ace 250 , nugget detector for beginner?

[lengds@yahoo.com]

Hi, I am a newbie to detecting and after reading the good results of the Ace 250 for coins,would it work as a nugget detector too, and down to what size. Sounds like a great detector to get started and learn on, before I buy a top of the line minelab model or whites. I have my sights on an old camping site my family used in the 1950s that has a large rock with dates back to the 1890s on it from wagon era and Indian rock art that has been without access for 30+ years and never was a federal designated campground just a place people pulled off the road to camp. Or for this site should I just save my pennys for the XLT or Explorer II since I do not want to miss any good finds. Later I hope to hunt some streams in western oregon. Thankyou for such a great forum. Lengds

 

[w1ki]

If you are a newbie, start with the Ace 250, and possibly the new 9 X 12 coil to go with it. Much cheaper and not a big learning curve like the XLT. Don't get me wrong, the XLT is a great machine, but until you really get to know it,it can be a bit frustrating.

The Ace 250 is little more than turn it on, set 2 parameters (mode and sensitivity) and off you go. And it certainly does like to find coins!

I have both machines and like them, but the Ace is by far easier to learn. Hope this helps. Good Luck, Happy Hunting, and Happy New Year

 

[Uncle Willy]

The 250 is an outstanding coin machine but it is not a nuggetshooter and neither are the other two machines you mentioned. Hunting gold in the mineralized soil of Wester Oregon requires a gold machine for best results. Garrett makes two good gold machines. Here is a pic of some gold found with the Garrett Infinium.

Bill

 

[lengds@yahoo.com]

Hi Bill. I would have to own a couple of detectors then, since one cannot do it all. The Infinium would miss some coins and the Ace 250 would miss some gold in mineralized soil. Do any of the top detector models do good at both or is the tuning that specialized to soil conditions and type of metal I am looking for? Gene

 

[Uncle Willy]

No all purpose detector does good at both because gold hunting is a specialized process. Now you can hunt gold with some of these machines that have all metal and manual ground balance, such as the 2500, but they don't have the higher freqency or gain ( 15kHz or higher ) that gold detectors have to locate that small gold in highly mineralized ground, and small gold is what you're mostly going to find - not big nuggets.

If you're looking for an all around machine for both types of hunting you can choose between the GTI 2500 or a better choice would be the Scorpion Gold Stinger ( a two-phase machine ) with which you can hunt coins and gold.


Bill

 

[lengds@yahoo.com]

Hi Bill. The best would still be to get a machine for each purpose and since I want the best I can afford, say around $2500 for two machines and some recommended accessories in the future. Should I still start out with the Ace 250 for coins and a similar cost for a nugget detector, learn as a newbie, before going deep into my pocket book for the best I can afford? Thanks again. Gene

 

[Uncle Willy]

For sure Gene, if you're new to this game start out small and work your way up. Detecting ( especially for gold ) is not as easy as it sounds and requires a good deal of practice, knowledge, and garnered experience. If you had never bowled before you wouldn't expect to walk into a bowling alley, pick up a ball, and bowl like a professional your first time. Detecting is a lot like that.

Buying the top equipment and jumping out there expecting to hit it big right off the bat most often winds up in total frustration and disaster. There are a lot of expensive detectors relegated to the closet for this very reason. Each phase you want to enter into is specialized and nothing alike and requires different knowledge, different detectors, and technique for each.

Reading and hearing about all these folks making these great finds really tweaks one's interest and desire but they didn't buy a detector yesterday and run right out and find this stuff. Most have been at it for years, used many detectors, and have a ton of experience under their belts. I know how you feel because I felt the same way 42 years ago. Thought I was going to conquer the coinshooting world. But it didn't work that way. I got lucky a couple of times but after my luck ran out I had to learn how it was actually done.

So if you feel you want to make this a life long hobby then start slowly and with caution. Don't jump in over your head the first thing as the water is much deeper than it looks. Good luck.

Bill

 

[tonypizza]

Hy everybody and a happy new year .My question is to Uncle Willy how about that 3 in 1 machine the Whites mxt is it a good machine??