HELP FROM ACE 250 USERS

[metalfun]

I have been using the ace 250 for 3 years with the stock coil. I still love the machine but I want to get a bigger coil. Im trying to decide between a 10x14 DD excellerator or the 8.5x11 DD Any imput would help me decide.I trust and value your opinion.THANKS&HH

 

[Bearharold]

Hi Metalfun, I have never used the two coils you asked about but I use the 5x8 DD for my Ace 250 and found coins ok with it but I didn't like it cause it was bottle cap crazy way worse than the stock coils . So I traded mine off for a 9x12 regular coil but use my 6x9 most of the time unless I am in a big open fields . I would dig about 5 bottle caps to every coin in places like ball parks and places with lots of caps there ..

 

[metalfun]

Thanks I did forget to mention I hunt parks and older properties when I can get permission.HH Also a tot lot now & then.

 

[Bearharold]

I was reading your reply and the post I wrote you and I never mentioned but in parks and real trashy area's I use the 4 inch snipper coil has better seperation but small area coverage . Usually the bigger coils don't seperate as good in real trashy area's like parks .

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

I must admit that on the Ace detectors, I really love the concentric coils. They are actually my most favourite coils of any detector that I've ever used. They give great audio feedback on targets when in pinpoint, also they are the most accurate coils for locating targets as well. I'm pretty sure that you won't get that info out of the DD coils. At least not on the Ace's.
sorry it's not info on the coils you are seeking.
Mick Evans.

 

[metalfun]

Thanks Mike do you think the 9x12 concentric would do better than the stock coil? Im here to learn.HH

 

[NM5K]

I've never used the DD coils, but I do hear they are bottle cap happy.
Myself, I have the 9x12 and also the sniper to go with the 6x9 stock coil.
The 9x12 basically acts the same as the stock coil. It's just bigger, which means
it can cover more area per swing, and goes a bit deeper. "2-3 inches on coin sized
objects". The depth performance will follow the size of the coils fairly closely.
IE: the 6x9 might be good for 7-8 inches or so.. Which is about it's average size overall.
The 9x12 average size would be around 10-11 inches.. And yep, that increase in size
is about the same as it's increased depth performance vs the stock coil. 2-3 inches..
Same for the DD's.. A larger DD is naturally going to cover a bit more, and go a bit
deeper than a smaller one, usually fairly proportional to the size differences.
The 9x12 is a good coil for the 250, and will still detect tiny objects just fine.
And it probably costs less than many of those 3rd party DD coils, but I haven't looked
at prices lately.
I like the sniper a lot too. I use all three coils, just depending on where I'm hunting.
In thick brush sometimes the 9x12 is a bit hard to swing between trees and such, and
I'll switch to the stock coil if it's a problem. The 9x12 is real good for open areas.
Trashy areas, I'll stick the sniper coil on. It's a real fun coil to use in tight areas,
and despite only being about 4.5 inches round, can still sniff dimes down to about 6 inches
or so in decent ground. In a real trashy or busy area, it can actually save time as you
don't get so many hits at once, which you then have to decide which hits are good stuff,
and which are trash. The sniper being small, can get in there and ID each hit much quicker
and easier.

 

[metalfun]

Looks like Im hearing some good things about the 9x12 concentric coil. more info on the 9x12 is welcome.HH

 

[slingshot]

I was reading your reply and the post I wrote you and I never mentioned but in parks and real trashy area's I use the 4 inch snipper coil has better seperation but small area coverage . Usually the bigger coils don't seperate as good in real trashy area's like parks .

Correctamundo! The sniper coil totally transforms the Ace. Sorry, I could not help but respond to this

 

[Pepa]

I have the 10x14 DD on my ace. It is 2-3 inches deeper than the stock coil. It does however love bottle caps. It's good on the beach and open (Non trashy) fields. It is also quite a bit heavier than the stock.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

SM6K covered a lot of the points very well. To cap off on that, when the DD coils first became available, I watched a number of videos of them in action, particularly listening to the tonal response of the targets, including the width of the target. I also watched them for audio response in pinpoint. I was looking to see if they gave off useful audio information. They didn't, so I never bought one. I do have the 5x10 DD coil on my 1500. That is a whole different ball game. On the 1500, coin sized targets give a distinct slightly narrower tone, on coins depending, on the denomination. I'm an Aussie detectorist, so I'm looking for our $1 and $2 coins, which hit on the same notch, as a US zinc penny. These coins are a common find, but you are dealing with aluminium screw caps that hit in this area. Unlike the coins, they give off a full tone.
As far as the metal twist tops go, they also hit in close to this area, and yes, they can sound good and fool you, but speaking from experience (not with a DD coil on an Ace though) I find that they usually give themselves away, by 1, sounding inconsistent and 2, by have the visual ID bounce around and not properly lock into a notch. Mostly you can tell by tone though. As an example, I hit a particular location a few years ago (posted about on the forum). This spot was utterly infested with steel twist tops, from memory, I was getting a minimum of at least one twist top hit every 3 sweeps of the coil and at times up to 4 to 6 hits each sweep. Yet for all these hits, I would have pulled out less than 20 twist tops, but pulled up $118! I was there for an all day hunt.
Getting back to the Ace, the one and only advantage, that I can concede, is that it will give you better target separation than the concentric coil. That said, as mentioned earlier in the post, If I swing an Ace again, it's with the concentric coils only (including the sniper) as they have properties, that are almost the exclusive domain of the Ace detectors. The Sniper coils is almost unmatched in its ability to hunt around metal play equipment if you hold in the pinpoint button and tilt the coil ever so slightly away from the metal pole you are hunting around. Also you can hunt under metal poles with the coil touching them (only in pinpoint mode though).
Mick Evans.

 

[metalfun]

Thanks guys for all your help.I think I'm going to get a 9x12 concentric & a sniper coil. I've heard nothing but good about the sniper coil & I do hunt around playground equipment sometimes.I am hoping by getting the 9x12 I can hunt some off my old sites again.HH

 

[jazzman58]

I picked up a 9 x 12 coil for my 250 back in November. Seems that in my area the older objects tend to get down fairly deep (6"+). We got a early freeze this year so only got a couple of chances to use it, however early results look good. I am now waiting for the snow to melt and the ground to thaw.

 

[metalfun]

Thanks Jazzman The 9x12 is what I'm leaning toward since I hav'nt had much responce on the DD coils.HH

 

[dabbie1]

I left you a post on your mail,I have two 13inch ultimate coils One on my ace 250 which I have recovered silver jewlery and coins at a depth of 16 inches,The other on my Omega 8000 which I have recovered silver up to 18 inches.Like I say when you think you have gotten all targets with the standard coil switch to the ultimate and see how great better targets you will find.Wayne in delaware

 

[khouse]

Once you put the 9x12 coil on you'll get rid of your stock coil. Cover's more ground, deeper and pinpoints better than the stock coil. With the money you save over a dd coil get the sniper coil and Gizmo. I have seen used 9x12 sell for under 50 bucks.

 

[metalfun]

Thanks again guys!!! this forum is GREAT.HH

 

[W7ATR Digger]

Good info, I was going to spend the wad for the DD coil, Ill toss that idea out the window now...THanks again