Field Test of the Sun Ray Stealth X-8 Coil

By Bryce Brown

Bryce Brown ready to field test the X-8 on his Explorer SE

  After purchasing a used Sun Ray X-5 and field testing it a few months ago...then having the pleasure of field testing the X-12 coil as well...I decided to buy a used X-8 coil to see what it could do. To be truthful...I felt since I had a small coil and a larger than stock coil I was using...that I did not need a mid-sized coil in my arsenal...but I was curious. I was able to hit super trash areas with the X-5 coil and able to hit more open areas with the X-12 coil...so was there really a need for me to have a mid-sized coil? Well, I wanted to find out for myself.

  The first site I tried was a school, still in use, that was built in the 30's. The trash density here was moderate to the point that it didn't call for the X-5 but yet the X-12 was a little too big...so this would be a good place to start. I had been over the small playground area with the stock SE Slimline coil and again with the 1050 coil...so it would be interesting to see if the X-8 provided any additional digs. I decided to bring the SE stock Slimline coil along to compare it to the X8.

  After nearly 4 hours I was able to flag 5 targets with my SE/X-8 combo which I thought were coins in the 8" depth range. I then switched over to the SE stock Slimline coil and re-swept over each flagged target. 3 of  5 targets were not definite coin hits with the Slimline...but were more of a "jumbled" sound. This was obviously why I had not dug them on previous trips here. After digging the 5 flagged targets...the 2 which both coils were able to hit ended up being wheaties. The other 3 targets ended up being 1 wheatie and 2 silver dimes! Yes, I had just flat out "missed" 2 wheaties on previous trips here but there was no doubt in my mind that the X-8 was the reason I had found the additional 3 coins...2 of which were silver! Both silver dimes and one wheatie were accompanied by trash next to the hole but the X-8 gave a nice solid ID on both of them, whereas the stock SE coil did not. Hence the need for the mid-sized X-8 coil...because it did a nice job of separating the sounds which told me those 3 targets were coins.

Coins, token and earring found during the X-8 field test

  I then decided to spend the rest of this cold day at a different site. I wanted to do a little more thorough testing of this coil by comparing it against the similar 7.5" coil made by Minelab. I had used the Minelab coil before and knew it was a good one but sold it because again...I just didn't see the need for a mid-sized coil. With the X-8 actually being a full 8" diameter, I was anxious to see if it had a slight edge in depth over the 7.5" Minelab coil so I borrowed one from a friend.

  I decided on an old ball diamond where the concession stand still stood...and was still used. I had hunted here a couple of times before and it was pretty trashy...but not severe. What I didn't like was that they dumped 3" of fill dirt over it a few years back. This made the good coins a little deeper which was no big deal...but it also added a new layer of pull tabs and foil. The good coins were probably just slightly out of reach of the X-5 coil but the area was a little too trashy for the X-12. The perfect place to check out the X-8.

Bryce experiences the light, well-balanced weight of  the Explorer/X-8 combo during the field test

  I started out with the X-8 and after nearly 5 hours had flagged only five targets which I was pretty certain were coin targets...although one was a little iffy. I was not surprised at the low number of flagged targets because I know the spot is hunted often by others. I then put on the Minelab 7.5" coil to see how it would compare to the X-8. I was able to hit 4 of the 5 targets with the Minelab coil but one of them I could not hit. Now here's the key to what I just said. Remember I previously stated that the X-8 gave me an iffy hit over one of the 5 targets...but that I still felt it was a coin. Well...the Minelab 7.5" coil didn't give me enough of a chirp to investigate from any angle I tried over this same flagged target. The X-8 coil gave a distinct "investigate me" signal and although it was a little iffy...I knew it had a shot at being a coin.

  After digging what the X-8 coil told me was probably a coin...out came a Mercury dime from 9" deep and slightly tilted! I'm impressed...and my personal opinion is that the X-8 went deeper for me than the Minelab coil here in my soil. Even 1/2" deeper would have allowed the X-8 to hit the coin the way it did...iffy...but still telling me a probable coin...which is exactly what I feel happened. Okay...I'm convinced I need this coil in my arsenal! The other 4 targets turned out to be 3 wheat cents and a nice sterling silver earring.

The four silver dimes and silver earring found during the field test 

  The next morning I headed to my hunting buddy's home town. I wanted to squeeze in one more short hunt with the X-8...and wanted to bring the "Yeti" along. I also wanted to use the E-Trac this time...instead of my SE...to see how it would do.

  We hit this old park one more time and stayed 3 hours or so. It has probably been 2 hunts or more since I dug a coin from here. We have hit this place relentlessly over the years and a wheatie from here is a moral victory! I only had two decent hits the entire time...but was completely thrilled to have ANY at all!

  When I got the first one I called over the Yeti so he could see what he thought about the target. We both agreed...a deep coin around 8" to 9"...and it only hit in a very tiny window. A perfect example of an iffy hit...definite coin sound...but only sounding in one spot and from one angle. Turn 1/4 turn...and it disappeared. From that one spot though...the X-8 said "coin". I dug the plug and was shocked to see a worn 1916 Mercury dime at the bottom of the hole! I turned it over with shaking hands...hoping to see the coveted D mintmark. Well,  I saw a mintmark...but it was an "S". Oh well...having the thrill of turning it over with a buddy...to see whether or not I hit it big...was something I will always cherish. The other target turned out to be an old token of some sort that says "Noah's Smoke House". I was surprised that I found anything here...and was especially surprised when one turned out to be silver.

Bryce and Yeti hold their breath hoping for a "D" mintmark instead of the "S" pictured above

  After 11 hours of extensive testing and side by side comparing...then just some plain old huntin'...I feel the X-8 is well deserving of the reputation it already has...and here are 10 reasons why:

(1) Very well balanced coil.

(2) Much lighter than the stock coil.

(3) Great target separation.

(4) Very hot and sensitive to coin targets.

(5) Great depth.

(6) Good ground coverage.

(7) Very stable.

(8) Full 8" diameter.

(9) Dead on pinpointing.

(10) Crisp clear sounds over targets.

  I am now a believer that I DO need a mid-sized coil and that it WILL find targets smaller or larger coils might miss. I feel the most important quality that Sun Ray coils have is that they ALL give loud, crisp signals over targets...and the X-8 coil is no exception. It just seemed to give a louder, more distinct signal than the other coils. When you are hunting in heavily pounded sites...that one fact alone can help bring more keepers to the surface.

  My final thoughts...the X-8 is a superb all around coil for everyday use and gives the optimum depth/separation performance balance between small coil and stock coil.