I am only about 1 yr in to metal detecting and use an AT Gold at the parks and a modified excal at the beach. The AT works very well. I don't try to get all tied up with facts and figures but I can honestly say that where I live (60's to low 80's and relatively dry... San Diego), the numbers and tones of my AT GOLD vary. In nice, healthy grass with moist dark dirt that digs easily, I can get clad at 10". I keep it in discrim 1 set at 44 and pull EVERY solid tone. I know that a solid 55 will 95% of the time be a pull tab but I still pull them knowing that I'll be back and don't want to hit it again. Also it could NOT be a tab. High 60's to high 70's are pennies but I still pull them. It could be high gold or a valuable penny. 80's are usually dimes and anything above an 84 is a quarter.
With that said I've pulled 14k gold rings at 49 which is a nickle as well. I've pulled 18k rings at 60 which is usually a tab or aluminum crap.
You don't need a 1500 dollar machine to pull stuff 6" down or even 10". My AT GOLD does very well and keeps me VERY busy at the park. If you want to think your smart and discrim pennies and "obvious" clad only looking for jewelry you're doing yourself a disservice. If you want to get into a cockfight about 1 or 2 inches of depth go ahead.
People tend to preach about what they run to look cooler or smarter. I'm not bragging, I only know what mine does. The tones aren't pleasant and I tell my friends it's like listen to an angry German screaming. Harsh and to the point. It squawks and screams, that's for sure.
As for the beach and salt water, the AT GOLD sucks hard! I can swing in the sand but the little coil is annoying. I could step to a bigger coil but the ground balance isn't worth the effort. Anywhere near the wet sand and it will go hay-wire. That's why I have an Excalibur.....
I've taken it to the desert on my gold prospecting, dry washing trips, but to date I haven't found any nuggies w/it.
...great find
