Ace 250 or 350 ?

[B-Ruce]

I started detecting with an Ace 250 and sold it to pay for my current E-Trac. After three years, I still love my E-Trac, but I miss my Ace, too. I miss coin shooting - the E-Trac is great for finding old coins, which is my main goal, but when I don't have likely old-coin territory to detect, I would like to be able to go for quantity (clad), at which the Ace was exceptional. The E-Trac is a deep machine, but also slow. The 250 could be run fast and really turn up the clad, especially quarters when set correctly. My question is, if I add a second detector, should I stick with the 250, or go with the 350? I live in Iowa, where the soil is fairly easy to detect. It seems to me that the main advantage to the 350 would be the DD coil, which is similar to what my E-Trac has. Any suggestions as to which direction to go?

Thanks for your help!

B-Ruce

 

[BigCatDaddy]

The 350 is more of a relic machine although it does a good job on coins too. If you just want to cherry pick some clad, I would just snap up a good used 250 somewhere and get after it!!

 

[andrew9091]

Yeah I agree with big cat. But I hunt with the 350 and love it. If money isn't really the issue id just pay the extra 75 bucks and get the 350....the dd coil is awesome for target id....and the sniper is great on it also.

 

[B-Ruce]

I notice that the dime and quarter have the same 'slot' on the 350 display. I always liked being able to go 'quarter shooting' with the 250, but is it even possible to only detect quarters with the 350? Can you tell the difference between dimes and quarters with the 350?

 

[andrew9091]

I can't until I dig.....some may tho. I had that with the 250 too tho.

 

[smeeks]

B-RUCE...The ACE 250 now has a 5 x 8 dd coil just like the AT-PRO ! I have one on my ace 250 and love it ! I like it better than the sniper coil and the sniper coil is hard to beat on the 250. For the extra money I would get the 250 with the 5 x 8 dd coil...

 

[Robert2300]

I'd just get another Ace 250 if I were you. I've had mine for 8 years now. I'll need to get a new standard coil soon.
It's starting to show weaqr and tear on the edges. GOOD MACHINE.

 

[andrew9091]

Both good machines. The 350 is basically the 250 on steroids. Little more power...a couple more coils u can throw on.

 

[NM5K]

Either one would be OK, but the 250's ID scale is more tailored to coins, than the 350, which
is tailored more for relics and the lower ranges. The 250 will give you more ID resolution when
hunting coins.

 

[B-Ruce]

NM5K and Robert 2300 - I agree with you; I am thinking the 250 is the way to go. I'm thinking of adding a DD coil, too.

SMEEKS - I like your idea of the DD coil. Why do you (and anyone else) prefer the 5 X 8 over the 8.5 X 11 DD coil? When I owned my first 250 I bought the 9 X 12 PROformance coil and never took it off. I liked the deeper detecting ability as well as being able to cover more ground.

Anyone else have thoughts or preferences on the DD coils?

Thanks for your input!

B-Ruce

 

[smeeks]

B-RUCE....I'am with you with the larger coil but....I hunt low and slow and with the 5 x 8 It's lighter and smaller and I can still pull the good stuff inbetween the trash verses the larger coil...I can still go deep and get into tight places with it as with the sniper coil but deeper.I have one on my ATPRO also and love it...I live in a place in florida that has alot of old history...I do alot of relic and beach hunting and do very well with these coils and machines..I've only been mdting for 2 years but I just came in 2nd place for metal detectorist of the year at my club with 115 members in it..The club is over 20 years old and has been featured in Lost Treasure news letter several times with me in it...No Brag Just Fact..LOL...I use the 250 in our competition hunts...It's a coin Grabber for sure...But my ATPRO is my main machine and I give them boys with them high dollar machines a run for their money..Again NBRAG JFACT...Hope this helps some from a Some What Rookie...LOL...GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY HUNTIN...THE FLDRTDIGR...

 

[rglyons]

Agree on the Ace 250, but next coil will be the dd.

 

[Thylacine]

Just buy the ACE 350 with the DD coil. I love mine, paid for itself in the first week with a gold ring.

 

[broadestpower]

I purchased the Ace 350 with the sports package two double d coils and some extras. I prefer the smaller 5x8 coil its easier to pinpoint a target and the depth is still excellent.
I have dug targets a deep as 11 inches. In a three month period with the Ace 350 I found a Chinese coin from the 1700's a seated liberty dime from the 1800's a merc dime 1941
an ornate women's compact from the 1930's and 32.00 in clad many many other interesting finds from musket balls to a silver and topaz ring and a 14kt gold ring. I'm looking forward to
getting back out there in the spring. Oh I forgot to mention most of the coins above were found in a park that has been well picked by other hobbyists for years. I did pick up a sniper
coil to use in very trashy areas but haven't had the luxury of being able to use it yet! From what I've read on the forum you'll probably be happy with either one of these detectors. I've personally been satisfied with the Ace 350 ,never using a dd coil does take some time to get used to. I spent about two weeks in my yard letting the 350 train me but at that point I was ready to test the waters moving to farm plowed fields to my favorite park.

Well, l wish you the best in your decision HH and God Bless!
George

 

[B-Ruce]

I'm leaning towards the 250 with the 8.5x11 DD coil. I am planning on doing mostly modern coin shooting with it. I have an ETrac that I will use to hunt the old stuff. The 250 would be mainly for picking quarters & dimes (quantity over quality) in places like modern parks & school yards. Thus I think the larger coil, while heavier, will cover more ground in the same amount of time vs the 5x8 DD coil.

HH everybody!

Bruce