Oh, I know that they didn't really <EM>need</EM> to since the 5.3 Eclipse and 950 coils compliment each other with a 3" difference in diameter, but ....
Maybe since they had the 3+x6+ and 6?x9+ elliptical coils as well they felt it might make their coil selection too 'busy' or something. I am not sure why no 8", nor do I know why they didn't make a 4" coil for the MXT/DFX or for their new Prizm series?
As for the 8" EXcelerator coil, I am basically done 'testing' the coil so far as side-by-side field comparisons go. I did enough of it using the stock 950 to know that, in my mineralized ground and for the littered sites I generally am hunting in, the new 8" D-D coil is working very well!
Tomorrow I am spending the day at a 280+ acre park where I have had some very good old-coin success over the past 33 years. It is my favorite park to hunt in the Portland (Oregon) metro area, and has been since 1972. Not only is there ample open-ground area where sunbathers and picnickers have enjoyed themselves for decades, but there are volleyball sites, picnic sites, an old soap boax derby track, and all sorts of hills and fun places for people of all ages to have frolicked through the years.
It's produced my nicest old US coin, an 1884 Seated Liberty dime, as well as Barbers, Mercs., Indian Heads, Buffalo & 'V' nickels, and some very decent jewelry and other small artifacts.
I'll set out with the 8" DD and hunt over ground that I have hunted many times before, as well as have many others, but I'll keep my 5" coil with me for when I get into some of the brushier ares where I like to search for old footpaths and 'blanket sites.' Bushwhacking this time of year, with our gorgeous weather way up here in the NW can sure be enjoyable .... compared with what the NE is getting! <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
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Honestly, I am sorry to hear about those nasty wintry storms some of our Eastern detecting family are having. <img src="/metal/html/frown.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
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Hang in there! Spring will arrive soon .. <img src="/metal/html/confused.gif" border=0 width=15 height=22 alt=":?"> ...
probably about the time we hit summer <img src="/metal/html/sad.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":sad">
<EM><STRONG>Monte</STRONG></EM>
Nice site to take a picnic lunch break! <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="
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