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Bullion.Forum
Minelab MINELAB F1A4 ex military metal detectors - tips, settings, questions
- Thread starter Colin&Lee
- Start date
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G
Guest
For $2400 I would be looking for a used GP3500 or get a TDI pro new.
Twapster
Peter
Vk3laj said:
Id say that's the top end of pricing, I got mine because it was cheap and yet a good PI machine from reports. If you are thinking of spending over $2k then im sure there are pro's for getting a newer second hand model as Mbasko has pointed out. Since mine was $1300 all up incl modding i'm not complaining but doubt ull get that price unless you snipe one at a govt auction and im sure there are a lot of people on the lookout for exactly that. Sexy machine just like the SD series I like the look as well!
Yes they are 100% worth it I bought a jack Lange f1a4 mod 2 and added a 14 inch nugget finder.these machines are the bomb 
.so simple to use and handle and I can almost always run the gain on full tap.if you have the money and thinking about it jump at it you won't be disappointed. also the after purchase support has been awesome.hope this has helped. kim
.so simple to use and handle and I can almost always run the gain on full tap.if you have the money and thinking about it jump at it you won't be disappointed. also the after purchase support has been awesome.hope this has helped. kim
Twapster
Peter
k man said:Yes they are 100% worth it I bought a jack Lange f1a4 mod 2 and added a 14 inch nugget finder.these machines are the bomb
Before I purchased, I had looked and looked at different info on "Gold" detectors, and was leaning towards a later SD series. From all reports the SD's are still considered very good, and the F1A4 was favourably comparable, and with Jack Lange commenting the level 2 modded F1A4 machine was up there with the GP 3500, I just couldn't resist given the price.
Obviously the more you pay, the closer you get to a situation where you should be buying a GP 3500 + and not the F1A4.
However the other consideration is the fact the F1A4 is often found in "new condition", been sitting in a box for the last 10 years in some army barracks and barely used and well looked after. Not to mention that almost everyone agrees its extremely stable with electrical interference, and user friendly.
I'm no expert, but i've done my research on these machines. A lot of people who are looking for Gold are conned into VLF's and for the most part are then disappointed when the machine screams at everything and you feel like hurtling it in the bush after a few minutes of use.
The stock F1A4 when I tested it at Coles Bridge, was superbly quiet, and I was able to pick up a sweet little signal that my mates AT pro couldn't hear above the chatter. Turned out to be a tiny piece of metal. Not saying his setttings were correct, but NO SETTINGS REQUIRED on the stock F1A4!
I always wanted a Pulse Induction machine , but cant yet justify the big spend on the Rolls Royce GPX model while I can only get out detecting a few times a year.
The F1A4 certainly fills a gap in the market for some of us blokes. All I would say is you need a bungee for sure as the machine is quite heavy without one.
The other thing I did was mod my carry box for better purpose by ripping out the foam blocks and adding top and bottom sound proofing foam.( the grey egg carton type you see in some cases). Then I made room in there for my pick, extra coils, spare batteries,recharger, kitted out back pack and maps. all tucks in there nice and straps down with the same valcro straps still provided in the case.now its a one stop shop and all I have to do is pick it up and throw it in the car and every thing is there waiting to go, no need to pack or worry about leaving any thing behind.
Are there any good videos on the F1A4 against other detectors also using an 8" Mono?
G
Guest
Not too much really.. I've done some playing with multiple coils.. mostly vs a modified 2100..
the 2100 wins.
the 2100 wins.
Twapster
Peter
Not sure, not too many vids on the F1A4-M2 full stop.
G
Guest
Make some Twapster! lol
Twapster
Peter
Might be heading out to Windeyer for a detecting trip Oct so may have to video it!
Twapster
Peter
LazyTrommel said:
Ive seen on a forum a guys sells his 2100d to get a modded f1a4, saying they are similar but the F1a4 wins. Is he wrong? Id love to know.
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2014
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Hey all
I just got back from a quick 4 day trip in WA. I was really happy with the way the F1 performed this time it was super quiet. There were five other people running 5000's and I was by no means left in the dust. three of us had a 0.3 nugget first day me included ,everyone was impressed that the F1 was able to snag a piece in such hammered ground . My total for the trip was 2.3g. I got a nice 1.5g nugget at good depth , with big rocks on the surface too. I also had a swing under some powerlines on the way home to see how it would go. It made abit of a wobble but could easily pick targets out unfortunatly all I got was oldtimers junk maybe next time Ill have abit more time and abit of luck.
I just got back from a quick 4 day trip in WA. I was really happy with the way the F1 performed this time it was super quiet. There were five other people running 5000's and I was by no means left in the dust. three of us had a 0.3 nugget first day me included
,everyone was impressed that the F1 was able to snag a piece in such hammered ground . My total for the trip was 2.3g. I got a nice 1.5g nugget at good depth , with big rocks on the surface too. I also had a swing under some powerlines on the way home to see how it would go. It made abit of a wobble but could easily pick targets out unfortunatly all I got was oldtimers junk maybe next time Ill have abit more time and abit of luck.
Good efforts flash hunter gr8 to see the old girl stand up against the 5ks.I bet they had to blink twice
Nice one. what coil were you using on it?
Hey flash hunter is your donk modded or standard?
Sorry flash hunter if I went back a page I would have realized I already knew the answer to my question.once again gr8 finds
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2014
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 21
I got the nuggets using the 12x7 NF its an awsome coil. I also ran 17x11 for a bit but I prefer the smaller one
Yeah it got all the mods. The case from mozzie another forum member was a great addition as well . Had no trouble with it falling over even with all the rocks.
Yeah it got all the mods. The case from mozzie another forum member was a great addition as well . Had no trouble with it falling over even with all the rocks.
Twapster
Peter
flashhunter said:Hey all
I just got back from a quick 4 day trip in WA. I was really happy with the way the F1 performed this time it was super quiet. There were five other people running 5000's and I was by no means left in the dust. three of us had a 0.3 nugget first day me included
https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...ges/3787/1412069752_gold_nuggets_trip_two.jpg
Mate that's all I wanted to hear, we all know the GPX is the current King, but not all of us can rush in and get one. The F1A4 is the machine I was looking for as an easy to use PI that is super quiet compared to my VLF. I had given up gold detecting for a while because the VLF was just too damn noisy and not appropriate for the Gold Hunt. Thanks to my new found hope in the F1A4 i'm happily getting out to Windeyer this weekend for some recon and not bringing the High-banker this time, which is a first for me as she is usually always strapped to the roof racks. Let hope I find more than a bucket full of trash! At least I can say i'm out there cleaning up the bush!!!
