Why the Garrett ACE 300 Metal Detector Earns Its Spot in the Lineup
The Garrett ACE 300 metal detector sits in the middle of the ACE Series, between the entry-level ACE 200/250 and the top-tier ACE 400. It moves up from the ACE 250 with a higher operating frequency (8 kHz vs. 6.5 kHz), adjustable frequency to dodge EMI at crowded club hunts, Digital Target ID, and the larger 7" x 10" PROformance concentric searchcoil. For coin and jewelry hunting in parks, schoolyards, fairgrounds, and old home sites with moderate iron trash, the ACE 300 is the practical balance of features and price tier in the ACE family. Garrett manufactures the ACE 300 in Garland, Texas, the same Made-in-USA facility the company has operated from since 1964.
Garrett ACE 300 Key Specs
- Operating Frequency: 8 kHz, adjustable
- Standard Searchcoil: 7" x 10" PROformance concentric, with included coil cover
- Search Modes: 5 plus Pinpoint
- Target ID Scale: Digital, 0 to 99
- Audio Tone ID Levels: 3
- Iron Discrimination Segments: 4
- Notch Discrimination: Adjustable
- Sensitivity / Depth Adjustments: 8
- Iron Audio: No (Iron Audio is the ACE 400 feature)
- Iron Check: Yes (increased pixel resolution for iron discrimination)
- Graphic Target Analyzing: Yes
- Electronic Pinpointing: Yes (non-motion All-Metal Mode)
- Target Depth Indicator: Yes
- One-Touch Treasure Hunting: Yes
- Length: 42" to 51" (1.06 m to 1.29 m) adjustable
- Stem Stability: Camlocks
- Power: 4 AA batteries (included)
- Battery Condition Indicator: Yes
- Weight: 2.8 lb (1.27 kg)
- Headphones Included: No (sold separately, headphones with 1/4 inch connector compatible)
- Warranty: 3 Year, Limited Parts/Labor
- Country of Origin: Made in USA (Garland, Texas)
Five Search Modes Explained
The ACE 300 ships with five preset detection modes plus a Pinpoint function. Picking the right mode for the site is the first thing experienced ACE owners do before they start swinging.
- Zero Discrimination (All Metal): Accepts every target. Use it in known-clean sites or when you want maximum depth and the full audio response.
- Coins: Preset notch rejects most iron and foil while accepting high-conductive targets including clad quarters, copper pennies, and silver coins. Good starting mode for park coin shooting.
- Relics: Wide acceptance window for old home sites, plowed fields, and historical permissions where brass buckles, lead, and small iron may all be on the table. Expect more iron audio in trade for keeper recovery.
- Jewelry: Lower discrimination tuned to accept rings, chains, and other low-conductive targets that Coins mode might notch out. Use it at tot lots and modern park hunts where dropped jewelry is the primary target.
- Custom: Save your own discrimination pattern. Most operators set it once for their local trash profile (bottle caps, pull tabs, foil) and leave it as their go-to mode for repeat hunts at the same sites.
Pinpoint is a non-motion All-Metal mode for narrowing target location once you have a signal. The 7" x 10" concentric coil pinpoints in a tight pattern, which makes plug-side recovery straightforward.
Adjustable Frequency and Iron Check
The ACE 300 lets you adjust the operating frequency to eliminate or minimize interference from electrical sources or other metal detectors. That matters at crowded club hunts and rallies where multiple detectors near you create EMI that can false a fixed-frequency machine into uselessness. Iron Check uses increased pixel resolution for finer control over how much iron discrimination to apply, useful at iron-trashy permissions where good targets are masked by ferrous trash. Graphic Target Analyzing displays target conductivity and the active discrimination pattern simultaneously, giving you visual feedback on the discrimination range you have set.
ACE 300 vs. ACE 200, ACE 250, and ACE 400
All four ACE Series detectors share the same chassis, 42" to 51" adjustable length, 4 AA battery power, and 3-year Limited Parts/Labor warranty. The differences sit in frequency, search modes, target ID, and coil.
| Feature | ACE 200 | ACE 250 | ACE 300 | ACE 400 |
|---|
| Operating Frequency | 6.5 kHz, fixed | 6.5 kHz | 8 kHz, adjustable | 10 kHz, adjustable |
| Standard Searchcoil | 6.5" x 9" PROformance concentric | 6.5" x 9" PROformance concentric | 7" x 10" PROformance concentric | 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD |
| Search Modes | 3 | 5 plus Pinpoint | 5 plus Pinpoint | 5 plus Pinpoint |
| Digital Target ID (0 to 99) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Iron Audio | No | No | No | Yes |
| Iron Discrimination Segments | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Notch Discrimination | Fixed | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Sensitivity / Depth Adjustments | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Camlocks for stem stability | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Total Weight | 2.75 lb (1.25 kg) | 2.7 lb (1.2 kg) | 2.8 lb (1.27 kg) | 2.9 lb (1.32 kg) |
| Warranty | 3 Year, Limited | 3 Year, Limited | 3 Year, Limited | 3 Year, Limited |
The ACE 300 is the practical step up from the ACE 250 when adjustable frequency, Digital Target ID, and the larger 7" x 10" coil matter to you. Step up to the ACE 400 if you hunt iron-heavy permissions and want Iron Audio plus the 8.5" x 11" DD coil. Step up to the ACE Apex when you want multi-frequency capability, built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio, and a 175-point ground balance.
Recommended Accessories for the Garrett ACE 300
Pair the ACE 300 with the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer for plug-side target recovery; the Pro-Pointer AT is fully waterproof to 10 ft and shares Garrett's one-button interface. The ACE 300 has a 1/4 inch headphone jack; compatible wired headphones options include the ClearSound Easy Stow, MS-2, and TreasureSound models. Aftermarket Garrett ACE coils compatible with the ACE 300 include the 4.5" Super Sniper for tight trashy patches, the 5" x 8" DD for trashy sites with better target separation, the 6.5" x 9" concentric for general-purpose work, the 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD Raider for more coverage and depth, and the 9" x 12" PROformance concentric for open-ground depth. Round out the kit with a carry bag from the ACE-compatible selection and a digging tool for plug work.
Why Buy the Garrett ACE 300 Metal Detector from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Garrett ACE 300 ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized US Garrett Dealer: Full 3-year Limited Parts/Labor manufacturer warranty, factory firmware update support through the Garrett Updater app, and zero gray-market risk.
- Made in USA: The ACE 300 is manufactured in Garland, Texas, the same facility Garrett has operated from since 1964.
- Detectorists on Staff: Call or email for setup help, mode selection by site type, accessory pairing, and coil upgrade recommendations from people who hunt with the gear.
