Do I need the bigger coil for Ace 250 ?

[Billw]

Hi all

Just joined this forum, looks like a great group of folks and some real good advice ! So, I am hoping to get some of that advice !

I am new to detecting and I am going to be be buying my 1st metal detector. Based on a bunch of research and many very good reviews, I am going to get a Ace 250, probably from Kellyco.

I will be doing beach(mostly fresh water), relic, playgrounds, parks, etc... You can get a 250 for $ 212.00 right now, but they really push you to get the package that includes the bigger coil.

My question is, do I really need that bigger coil for the almost $ 100.00 difference ? What do you all think ?

Thanks in advance

Bill

[ProPointer]

Try the 10" x 14" DD excelator coil. Exclusive to Kellyco.

[ewemule]

Save the extra $100 and put it towards a good pin pointer.
I have the GTI 1500 with 9.5" coil and it's doing just fine. If you're in a large open space and aren't too concerned with missing "some" small items then the larger coil may be nice. Sounds like you'd do great with the stock coil. If you really want an extra coil maybe a smaller one would be a better solution.
I hope some other ACE owners will share their experiences.
Good luck and happy hunting !
Marty

[ohiochris]

You dont need a bigger coil especially just starting out with your new ace 250. When you go larger with coils then you have more trouble with target masking and falsing ( depending on conditions ) and it is better to get proficient with the ace before attempting to deal with more of that aggrivation. In most areas the stock 6x9 coil will get up to 8 inches in depth and thats as good as almost any detector out there and better than some. The added inch or two you "may " gain with the larger coil ( depending on ground conditions ) really in my opinion isnt worth the extra money. The best extra coil you can get with your ace is the smaller sniper coil. They save you lots of trouble with falsing, target masking, they make pinpointing easier , and they make using around metal fences and playground equiptment a breeze. I dont think the larger coils are practical for the ace series detectors unless you hunt large uncluttered and less trashy fields for relics , and even then from what Ive read are only marginally better for a little extra depth.

[~Alan~]

Stick with the standard coil. I have the 12" coil on mine, it makes it heavier, and as far as I can see makes little difference as far as finds goes.

Although unless you check nevery signal with both coils, it's difficult to prove either way.
On my garden test bed, I didn't notice any great difference.

[PhilB]

I've detected many years and what I've found is I need a smaller than stock size coil much more often than I needed a larger than stock coil. A larger than stock coil may be deeper but it will suffer more from target masking unless the area you are hunting is pretty clean. If you are like most of us you will detect in a lot more trashy areas than you will clean areas. I would spend my money on a pinpointer first and then a smaller than stock coil. Good luck whatever you decide.

[generalwalton]

Originally Posted by PhilB

I've detected many years and what I've found is I need a smaller than stock size coil much more often than I needed a larger than stock coil. A larger than stock coil may be deeper but it will suffer more from target masking unless the area you are hunting is pretty clean. If you are like most of us you will detect in a lot more trashy areas than you will clean areas. I would spend my money on a pinpointer first and then a smaller than stock coil. Good luck whatever you decide.

Exactly. I would save my money starting out. After a while I purchased a used widescan large coil for my Cibola off of a member of the forums here. The only time I use it is when I want to hunt a large area fast. I mainly use it for sports fields with very high discrimination and just go quarter shooting, lol.

The places you say you are going to hunt, I would stick with the stock coil.

[Billw]

Thanks for the replies ! I think based on everything you guys are saying I will stick with the stock coil. I agree on the pin pointer. I may get one when I order my Ace. Kellyco includes a basic digging tool. Do you think it will be adequate or should I get something different ?

Thanks again

Bill

[ohiochris]

Originally Posted by Billw

Thanks for the replies ! I think based on everything you guys are saying I will stick with the stock coil. I agree on the pin pointer. I may get one when I order my Ace. Kellyco includes a basic digging tool. Do you think it will be adequate or should I get something different ?

Thanks again

Bill

The basic digging tool they give you is plastic and its very inneffective. I reccomend getting a stainless steel one. You can get an expensive one and they are good but this is the type I use. It is strong , works great , and will last a long time. They can be had for around $10 at most detector shops , and kellyco has similar ones that are good too for a couple dollars more. They are pretty much unbreakable and are really good at cutting plugs. You will wear the detector out before you wear these out.

[Michigan Badger]

Coil size advantage varies from one brand and model to another.

The stock coil on any brand is always it's optimum size for the original intended purpose.

Optimum size doesn't always mean the deepest for coins. It refers to a balance of good depth and target separation for working heavy trash sites in the case of a "coinshooter" detector.

I'm not familar with the Ace machines but I am with all the early Tesoros and present uMax models. As a rule, a larger coil adds great coin/ring depth to all Tesoro models since their earliest models.

A Silver uMax with stock coil just reaches a buried nickel at 6 inches deep. Put the 12x10 coil on that machine and it can detect a long-time buried nickel at 10+ inches deep.

But not all brands and models respond this well to a larger coil. Some actually do better with smaller coils.

Badger