Description
The Garrett 5 x 8 in / 13 x 20 cm DD Vortex Ripper search coil (part 2238500) is the small coil for the Vortex VX5, VX7 and VX9: the one you reach for when the standard 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm Raider coil reads a nail bed as one blurred reject tone, or will not fit between the roots, rocks and fence posts where the old targets are still sitting. Fully submersible, coil cover included, made in America, in stock at History Seekers, an authorized Garrett dealer.
At a glance
5 x 8 in / 13 x 20 cm Double‑D elliptical coil built for Garrett's Vortex MD‑MF multi‑frequency platform. Condensed detection field for target separation in iron, tight maneuvering around obstacles, and sensitivity to small targets: fine jewelry, small coins and gold nuggets. Submersible housing on the Vortex waterproof connector. Ships with its protective coil cover. Fits the Vortex VX5, VX7 and VX9 only.
Why the Ripper
Every Vortex ships with the 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm Raider, and for open parks and fields it is the right coil. The Ripper exists for the ground the Raider cannot work cleanly: colonial and homestead sites choked with square nails, picnic-grove playgrounds with metal poles every few feet, creek banks full of roots and rock, and stubble fields where a wide coil snags. A smaller Double‑D footprint sees fewer targets at once, so overlapping signals separate into readable Target IDs instead of a rejected smear, and the coil can be swung within inches of an iron pole or a chain-link fence without the interference a larger coil picks up. That concentration of field energy is also why it is the Vortex coil to carry for small jewelry and small gold. Competing dealers list this coil and stop there; the question a Vortex owner actually has is which of the four coils to buy, so the table below answers it.
Which Vortex coil
| 5 x 8 in / 13 x 20 cm DD Ripper (this coil) | Iron-infested sites, tight spaces, obstacles, small jewelry and small gold; the separation coil |
| 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm DD Raider | The coil in every Vortex box; general parks, fields and beaches |
| 6 x 11 in / 15 x 28 cm DD Viper | Narrow elliptical for depth with good separation in moderate trash |
| 14 x 11 in / 36 x 28 cm DD Reaper | Maximum coverage and depth on open ground, large fields and beach flats |
Specifications
| Part number | Garrett 2238500 |
| Size and type | 5 x 8 in / 13 x 20 cm Double‑D, elliptical |
| Compatibility | Garrett Vortex VX5, VX7, VX9 only. The Vortex waterproof connector is unique; this coil does not fit AT-series, ACE, Apex or Axiom detectors |
| Technology | Engineered for Garrett MD‑MF multi‑frequency (Vortex) |
| Waterproof | Fully submersible coil and connector |
| Included | Search coil and protective coil cover |
| Origin | Made in America by Garrett under ISO 9001 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Ripper coil fit my AT Pro, ACE or Apex?
No. Vortex coils use a unique waterproof connector and fit only the Vortex VX5, VX7 and VX9. Garrett makes separate 5 x 8 in / 13 x 20 cm Ripper coils for the AT, ACE and Apex lines.
Is the coil waterproof?
Yes. The entire coil assembly is submersible, so it can be used in lakes, streams and surf with a Vortex detector, which is itself waterproof to 16 ft / 5 m.
Does it come with a coil cover?
Yes. Garrett ships every Vortex search coil with its matching protective cover.
When should I swap to the Ripper instead of the standard Raider coil?
When targets are close together in iron trash, when you are working around poles, roots, rocks or fence lines, or when you are after small jewelry and small gold. For open ground and maximum depth, stay on the Raider or step up to the Reaper.
Is this coil in stock?
Yes, in stock at History Seekers, an authorized Garrett dealer. Ships direct from Garrett's US distribution.
Every History Seekers order is packed and supported by people who run this gear in the field. We stock the coils because ours get swapped too. The story is more important than the artifact.
History Seekers Metal Detectors is an Authorized Garrett Dealer.