(Sorry about the long post, but I figure I would share my thoughts)
I recently did a lot of research on detectors in your price range, as I was looking for one in the same range for my first detector.
I came to the conclusion of the Ace 250 or the Bounty Hunter Land Star. Land star is much higher suggested price, but they are selling for around the same as the Ace 250.
I went with the land star and I'm glad I did. I found one on eBay for $160 still in the box and when it came it was never opened or used. Average price I was finding them for was in the $200 area.
Why I like it: I love the 3 tone ID (Ace only has one bong sound that would drive me nuts) and I love the auto and manual ground balance. It's easy to tune out false signals due to ground minerals.
It also has an all metal no motion mode that you can use to pinpoint. This emits the typical Waaaa sound as you get over a target.
I've found quite a bit of stuff with it already and I am really impressed with the depth. I've dug out stuff over a foot deep. I've also found a tiny little boot lace eyelet around 8". Look at your boot and look at how small the lace eyelet is. TINY for 8". I was shocked. It was a repeatable signal and I was able to pinpoint it in no motion mode once I located it in motion mode.
I'm really glad I made the choice that I did.
You can notch out targets and it also has an auto notch that has most trash already notched out.
I prefer to hunt in all metal motion mode though and dig everything. I locate in all metal motion mode then switch to no motion to pinpoint.
On beaches I can hunt dry or wet sand. I don't false on the dry, but in wet sand in all metal mode sometimes I have to turn the ground balance down and sensitivity down a little bit, but not to where I lose much depth.
In notch mode even if you don't notch out anything you lose iron. I sometimes use that mode when on a beach in wet sand.
Damp sand and dry sand are just fine. Wet sand is the only time I get false signals and that can be tuned out and is usually only when I hunt in all metal motion mode. Hunting in notch mode or all metal no motion mode I can turn the sensitivity up and don't false. You can also hunt in no motion mode while swinging you just have to slow down or you miss the signal.
I also like the 1/4" headphone jack.
I've only hunted 1 park before the snow covered us with 2+ feet and I found a bunch of coins.
I also found an old button at a cellar hole.
I can't wait until the parks thaw! It's going to be a fun summer!
Stick with the major brands like Garrett, Minelab, Tesoro or White's. Don't buy that silly China junk.
