DetectingWales.com

Hi all,

I'm completely new to metal detecting to the point that I have never actually held one in my life. It's a hobby that has always held a fascination for me and I've finally decided to make the jump into the metal detecting world for the first time, despite the raised eyebrows of my wife!

Having read pages and pages of internet articles on various metal detectors, I'm torn between 2 models, the Garrett Ace 250 and the Garrett AT Pro. There is a fair bit of a price difference but I wouldn't want to outgrow the Ace 250 too soon and visa versa I'm concerned the AT Pro would have too many features for me to get my head around at this early stage. I'm leaning towards the AT Pro as I think over time I will learn to master it but I'd be grateful for any advice from experienced members!

Cheers.

Jeff (From Cardiff)

Hi Jeff , i will go for the AT pro save you buying  another detector in a year time . Best of luck and welcome on DW.

Nap.

Thanks Nap.

That's what I was thinking, as long as the controls are manageable for a newbie!

Hi,'Spaceonwhite',a very warm welcome to themDetecting Wales forum.
With regards to your choice of metal detector,you can't go wrong with any of the Garrett range of metal detectors.
Myself and many of us started out on the Garrett ACE 250,and found my very first hammered coin with such a machine.
Have you considered the Garrett EURO ACE or perhaps the new ACE 400i
They are good start up machines,and possibly a bit less expensive than he Garrett AT PRO.
Have a look at some second hand machines,One company that has always been a good reliable source of used machines is www.staffsmetaldetectors.co.uk (http://www.staffsmetaldetectors.co.uk)
I he guy hat runs it is called Kevin.
Have bought several detectors off him and I have always found him very fair an reliable.
Anyway,good luck with whatever you choose,and I look forward to seeing all of your finds on the DETECTING WALES FORUM
Good hunting....👍

Hi dingdong,

Thank you for your advice, it's a great help. I'll definitely take a look at the Garrett Euro ACE and the ACE 400i. I'll also take a look at the staffmetaldetectors website.

I'm looking forward to posting finds in the very near future  :)

The Garretts are certainly good for finding things - and for their comparative ease of use - I made the mistake of buying quite a complicated detector when I finally got around to detecting, and it took buying a Teknetics T2 (only a few controls) to learn how to detect properly (with help from friends as well), although I now use the complicated detector too!.

Hi again Spaceonwhite perhaps you should also consider the MACRO RACER metal detector.
Either the earlier one or the New MACRO RACER 2.
Very easy to set up,not expensive,very light to swing,and is also very capable of detecting on wet salty sand (beach mode) it is also quite a deep machine.
Take a look at the Racer on U-TUBE......very impressive machine ...
Good hunting....👍

Thanks Probono, that's what I was concerned about so I think I will take your advice  :)

Thanks to you too Dingdong, I'll take a look on Youtube. I also quite like the look of the ACE 400i you recommended  :)

hi Jeff live in cwmbran up road from you just bought the Garrett 400i newbie here to really enjoying machine  haven't been out only in
garden due to rain . but if you want i can answer any questions about it also can give you my mobile or home number phill

Hi Phil, Good to hear that you're pleased with the Garrett 400i. I think it's going to be the detector that I'm going to purchase and thanks for the offer of your tel number too. Now I just have to tell the wife  :o

Neither, get the Makro Racer 2.

Matt.

Yep !!...gotta go with Matt on that one,....however saying that it's what your happy with that counts...good hunting...👍

hi jeff i have an ace 250 and i have just bought an at pro a couple of weeks ago,  the ace 250 is a good easy to use machine however if you can afford the at pro then i would go with that its a very good machine also waterproof up to a depth of 10 ft thats with the waterproof headphones [its sold with the land headphones not the waterproof ones they cost extra]  it has a pro mode and a standard mode for the less experienced detectorist. the control box it self can be washed off with a hosepipe as shown on you tube, mind you i dont do that i got a cover to keep it clean from mucky fingers.theres  lots of advice on settings and how to use the at pro and the ace 250 on you tube and detecting sites,  i hope this info helps and good luck out on the fields,   gary

hey jeff i forgot to say might bump into one another one day i am from caerphilly.  good luck mate

If I was you mate, i'd get a Makro Racer 2.

Cheaper and better than the AT Pro and Ace 250.....especially on the beach.

I've owned the Racer 2 for over a year and it's AWESOME everywhere.....pasture, dry sand, wet sand, black sand, even under water.

No falsing.

If you even mention the word wet sand to the AT Pro or Ace 250....they would both start crying and falsing all over the place.

Makro racer 2 all the way!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSsKaRJDoAA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSsKaRJDoAA)


Matt.

GREAT post Matt,as a fellow MACRO RACER owner I couldn't agree more,ive had machines costing twice as much as the RACER and they came nowhere in comparison.
I'm still using the original RACER with a MARS'TIGER' coil !!.. phenomenal depth,simplicity itself to use,its build quality is 100%..in all its  BRILLIANT Metal detector.
I enjoy  this machine so much I am going to invest in the MACRO RACER 2 in the Spring of next year.
So,as you now obviously realise I'm a total MACRO RACER convert.
Good hunting,with what ever you choose...👍

Here'sd a couple of pics of my Racer 2 sunbathing a few weeks ago at the beach...lol

(https://s16.postimg.org/60rfudj2d/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/9x4rqd41t/)

(https://s16.postimg.org/z4k94cwjp/image.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/3xlm0g8n5/)


screen shot on pc (https://postimage.org/app.php)

Hey bodybuilder 27,good photo of the MACRO RACER 2.
Where did you get the wrap around "camo' protection wrap please...as I fancy getting some to put on the "RACER 1"
Good hunting.....👍

It's good stuff dude...self clinging, so it can be used again and again...helps protect the shaft from scratches and looks good ;-)

You can unwrap and wrap it as many times as you like...fabric material.

Here's a link where to get it, only £2.17 and there is enough to do my whole racer, plus about 16 inches left over - bargain!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elastic-Camouflage-Waterproof-Outdoor-Hunt-Camping-Stealth-Camo-Wrap-Tape-MI-/201712840006?hash=item2ef705ad46:g:L2YAAOSwHMJYIadA (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elastic-Camouflage-Waterproof-Outdoor-Hunt-Camping-Stealth-Camo-Wrap-Tape-MI-/201712840006?hash=item2ef705ad46:g:L2YAAOSwHMJYIadA)

Many thanks bodybuilder 27.....goods(tape) now ordered...many thanks,will post up picture when the "RACER"is all wrapped up....😀..👍

[at pro no good for beach]   i found it fine on the beach just ground balance and turn sens dowh and away you go, and i got no problems at all.

Nice one dude, look forward to seeing your machine wrapped up;-)

Gotta look after our toys...plus it makes it look cool..lol

Matt

Thanks for all the advice Guys. I ended up buying a Garrett AT Pro a few months back and I have to say I'm throughly enjoying using it. Haven't used it on a beach yet as I've got 3 permissions on farms in South Wales.

Found my first Roman today as well  ;D ;D ;D Though struggling to ID it! Will post it in the help ID forum now.

Thanks Gary. I ended up going with the AT Pro a few months back and so far it's been great to use. Quite fancy investing in some wireless headphones though as the wire is already getting in the way a bit! Think I'm pretty used to the settings now. Found my first Roman Coin today as well  ;D

Hey Spaceonwhite,if you go onto U-TUBE and talk Garrett Z-LINK cordless phones it should bring up a new gismo especially designed for Garrett detectors.or virtually any other detectors.
I've been in touch with Regtons for a price but haven't heard anything back ad yet .
Hope it's of interest
Good hunting..👍

Hey Dingdong. Thanks for the advice. Just did a search but couldn't find anything unfortunately. When you hear back from Regtons, post me a link.  Cheers