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Utmike
Monte, my answers might be framed differently than what you are asking but here it goes.

Nope. All responses are informative, and that's a good thing.

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Utmike
I currently hunt with the Equinox 800 and I almost never hunt with anything but the 6" DD. Before that, the Etrac with the 6" excellerator or the 8X6 SEF, and before that the Xterra 70 with the 6" 18 kHz. My personal hunting preference is to be in the ghost towns or demolition of old buildings type locations. Both are always loaded with iron and undesirable targets. I like my coils to be as "least influenced" by other metal objects near coins and tokens as possible.

Mike, we mostly share similar feelings about the benefits of using smaller-size coils. Certainly my favorites. Your 6X8 SEF DD coil is one that would be in my Mid-Size coil category. I've used a few on other makes and models to compare with other coils I like, but I never used one on an X-Terra. And having owned the X-T 30, X-T 50 and X-T 70 Minelab sent to me, i preferred the X-Terra 70 the most, but it fell short of my wants and needs for the tough iron infested sites I hunted when compared against other detectors I also used at the time. They had a quirkish response time and needed a more controlled sweep speed, for me, so we differ on that model.

But I do like Mid-Size coils like the 5X8 or 5X9½ elliptical or 7" round on some models to complement all my small-coil equipped detectors.

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Utmike
The smaller the coil footprint the better for me in these areas. Also, the smaller coils seem to get less hung up in sagebrush and stubble.

Agree, another good reason for them.

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Utmike
My other motivation is fatigue. I can swing the smaller/lighter coils more hours before I flame out.

Another agreement for them, although that never was a problem or a need ... until I started aging, falling apart, and relying on a cane for mobility at the ripe old age of turning 44. Today, light-weight and comfortable-balance are two important considerations.

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Utmike
I concede that depth favors big coils but, would say 95% of my favorite finds have been in the 1-7" deep range. I've dug a few 8ish inch keepers with smaller coils in OPTIMAL soil conditions.

Every now and then, I'll go with a bigger coil in parks when I'm specifically looking for recent/shallow jewelry drops. In those cases, I'm just trying trying to cover more ground.[/b][/color][/quote]

Through the years I have noticed how many people are surprised at how much 'depth' they don't get with a bigger coil than they thought, and also how surprised many are at the impressive depth some smaller coils, and detectors, can achieve.

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Utmike
Honestly, I probably don't have the skill or patience that some folks do in seeking out very deep "whisper" targets. I once watched a friend who i considered a detecting wizard dig a 21mm brass token at every bit of 12" in a park with an Explorer II with a stock coil. When he and my other friend with a Sovereign had me listen with my machine, all I could say was "listen to what?".

Yes, that can happen, or not happen, and I know that from using the Explorer II's I used to use periodically. But more often I have noted the numerous good targets I have found with other makes and models when my hunting buddies, with their Explorer II's, couldn't give a good hit on a truly 'deep' coin target.

Monte

"Your EYES ... the only 100% accurate form of Discrimination!"
Stinkwater Wells Trading Post
Metal Detector Evaluations and Product ReviewsI'm now 'back home' in Farr West Utah monte@ahrps.org ... or ... monte@stinkwaterwells.com 503-481-8147Detector Outfit: A selection of my chosen makes and models, with the best coils mounted for the tasks I'll take on.F-19 * F-5 * Racer * Racer 2 * V-540 * Relic * Silver Sabre µMAX * Bandido II µMAX * XLTPinpointers: Garrett AT Pro-Pointers .. Headphones: 'Hornet' .. MS-3 Z-Lynk .. ML-80 *** All working well today to make memories for tomorrow. ***