Detector selection help please

[Niko]

Howdy,
I am considering prospecting as a new hobby,
My knowledge on the subject is zero
I have searched a few threads forgive me if these questions have been already asked.
I feel stupid asking this but,.....
1. Is there a best detector ?
2. Which detector is best for detecting the deepest.
3. Is it important to be able to go deep?
Sounds naughty unintended
4. Is there other considerations that make other detectors better and why ?

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed and I want to minimise wasting time and money.
I want to save up and get the best equipment for the job.
Or is each detector created to work in a specific environment.?
If so ,
5. Which is the best detector in each environment.
6. Do detectors come with instructional videos , courses etc. or is it simply better to just go out there and learn as you go.
7. Too many questions for one thread ?

 

[XLOOX]

Howdy,
I am considering prospecting as a new hobby,
My knowledge on the subject is zero
I have searched a few threads forgive me if these questions have been already asked.
I feel stupid asking this but,.....
1. Is there a best detector ?
2. Which detector is best for detecting the deepest.
3. Is it important to be able to go deep?
Sounds naughty unintended
4. Is there other considerations that make other detectors better and why ?

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed and I want to minimise wasting time and money.
I want to save up and get the best equipment for the job.
Or is each detector created to work in a specific environment.?
If so ,
5. Which is the best detector in each environment.
6. Do detectors come with instructional videos , courses etc. or is it simply better to just go out there and learn as you go.
7. Too many questions for one thread ?

1. For gold in Australian mineralised soils, yes GPX6000/GPZ7000.
For everything else, no, there are dozen good quality VLFs with shades of grey differences in performance/features. Get a Equinox 900 if in doubt.

2. GPX5000 with 25" or bigger coil.

3. Depends what you are looking for. For gold 99% is found in top 300mm. Ditto coins in parks and beaches. 99.9% of all targets are found under 500mm.

6. There are OEM and unofficial videos on youtube for most modern detectors. If you pay $8k for a gold detector you might get a free few hours instruction, depending on dealer. You wont get that if if you are only buying a $1k VLF.

A bit or reading/watching up front on both your detector and where &how to detect legally and safely, then hours and hours of getting out there and perserving is what is needed.

Figure out What you really want to look for ie gold/coins/relics and Where you want to look - ie outback/parks/forests/beaches.

Then you can search on PA and Detector-Prospector to your hearts content to find out what you need for those combinations and why.

If you say you dunno what you want to look for or "everything-everywhere" then you wont get far at all.

There are a dozen beginner/1st detector posts on PA over the past few years , have a search of those.

 

[Moneybox]

When we first decided to buy a detector we already knew we'd use it so we bought what we thought was the best we could get. They are expensive machines so you have to consider if it's likely to be used a lot or is it just another toy to hang in the shed after the fad has passed?

If you are confident detecting is for you then I'd buy the best you can get because it improves your chances of success. I think the Minelab GPX6000 is the best all round gold detector available but there are cheaper options with quite good performance particularly if you choose second hand and used detectors are usually a good buy as they usually have a good long life. Minelab make the best gold detectors.

If you are into coin and treasure detectors I can't help you much because I don't like them.

 

[Hawkear]

Hi Nico.
I would also add the SDC 2300 as a competent machine to consider if just putting your toe in the water.
They are cheaper than other competent stock standard detectors like the 7000, 6000 and 5000, have simpler controls but are still effective at finding gold. Once my wife and I each using a 2300 in WA pulled out 140 nuggets (80 me, 60 her) in one day from a patch that I and others had detected with 4500s on an earlier visit. Still our personal bests.
They are optimised for sensitivity and finding the small gold that deeper seeking detectors miss. They are therefore a great learning machine as they can be used by a beginner in any already well detected area with a great chance of success.
If you later decide that detecting is not you or if you want to go further and upgrade, there is a good used market for them.
The biggest mistake that beginners make is to go too cheap and buy an incompetent detector.

 

[Niko]

1. For gold in Australian mineralised soils, yes GPX6000/GPZ7000.
For everything else, no, there are dozen good quality VLFs with shades of grey differences in performance/features. Get a Equinox 900 if in doubt.

2. GPX5000 with 25" or bigger coil.

3. Depends what you are looking for. For gold 99% is found in top 300mm. Ditto coins in parks and beaches. 99.9% of all targets are found under 500mm.

6. There are OEM and unofficial videos on youtube for most modern detectors. If you pay $8k for a gold detector you might get a free few hours instruction, depending on dealer. You wont get that if if you are only buying a $1k VLF.

A bit or reading/watching up front on both your detector and where &how to detect legally and safely, then hours and hours of getting out there and perserving is what is needed.

Figure out What you really want to look for ie gold/coins/relics and Where you want to look - ie outback/parks/forests/beaches.

Then you can search on PA and Detector-Prospector to your hearts content to find out what you need for those combinations and why.

If you say you dunno what you want to look for or "everything-everywhere" then you wont get far at all.

There are a dozen beginner/1st detector posts on PA over the past few years , have a search of those.

Cheers
Gold definitely my target ,
I will check out the the gpx and gpz models
Thankyou

 

[Niko]

Cheers
Gold definitely my target ,
I will check out the the gpx and gpz models
Thankyou

Cheers
Gold definitely my target ,
I will check out the the gpx and gpz models
Thankyou

Wow 10 K
The equinox at 2k seems like a great compromise
Being completely submersible is a great bonus
And I can t see myself digging more than 6 ft
I will check out the SDC now
Thx