I used 3 different detectors this year. Upgrading as I learned. I hunted my mothers back yard where I grew up with 4 sibs. The yard is aprox. 5O'x70'. I started out the spring with a Garrett Ace 350. In 7 hunts in that yard I found 38 clad coins and 1 silver quarter. I found an AT Pro at a yard sale for an unbelievable price of $40 bucks and quickly grabbed it. My AT Max was already ordered when I found the AT Pro. With the AT Pro, same yard 3 hunts 28 more clad coins. I thought the Ace 350 cleaned up. 9-22 My AT Max arrives and I head for the same yard.
1 hunt 8 more coins. I have a journal I started when I began metal detecting this year. "Metal detecting journal by Mark Smith". Everything about the hunt is logged. I was surprised when I read back and added up the coins. keeping a log showed me how much stronger and better each detector was as I learned how to used them. I noted how the machines ran, settings, dates of coins, tips, tricks everything.. The more you write the more you gain. I started the log mainly because I cant remember a damn thing anymore. 55 and slowly loosing it. LOL

I hear you on the "getting older and losing memory" .lol. 48 and I wonder sometimes who I am. I'm not that meticulous about keeping a journal but that does sound like a good idea cause I too, cant remember my settings unless I keep just using the normal coin mode. I too had an ACE 350. Was good machine until I tried an AT-Pro. WOW.

I thought the ace 350 was a great machine for the money. easy to go from 350 to AT Pro in standard mode then Pro Mode. The max is pro mode then All metal mode. The Max is a high powered machine you have to learn how to tame it. Going to be fun

Oh, I agree on the "taming" part. I started in just standard coin mode to listen and learn its coin tones and decipher it a bit. Next summer I'll start experimenting with All metal mode and see how it goes. Also gotta play with the threshold a bit too.

I'm liking my Garrett 5x8 on my max. Garbage filled areas quiet right down and it also makes you slow down too. Takes longer to cover an area