The MarsMD Lineup: Sniper, Tiger, Goliath, and Discovery
MarsMD's range covers four core coils. The Sniper is a compact coil for tight, trashy sites where target masking is common. The Tiger is the mid-size all-rounder for general coin, jewelry, and relic hunting. The Goliath is a large DD built to push maximum depth in open ground, and the Discovery is an elliptical design that balances coverage with separation. We stock the versions that fit your machine and have run each in the field, so the notes below come from hunts, not catalog copy.
Garrett, Minelab & Nokta Coil Compatibility
MarsMD coils in this range fit select Garrett AT and ACE series detectors, Minelab Equinox and X-Terra models, and Nokta Simplex and Makro units. Coil connectors and operating frequencies are model-specific: a coil wound for an AT Pro will not run on an Equinox. Each product listing states the exact detectors it fits—verify your model before ordering, or ask our team.
Double-D vs. Mono: Which MarsMD Coil Do You Need?
Double-D (DD) coils use two overlapping windings that create a blade-shaped detection field, holding stable ground balance in mineralized soil and separating targets in iron-rich ground. Mono coils use a single winding for maximum raw depth on larger targets in mild soil. If your sites have mixed conditions, start with a DD.
| Feature |
Double-D (DD) |
Mono |
| Best use case |
Mineralized soil, trashy parks, iron-rich relic fields, beach hunting |
Cache hunting, gold prospecting, open fields with mild soil |
| Strength |
Target separation and stable ground balance |
Maximum absolute depth on larger targets |
| Trade-off |
Slightly less raw depth than mono in neutral ground |
Struggles in heavy mineralization and dense trash |
Coil Size Selection: Depth vs. Separation
Small sniper coils excel at isolating individual targets in dense trash and fit safely between rocks and roots. Mid-size coils balance depth and maneuverability for general coin and jewelry hunting. Large coils reach deeper on buried relics and gold nuggets but give up some separation in trash-heavy ground. Match the coil to the site: tight urban parks favor small coils; wide-open fields and claims favor large ones. On iron-littered farm sites we typically swing a small DD first to unmask keepers, then switch to a larger coil to grid the open areas for deep targets.
Performance in High-Mineralization and Saltwater
MarsMD coils hold stable ground balance in red clay, black sand, and wet salt. The windings are potted in waterproof resin, so you can hunt surf zones and freshwater shallows with confidence (the coil is submersible; your detector's control box may not be—check its rating on our waterproof detectors page). In tough ground, a well-matched aftermarket coil lets you run higher sensitivity with less audio chatter than stock equipment.
Why Detectorists Upgrade to Aftermarket Coils
Stock coils ship as a general-purpose compromise. Aftermarket coils let you specialize: a small sniper coil for iron-masked coins, or a large coil for deep silver. Upgrading the coil is the most cost-effective step after the detector itself when site conditions demand better separation or deeper reach. Deeper targets also mean tougher recovery, so pair your coil with a heavy-duty digging tool, a pinpointer, and the right parts and accessories. For strategy guides, see our metal detecting tips and FAQs.
