First finds--couple questions on ACE 250

[Sheriff George]

Collected coins as a kid and always wanted a metal detector, so finally got one as I'm pushing 40. We live in a 1921 built house on small lot, but good as any place to start. Watched the ACE 250 DVD, put some venison steaks on the grill, sounded a few "newer" coins and some junk from the toolbox to get a feel for the machine. It seemed to sound off on everything once I hit the ground! Scaled back the sensitivity to 3 bars and used the coin mode to kill some of the noise. Worked maybe 150 square feet between the house and detached garage and found a 1944 wheat, 1940 Merc dime and 1953 Roosevelt dime. I ran into the house after each to cool off a bit and clean each one. Thrilled beyond belief I already found silver and am totally hooked! Which means the wife is already very concerned... Couple questions for any vets out there willing to give their 2 cents.

--The DVD said I should use the "all metal" mode for at least 10 hours to get a feel for the machine and particularly the various sounds. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I knew my backyard would be trashy with old nails and stuff, and I didn't exactly wiff on the first time out. I've read to perhaps use the custom mode and "add" one or two notches around the penny zone that the coin mode takes out, and stick around 3 bars for sensitivity.
--Except for the Merc which popped out like a gem, I had hard time finding the coins once I had a hole and a dirt clod in front of me (I'll get a pinpointer I'm sure). Does the detector have a hard time detecting over "air" like an open hole (thinking the object is still in there somewhere) or on an odd shaped dirt clod (if trying to verify it's in there)?
--I've heard both ends of the spectrum regarding sweep speed--slow and steady or snappy and steady.
--what exactly is ground balancing, does the 250 have it, and is it something I should be overly concerned about? Pretty standard clay/loam in southern Minnesota where I mostly hunt, although when I go up to northern MN it could be a different story--lots of natural iron/iron ore in the ground.
--is hunting Boulevards (the 3-6' between the city sidewalk and city street) legal in most cities? (I live in Minneapolis for any Norwegians who might know specifically). Seems like a great and virtually limitless place to hunt. Thanks in advance for any advice. over and out

p.s. the steaks were done perfectly

 

[codydog50]

WTG... You're off to a great start The reason that Garrett advises you start out in all metal mode is to get familiar with the sounds that different targets make. they also advise you to dig all targets, pulltabs can sound like a ring or a coin. in coins mode trash is notched out, you may miss a ring. I have detected for many years and I still dig up some pulltabs and nails, you never know what you will find unless you dig some trash. I live 120 miles east of you, the curbs in front of houses here are owned by the home owner, the city has the right-away 50 feet from the center of the street
(the city I live in) If it is a curb next to public property, you should be fine. check local laws and ask permission. you have some great old property around you! Good Luck!! C-Dog

 

[MrGee]

I didn't last very long with that all metal mode either. Too many rusty nails in my neighborhood. I use coin mode or jewelry. The jewelry mode seems to work pretty well in all but very trashy areas, then I use a custom mode with everything to the left of the penny notched out. Then I make another pass later in either coin or jewelry again to pick up any nickles or rings etc that I missed the first time. Absolutely get a pinpointer at the earliest opportunity and when you can, invest in the sniper coil also. The sniper is great for trashy areas. I dont mean to come off as an expert or anything. I bought my Ace 250 in March of last year so I've got one summer plus under my belt. Play around with it - use different setting and sensitivities for different areas. (Remember the Music Man? - Ya gotta know the territory!) Good luck to you.

MrGee

 

[mudpuppy]

Once you have success like that it will start a fire that is hard to manage...I ran into an old guy one of my first times out and he took the time to school me in a little..."Dig 1000 pulltabs, and dig 1000 pennys" "learn how to use a screwdriver as a digging tool, you wont get in trouble with a shovel, and you will get more targets per day" Fortunately, this site is a wealth of knowledge that you should take advantage of, and the Garrett Gang that post on here is prolific and very helpful. Welcome, George! HH and Good Luck!
Mud

 

[16penny]

Looks like you have got off on a great start. I got my first detector this April. An Ace 250. I run all metal mode all the time. I done the discrimination thing when I first got it. With these Aces you get a lot of silver type hit when it really is a big piece of iron that can be deep. I was fooled so many times thinking I had a good coin hit but really it wasn't. I learned to glance down at the screen and could see the iron tab light up but since I had it on Coin mode it wouldn't beep except when it false like it was a coin. So I was fooled. Now I run full metal mode with 4 bar sensitivity. That way when you get a falseing type signal you can all so hear the iron deeper beep so it makes it easier to know what you got. Yes you get more noise but you soon learn what those noises mean and making it easier to know your target. It does take some time to learn all of this. I first thought people was crazy for running with no discrimination but now that I learned it I wouldn't run it any other way. If I'm in real trashy section it helps to really slow down and hit it in different directions.

A pin pointer is really great in my opinion. Well worth the extra money. I have the pro pointer from Garrett. I wouldn't be without one.

Well good luck on your hunts and yes this hobby is addictive. Wish I would of started it years ago. More chances of getting that silver. I have only got one silver merc. so far. I hope to find more. I have got about $68 worth of clad so far. I would really like to find a gold ring or two. I just got to keep after it.

 

[dabbie1]

All the post above are right on. I run my 250 in coin at 4 bars sensitivity. It never gets coins wrong pennies and nickels are tough, as nickels come up as aluminum cans, but use your built in pinpoint and if sound stays on bigger than a coin ,it will be a can. hope this helps Wayne

 

[Geo Unit]

I live in an 1880's house and you've found more silver in your yard than I did in 2 years +

If you go to the SEARCH near the top of the forum page and enter ACE250 (just like that) then go to the OPTIONS lower on the page and select ALL POSTS (I think?) from the block that says LAST 30 DAYS

you will find some 1700+ posts from this forum concerning the Ace. Happy hunting and good reading!

 

[Sheriff George]

Thanks for the advice everyone--I really appreciate it! I'll check out past posts and topics on some of these issues as well.

If the temp drops below 95 by the time I get home from work one of these nights, I'll work over the rest of the yard (and fill in the rest of the holes to get the wife off my case).

 

[slingshot]

The nice thing about the Ace is, that with the push of a button, you can adjust the disc to the site. For instance, a/m mode for tot lots, relics for schools and parks, coins for trashy areas, and even the customs mode where I basically redo the coins mode but just add the foil icon to get rings that fall in that area in promising trashy sites.

 

[widebody]

[size=large]in case you haven't seen it yet, you tube has a great videio on how to pinpoint with the standard ace 250 coil. type in ace 250 and you'll find it. should learn it even though you'll get a hand held. saves alot of time on digging.

HH[/size]

 

[Tuck57]

You may or may not know, but if you lay the detector on its side near you with the coil facing toward you, you wave a handful of dirt in front of the coil and it will let you know if it's in your hand. Don't try this while wearing a ring

 

[sandtrout]

You may or may not know, but if you lay the detector on its side near you with the coil facing toward you, you wave a handful of dirt in front of the coil and it will let you know if it's in your hand. Don't try this while wearing a ring

Simple...good idea....I like it! It just becomes a matter of routine to lay it down that way all the time. Practice! I keep a 4 x 6 booklet of ideas and have added it to the list.

 

[Smudge]

You may or may not know, but if you lay the detector on its side near you with the coil facing toward you, you wave a handful of dirt in front of the coil and it will let you know if it's in your hand. Don't try this while wearing a ring

Yes, I learned that one the hard way!