Please help with my M6.

[shack24]

I got my M6 about 3 weeks ago, but I don't seem to be getting the best depth with it and the stock coil. The deepest coin I have found has been about 4 inches.
Yesterday I got a really broken high low signal and decided to dig anyway. It was a Mercury dime only about 3.5 inches down.
I have read numerous posts about other M6 users who have had success with other coils.
Any suggestions, info on coils, or ground balancing techniques would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jared

[wingmaster]

Did you buy this detector new? if so it should have the 950 coil right? and yes it should have been a solid signal if it was only 3.5". What are you running the sensitivity at? I know they say to run at preset level but if you what to get the best depth run it as high as you can and still be stable as this will give you alot more depth. I have the MXT and always try and run it at least +2 gain, also make sure when ground balancing to make sure its clean ground your over by pulling the pinpoint trigger over the ground and it should be silent and showing 12 on the depth, then pump the coil up and down a few times a few inches above then back to the ground also make sure your tracking is not locked as you should be in tracking mode. You can lock the tracking if you want but you should ground balance in tracking mode first, I usually run with the tracking setting and only a few times have I locked the tracking as this can be helpful in very iron infested ground but I rebalance about every 20 minutes to help keep up with the changing ground minerals. If there was iron or other metal near the dime it may have masked the target some this would cause you to not get a good signal on the target, the 950 is a good coil but if there is alot of other trash around its best to use a DD coil as this separates targets alot better. The coil I use for the deep targets on my MXT is the D2(White's 10"DD coil) I can get dimes at 10"+ with that coil running +2 gain and almost always keep that coil on my detector as I'm afraid to miss the deep good stuff, even though I have 4 different coils.

[Phillip_in_NM]

For the short time I used the stock coil on the M6, it was not at all unusual to dig dimes at 8" with a good solid signal. I use my 4x6 coil almost exclusively now. I know I don't get the depth that I did with the stock coil, but feel I cover the ground better. Actually, I can get comparable depth, but I have to run the sensitivity way up high then listen for the good tones among the chatter.

If you're ground balancing properly and only getting 3.5" on a dime, then I'd send the detector in for a check-up.

[Sandman]

Remember a coin tilted or on edge will give a weaker signal too and this gives a different depth reading. Might be too that there are no coins deeper at that location.

[khouse]

The deepest setting on the M6 is the disc all the way counter cw and the gain all the way clockwise. Put it in trac for a minute then slap it to the lock position. Only back down the gain if you can't stand the noise. Like Sandman said - there may not be coins over 4 inches deep? I run the 5.3 coil and regularly dig 6+ inches easily. Remember to skim your coil very flat over the soil. Do not overlap your sweeps more than 50% . You can't find an 8 inch coin if your coil's off the ground 4 inches.... Just saying....

[shack24]

Wingmaster, Philip, Sandman, and Khouse.

Thanks a lot for your help. I appreciate all of the advice and pointers. I believe my problem was I was not finding a completely clean area to balance on and I was not following the right order. I reread the manual, followed the steps and wow what a difference! It is running much smoother.
I also ordered an 8X6 SEF coil thinking I would like the DD since that is what I had used on my Ace 350 for so long but believe it or not I pulled the SEF coil off today and put my stock back on.
Khouse: I am going to try what you said and see how I like it. Thanks.
The more I use the M6 the more I like it. I have had it for a couple months now and with somewhat limited use I have found a silver ring, 3 mercs, my first barber dime, 1952 quarter, about 30 wheaties, a couple of indian heads and what looks to be a very old chinese coin.
What I love about it is when it is a coin, I know it is a coin, especially with that concentric coil.
I might try to get a whites DD coil one of these days to try out.
Thanks again guys,
Jared

[worldtalker]

Shack24, I use the DD 6x10 exclusively,It spoiled me,and do I love my M-6,wait and see what it can do!!!!! Best of hunting to you! God Bless Chris