Thinking of buying an Ace 250

[Goes4ever]

Hello all, I am thinking of buying an Ace 250 for my son and I to go hunting. I just came across this site while googling...lol
looks like a nice place to hang out and learn. I had a whites 2900 coinmaster when I was a kid. Been reading the Ace 250 is a pretty decent
machine for the price.

 

[Graw]

n/t

 

[John-Edmonton]

n/t

 

[roceda]

n/t

 

[KCK]

Very fun and exciting detector to use. Garrett built this one right! It's a blast to use and does a very good job!

KCK/Ohio

 

[tab-nabit]

Features - a lot of bang for the buck - easy to use - common batteries - can swing it all day.
Money left over for digging tools, pouch -
Headphones, the 4.5 sniper coil in addition to the stock makes a well rounded package.
Keep reading up on the 250 - HH

 

[awhitster]

[quote tab-nabit]Features - a lot of bang for the buck - easy to use - common batteries - can swing it all day.
Money left over for digging tools, pouch -
Headphones, the 4.5 sniper coil in addition to the stock makes a well rounded package.
Keep reading up on the 250 - HH[/quote]PM me. I have a place here in CA where you get free shipping, a pouch, digging tool and more. All for $212.

 

[YellerFeller]

I got mine at Christmas, as my first machine and I love it. Very easy to use!

 

[Uncle Willy]

You can't go wrong. You'll probably wind up with two of them. Detectors have come a long way since the old coinmaster days. I started out with a Metrotech way back in 1963. The 250 is the hottest selling machine on the market and for good reason. It's simple to learn and use and is a real coin magnet. Hope to see you posting pics of your finds real soon.


Bill

 

[jery]

I still believe pinpointing is difficult with a 250. I do not understand why the coil does not pinpoint in the center where the half circle is located. I do not use the 250 very much because of my difficulty pinpointing. I have a 550 that is so accurate that i can use the brass probe and hit the coin every time. It looks like i used a backhoe when i dig using the 250.

 

[Uncle Willy]

The 250 is simple if you follow the instructions John and me have laid out several times on this forum.

Bill

 

[Goes4ever]

thanks for all the replys, is there a way to set it up so I am emailed when someone replies? I am on many other forums and they all email me when I get a reply. I did not see it in the options anywhere?

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

It will serve most hunting needs. I own an Explorer, but find the Ace to be a better detector for the type of hunting that I do.
As far as pinpointing goes; there are 2 methods. You can use the standard concentric pinpoint, which is to locate the target with the 12 o'clock position of the inner coil. (listen to how the signal fades, as this helps to figure out coins from other targets) The other method which is for deeper targets or just a change from the other method, is to hit the pinpoint button, go over the target, then hit the button again while over the target. This will shrink the target down to 3 inches, and will normally only give off a signal on the front half of the coil. The pinpoint location for this method is in the cut out in the middle of the coil. i hope this helps you Jerry, as I know how frustrating it can be, if you don't know. I had the same problem with my X-Terra, till I finally figured it out after owning it for a couple of years.
Personally, wouldn't recommend the instruction manual for pinpoint technique as I personally think that it should be rewritten.
Mick Evans.

 

[draaiorgel]

n/t

 

[robert roy]

Buy two of them, one for yourself and one for your son.
You'll have a great time. I have the Ace and ended up buying
the 4.5 sniper coil and later the larger 9x12 for greater depth and more ground coverage.

The Ace preforms just as well as many of the higher priced MDs.
But DON'T get the Ace 150. You won't be happy with that one. I don't know why Garrett
even bothered to put that thing on the Market.

Good Luck.
Robert R

 

[robert roy]

I had the same issue when I first got the Ace 250.
I learned that the Ace does NOT pinpoint exactly in the center. There is a video on the Garrett website what shows you where the Ace pinpoints.
I also learned to detune and now I have to say I feel a little embarrased that I made such a big issue in the past about the Ace pinpoint. I can actually pinpoint better with my ace than with with my MXT!!!!!!! and thats saying something!

The Ace is really an excellent machine for the money. It will max out at about 6ins on smaller coins. Quarters about 7 + with the standard coil. You get more debth with the 9x12 coil. The sniper 4.5 is ok for trashy areas and getting up close and personal with foundations and around trees!
You might get 5inchs with the sniper but most coins and jewelery isn't going to be much past 4 or 5 inches sometimes greater.

If your new and just starting out, the Ace IS the way to go. I don't know anything about the F2, another low priced detector. The negatives and positives about the F2 are about 50% / 50%. The only really negative thing I hear about the ace is the pinpoint, but thats a non issue once you follow the directions and practice.

Good Luck with whatever detector you get.
You'll love thi hobby.

Regards
Robert R

 

[Goes4ever]

thanks for all the helpful tips, looking forward to getting the Ace 250 and waiting for some warmer weather!

 

[jery]

Bill, i am not new to detecting, and i have read and reread your instructions many times, but i still have more trouble than i should have, and i dont have all-timers disease yet. I have yet to figure out why Garrett put the notch in the middle of the coil if that is not the pinpoint area. I love everything about the 250 but the pinpointing!!!! I will try the method put forth by another person who answered as to my problem. Thanks Bill. Jerry

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I guess I'm one of the very few that can pinpoint with the notch, probe and hit the target. I just "x" , using a very quick motion with the pinpoint button on, no problems. It was a bit of a problem for me when Garrett first introduced the 7 x 10 coil for my 1250, but within a few hours, I was hittin' em dead on. The 6 x 9 coil is the same as the 7 x 10 just a little smaller. I know the pinpoint is supposed to be no motion all metal, but wiggling the coil in your "x" pattern will put the target right in the notch.

 

[NM5K]

Yep, it's generally much more precise using the "pull back" method.
The signal is maximum when the object is directly in the center of the
coil. Some can pinpoint that way, but I never did. It's generally too vague
to me unless you are really used to it.
Only the sniper normally pinpoints in the center, and with it, the coil is small
enough that the vagueness is not an issue.
I never really had any trouble pinpointing with the ace 250 from the start,
except for the cases where the signal wants to wander towards another
target, or to hot ground.
Detuning and shrinking it down will usually let you get those.
As far as a normal un-bothered signal, I can usually stab the coin
in place most of the time. I'm quite a bit better at it now, than when I
started..
Most anything I dig, I make very small holes to find, unless it's really
deep. My normal digging tool is my blunt screwdriver probe.
I almost never use a standard digger. Whacks the grass for a loop
compared to a probe.
Anyway, to anyone having trouble, I *double* recommend only using
the "center and pull back until the tone quits" method.
And the secret to stabbing coins is being very careful on the side to side
centering right before you pull back and lose the tone. That side to
side area will continue to shrink before the tone cutoff, so it's real
important to be checking it all the way back to the cut off.
If you only check side to side in the middle, it's quite possible to
be 3-4 inches off to one side. This is no way to live.. lol :/
If you do that, the object will be right in front of the inner coil, just to the outside.
Only on pretty deep objects might it be a bit farther back.
The depth indicator can help on deciding that..
MK