Both of these detectors are about the same price if you buy off the net so I would like to know if anyone has experience with both machines. How do they compare as to depth and stability?
If you're talking about buying new, someone might be able to make a comparison. If used, the Bounty Hunter Time Ranger has been improved 3 times, so there could be quite a variation.
The Fisher F4 I have, ground balance only works in all metal & think the older Time Ranger I had was the same way. My ground is highly variable & it is hard to detect anything beyond 4-5" & to get an accurate ID beyond 3"-4". My deepest coins ever about 7" & this is only possible in about 1% of the ground I detect.
The Garrett Ace 250 isn't a bad detector for just over $200 new/$150 used. It will ID coins down to 4" here, 6"+ in some soils. For over $500 new there are better choices, but that may be about as good as any under $500.
The Fisher F4, while I'm selling mine to get a more expensive detector, is OK for the price. The optional 10" coil is under $60 & will cover somewhat more area & maybe go a bit deeper.
Maybe others can add to this. Good luck & happy hunting, George (MN)
TG 77, sorry I just noticed you got the Ace 250. The real truth I think is that there are a huge number of detectors out there that in most soils, have about the same abilities. If one is an improvement over another, it's likely half an inch to two inches & not double or triple the depth that some mfrs, dealers, or users might claim.
The size of the searchcoil is a significant factor in depth. I had a White's M6 with 12.5" Jimmy Sierra Hot Shot concentric coil & stupidly sold it. It amazed me the way it picked up & IDed coins on edge & even got tiny gold jewelry from a hard hunted area. An M6 & larger coil would be maybe $600-650 used. Ditto for the Minelab Explorer II, one of the deepest ID machines in most soils, but with an extensive menu & complexity compared to the simple M6. HH, George (MN)