$250 Budget - Prizm II or Ace 250 Or ___ ?

[alienbogey]

Here's the deal:

I have some experience nugget detecting and have recently been doing some coin shooting. I know more than a newbie about detectors but far less than experts here.

I would like to get a detector for my father-in-law who has been showing an interest. In fact, his wife got him one of those super cheap plastic jobs from costco or somewhere that can barely find a nail in and is essetially useless.

As much as I would like to get him a new DFX, there is perhaps $250 in the budget to get him a new detector, and my wife's sister will then get him an accessory or two.

It would be used for coin shooting at least 90% of the time - the usual parks, campgrounds and perhaps old houses/foundations in the woods. He may on very rare occasions get to a saltwater beach. If he ever wanted to chase nuggets he could use my MXT or GMT. Relic hunting is not a factor - not a lot of Civil War battlefields in the Pacific Northwest.

Ease of use is important, although he's one of the handiest guys I know - can fix anything - he's not a big reader or modern technology guy. Also, discrimination is important as, being in his 70's, there are a limited number of times a day he can get down and dig.

The stock coil is important - they're on a very limited budget, so he won't be able to go out and buy a number of different coils or other performance enhancers - at least until he decides whether he really likes the hobby or not.

Those are all the factor I can think of.

Okay, so I've been all over the internet and have pretty much narrowed it down to a White's Prizm II or Garret Ace 250. I'm a White's guy, but the Ace 250 seems like it might fit the bill a little better.

What do you guys think?

P.S. I'm posting this on the White's and Garrett forums, we'll see which crowd can sell me on "their" brand.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[cyeager]

Both are good.
ACE 250 - add Whites toggle switch to the pin point circut. Adds a great feature. {I did. I have a MXT.}
Prizms are about the same but take a bit more learning. ACE 250's make great
quick dig competition style units with a DD coil. Prizms are technique ridden for depth ect.

 

[camb1]

Go with the Ace 250. About everyone here will recommend it for a great starter detector. It is loaded with many features. Usually for $250 you can get some accessories.

 

[Dick from IA]

Ace 250, and add a 4.5" Sniper Coil for coin shooting. It eliminates the target masking of the larger coil, is easier to pinpoint with, and....

at least for me I find way more coins with the Sniper, and in a smaller area!!

 

[HaveFaith]

I have a Prizm II. I like it alot, and have found a lot of cool things. It is easy to P/P with, never had a problem with pp'ing either. My hubby wants to MD also, so I am saving all my clad, and miliage money for work to get the Ace 250. Both machines are good for the money. Good luck on your decision, either is a good machine.

HaveFaith

 

[Phantasman]

I had an Ace 250 and it is great to use with minimal amount of setting. Change from AM to coins to Jewelry with the touch of a button. I used it at the beach and it was great until you hit the wet sand, then lower the sense to 4 and your good to go. Pinpointing is easy. It also has a depth indicator. It uses 3 different tones.

I do not know how the P2 compares in using one, because I haven't. The one feature that does stand out is that the target indicators seem larger than the Ace. This may be an advantage for someone who has a hard time seeing the display. But since the Ace gives a distinct belltone on coins, he may not have to look at the screen that much anyways.

 

[geckokid]

ACE 250's make great quick dig competition style units with a DD coil.

I did not know they made a DD coil for the Ace 250?
I can't find one anywhere?

 

[John (Ma)]

We have the prizm 2 and really enjoy its simlicity and have fond alot of neat things and coins with it.

 

[Keppy]

they do not..do not.. make a ..DD.. COIL FOR THE ACE 250 that is why you can not find one !!!!!!

 

[aladdin]

I had a prizm 2 loved it /0 learning curve or working at learning the MD talk (sounds)/(my gran child used it until she misplaced it). I now have a ace 250 from the get go the ace has some issues as with all detectors /but it has a large following / this is not my detector only for a back up or if my wife uses it(seldom) . The 250 will go deeper /has the depth ga/ has programs unlike the prizm. There is less playing with the controls on the prizm. The 250 will last him longer if he really becomes interested in the hobby. Many a newbie have started out on the ace/oldie to for that matter. good luck and good diggin

 

[EasyMoney]

I've owned both a 250 and a Prism 2. The Ace 250 works best for inland and for coin hunting and has a better discriminator, and the Prism works best for relics and goes deeper in beach hunting in all metal.

The Prism 2 is a bit noisier than the 250 in high magnetite or hematite soil. It's likes small iron, nails, etc. much more than the Ace 250 does.

Between the two I'd take the 250.

What about a Silver Sabre uMax or a Compadre? They are lighter and easier to use than either of the above. If I was 70 instead of 63 I'd opt for one of these two Tesoros, and especially because they are the lightest serious detector on the market..

Just some thoughts.