but like you say I'll get a wide scoop.
 

Fletch88

Silver Member
Mar 7, 2013
4,841
2,367
Valdosta, GA
Detector(s) used
Garrett ATPro- 8.5x11, 5x8, CORS Fotune 5.5x9.5
Tesoro Silver microMax- 8 donut, 8x11 RSD, 3x18 Cleansweep
Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
RTG 6" alum with SS tip is lightweight. And you can add a grab handle for $10. They make a stainless steel 7" and 8" if you want to lug the weight around. I'm too old for that!
 

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