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is the garret ace 250 any good
Oliver123  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 6:28:39 PM(UTC)
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Hi
Does anyone know if the garret ace 250 is any good for prospecting gold? and if so is $479 a resonable price
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DrunkBrother  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 6:33:45 PM(UTC)
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Without long explanations : No it is not.
If you want a gold prospecting MD- get a gold bug with 5 Inch Coil - that will set you back 775$ from http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/
But if you are rich person and want to get best of the best and be able go deep and far - you will have to get Metal Detector Minelab GPX5000 Gold - that will set you back about 9000$, but Hey.. that is only 4.5ounces of gold! ;-)
*2014*Rings PlT/PD=0 GOLD=30 STG=53 Junk=46
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Oliver123  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 6:51:27 PM(UTC)
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Is the f2 any good
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nzpoohbear40  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 8:21:35 PM(UTC)
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not for gold oliver...look at your other post..it is explained there
Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/
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rgmcbrid  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 8:27:01 PM(UTC)
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What makes a VLF detector a 'gold detector' is that they run at higher frequencies than general purpose detectors like the F2 and ace 250. The reason being that the higher frequencies will pick up smaller targets. The downside is reduced depth. Additionally gold detectors typically use small coils which again are better at picking up small targets but do not go as deep as larger coils.
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Karl McDowell  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 8:57:35 PM(UTC)
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The Fisher F2 and Garret Ace 250 are really designed for coin and relic hunting although virtually any detector regardless of price or operating principle will detect gold (and indeed any other metal) in the right circumstances.

Detectors come in two basic flavours - VLF or Very Low Frequency of which the F2 and Ace 250 are both examples, and PI or Pulse Induction for which the gold standard (obvious pun) are the GPX series produced by Minelab. Both technologies have their pros and cons but what generally separates the good from the bad and the downright ugly is the sensitivity and sophistication.

For example even the shitty low end Chinese detectors should theoretically detect larger gold close to the surface BUT the smaller and deeper a target is the harder it is to detect. Target shape, orientation, conductivity and ground conditions also have a significant bearing on detector performance.

In most circumstances a PI machine will outperform a VLF on gold, but the downside is cost and a new PI machine is a big investment. That said some of the higher end VLF machines designed for gold are quite effective in the right hands. If you're wanting to specifically target gold then save your pennies toward a Gold Bug as another member suggested. They're around $300 more than the Ace 250 but far better value.

Edited by user Wednesday, 17 October 2012 8:59:09 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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Oliver123  
Posted : Wednesday, 17 October 2012 9:00:26 PM(UTC)
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Thanks everyone for the great info
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