GPX or SDC for first timer

[Bobby]

Gday,

I am new to this forum and prospecting. I am planning a 12mth+ trip around Australia with our young family and wanted to squeeze in some gold detecting into the trip. While I dont have much experience with gold detecting, I have a solid understanding of geology and love getting off the beaten track, bush and the history of old mining areas.

I would very much appreciate some advice on choosing the best detector to take on our trip. Budget at this stage is unknown, but definitely <5k. From the research I have done, it appears as if my best options are: GPX5000 OR 4500 (second hand) or SDC2300.

The main questions I have are:

1. Is there much of a risk (generally speaking) in buying second hand gear, i.e. forking out 4-5k for a used GPX5000
2. Is the GPX5000 too hard to use/technical for a first timer?
3. Is there much of a difference between the 4500 and 5000?
4. Does having an SDC2300 massively reduce your chances of finding a big nugget?

Basically I love the idea of the simplicity of using an SDC, but ultimately I love the idea of finding a big nugget. I know I will obviously have to compromise on something, but thought Id ask the experts what you recommend for a first timer.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, cheers

Bobby

 

[Jaros]

If you have the SDC2300 use it. The ease of use -setup etc. means you just get out and go.==The 5000 is a bit more complex-lots.
Jaros

 

[Greglz86]

Hey bobby. Im sort of in the same boat. Still tossing up weather to get the sdc or 5k. However im thinking maybe about buying the 5k new. There seem to be some good packages out at the moment.
but at the same time i dont want to be overwhelmed with a detector i dont know how to use properly.
The sdc is good and will find stuff the 5k missed but you may miss the bigger deeper stuff with sdc.
Ah, decisions decisions

 

[Heatho]

If you have the time patience to learn a 5000 or 4500 then that's what I'd get, if you just want to have a bit of fun and see how you go get the SDC.

The 5000 is a lot more versatile but may take a few trips and a bit of testing to get a decent grasp of the settings. Reading the manual before purchase will help a lot.

 

[Redfin]

There is nothing wrong with FP on the 5k.

 

[Guest]

Hey bobby. Im sort of in the same boat. Still tossing up weather to get the sdc or 5k. However im thinking maybe about buying the 5k new. There seem to be some good packages out at the moment.
but at the same time i dont want to be overwhelmed with a detector i dont know how to use properly.
The sdc is good and will find stuff the 5k missed but you may miss the bigger deeper stuff with sdc.
Ah, decisions decisions

I am in the same boat and looked at buying a 2300.

I have seen the tiny nuggets the 2300 can find and these were like 1.5mm or so in diameter.

Really tiny bits. I have opted in purchasing either a 4500 or 5000 instead.

 

[grubstake]

I am planning a 12mth+ trip around Australia with our young family and wanted to squeeze in some gold detecting into the trip.

A big advantage of the SDC in your situation is that it is very robust yet collapses down easily into a format that can be stowed away in a caravan/campervan/trailer and is easily backpackable if you want to take off for the day to explore an area. It will also function well in wet situations - creek/river prospecting or beach treasure-hunting. Plus, it runs on readily-available 'C' size batteries, if recharging isn't possible during your travels. With only a couple of simple controls, it is very easy to learn and be confident that the machine is set up correctly for the task.

 

[user 1769]

If you have the SDC2300 use it. The ease of use -setup etc. means you just get out and go.==The 5000 is a bit more complex-lots.
Jaros

A big advantage of the SDC in your situation is that it is very robust yet collapses down easily into a format that can be stowed away in a caravan/campervan/trailer and is easily backpackable if you want to take off for the day to explore an area. It will also function well in wet situations - creek/river prospecting or beach treasure-hunting.

I am biased because I have an SDC myself. However I agree wholeheartedly with both of these posts. I can backpack my SDC with hiking gear and food enough for 3-4 days, and it gives me a huge amount of flexibility. I also got it out of the box, turned it on, and was finding gold in a creek from the word go. I even found some hidden crevices that panned a fair bit of gold that had been missed by previous prospectors. It's amazingly sensitive on small stuff, but would not have the punch for deep large stuff that a 5000 with a larger coil has.

 

[user 4485]

1. Is there much of a risk (generally speaking) in buying second hand gear, i.e. forking out 4-5k for a used GPX5000
2. Is the GPX5000 too hard to use/technical for a first timer?
3. Is there much of a difference between the 4500 and 5000?
4. Does having an SDC2300 massively reduce your chances of finding a big nugget?

1. Yes
Checklist for making a purchase (especially off eBay etc. or used):

Get the serial number

Get the place/date of purchase details - ask for an invoice

If possible check the security sticker hologram (5000)

Verifyallof the details with Minelab - don't just check the serial number as some fakes have a correct number on them. Get Minelab to cross reference it with the other details like place of purchase/date of purchase etc. They can & will supply this info.

2. Use the Factory Presets as Redfin said. They work & are preset for that reason. If possible do a reputable 1 or 2 day course - it will make a difference.
3. Very little. The 5000 is more stable & has fine gold timing but 4500 users swear by them & many never upgraded to a 5000 as the difference is fairly minimal.
4. I wouldn't say massively but the 4500/5000 will definitely consistently punch deeper. I have found deep junk with the SDC & have no doubt it would pick up a large nugget at a reasonable depth but this isn't it's forte.

For simplicity the SDC would be the way to go. Ideally for an extended trip around Australia I would want both or at least the SDC & something like a GP3500 for bigger coils/deeper ground. If I had to compromise for a trip like that & could only take one it would be a 4500/5000 but I might consider the SDC for the Eastern states then trade to a GPX when heading west. Decisions decisions :lol:

 

[gcause]

Bobby,

I will give you the advice I give all newbies.

First you need to determine if this hobby is for you before making a major purchase of an asset that may wind up sitting in the shed for years until you sell it having only used it once or twice.

Second some people get hooked on wet prospecting/fossicking and others on dry prospecting/fossicking, some (like me) on both. You need to determine which is for you they both have their pros and cons and a separate set of skills are required for each.

The easiest way to get into this hobby is a $20 gold pan and a shovel / pick. If you want to go all out get yourself a plastic sieve and a bucket for $20 also. Total outlay $40 thats way more palatable than a $4000 or $6000 outlay to try something new.

Once you learn to use a gold pan then decide if you want to upgrade your gear. Learning to use a gold pan will teach you other skills (but I suspect if you know geology you may already have this) like how to read the ground and the lay of the land to determine where to look for gold.

If you like using a gold pan progress to a high banker or sluice. Again gaining new skills along the way. Save any gold you find.

If you do decide to upgrade go hire one / borrow one first to help you decide if metal detecting is for you. They reckon you will hit over 200 junk targets before you get one good one so this takes a lot of patience and digging 200 holes for pieces of junk can get frustrating not to mention back breaking.

Start with something simple like a Garrett ACE 250 its cost is in the hundreds not the thousands. Take it out to the park, the beach and get used to using a metal detector. Make some great finds and save them to pay for an upgrade.

If after that you are hooked on the thrill of the hunt and being out and about then go for something like a used Minelab SD2200 or better. They go for about $2300-3000. They will find gold both deep and shallow, large and small. Find some gold and save it to pay for an upgrade.

Above that there is the Minelab 2300 and it will find fine gold.

If after that you find you are hooked on the hobby and want to dedicate yourself to finding gold then go get the top of the line the Minelab 5000 or now the 7000.

Also study up on the fossicking rules and the law before you do anything (like the Theft by Finding law, particularly with beach / park finds) so you don't get into trouble whilst having some fun.

Anyway all the best with it hope you find a tonne of gold out there

Cheers,

Grant

 

[Bobby]

Thanks to all for the feedback, much appreciated. It is a tough decision, but sounds like either way I will end up with a good detector.

I like what you say Grant in regards to making sure this is the hobby for me before outlaying a significant amount of cash. Its something I think about a lot myself, but I am very confident Ill give it a real crack at least for the duration of our travels and likely afterwards as well. Although I have done very little prospecting, I have spent a lot of time in the bush and know that ill still get a big kick out of camping/bushwalking even if no gold is found.

My theory with starting with a good, expensive detector was that I know Ill spend a reasonable amount of time using it over the next 12mths, so I want to make sure I give myself the best possible chance of success in that time. I was hoping that if I needed too, I would be able to sell a quality detector (SDC/GPX) fairly easily without losing too much money over the course of a year or 2.

Would that be fair to assume? Hopefully I can keep it and use it regurarly, but part of my justification for outlaying a significant amount is that I could recoup ~80% of the initial spend fairly quickly if needed.

Thanks again guys

 

[PhaseTech]

If you are prepared to spend a bit of time reading the manual, and the wealth of info already out there, I'd say get a gpx5000. Preferably from a dealer or someone reputable. Try and avoid gumtree. Definitely a buyers market at the moment, so if you got a used one for a good price, you wouldn't lose much if you look at selling down the track.

With a couple coils, running Fine Gold, General mode and a couple tweaks will get you gold no problems.

Nenad

 

[Ronk]

wait a couple of weeks and see where the new 7000 price comes in , from what i am seeing everything will be a bit cheaper too

 

[user 1769]

Hi Ronk, the 7000 is priced at $10,700. Most outlets have started to list the price.

 

[isolation]

I was having the same issue when I was looking for my first detector. I hired the GPX 5000 and the SDC 2300 before my purchase... Liked them both. I ended up going the SDC because of it's portability. You still have the capability to find big nuggets with the SDC, it just won't punch as deep. As others have mentioned, you can throw it in a backpack and hike into a remote location in search of those untouched grounds. The GPX is definitely more versatile, and will punch a lot deeper. I would have gone with the GPX if the compact portability wasn't that important to me. Both great detectors, both finding lots of gold.
Depth and versatility, or portability and ease of use

 

[Guest]

Get the SDC as it has a lot of uses especially traveling.
And get the kids a Aldi detector each so they can collect pocket money in Parks/beaches when you stop on the way round.

 

[Guest]

I would look at buying a gpx 4500 or 5000. You
Could get a 4500 for around $3500 and a 5000
For around $4000-$4500.

Good luck with it.

 

[PhaseTech]

Would love to see Minelab release a new model
in a new Case that does not fold, with an 11" coil
and a Fine gold setting where you can set the size of
Gold you want to detect.

That sounds just like the gpx5000

 

[Guest]

Would love to see Minelab release a new model
in a new Case that does not fold, with an 11" coil
and a Fine gold setting where you can set the size of
Gold you want to detect.

That sounds just like the gpx5000

I would love minelab to release another gpz series
With 11" standard coil and fine gold setting with
No gps or mapping with 85% depth capability
Of the 7000.

if budget allows i will upgrade to a 5000. Very
Nice machines.

 

[Heatho]

Wolf, the SDC has the finest of Gold settings, if you borrowed 1 for a week I can assure you that you would not want to hand it back. The GPX series are very serious detectors, the SDC is fun and finds the goods without having to constantly ***** what timings and coils and other settings suit which ground.

For an intro to Gold detecting the SDC is unbeatable for early successes, for serious prospecting you'd want a GPX.

I have both and like the both of them so I'm not biased either way.