Nugget Shooter Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Well I have about 20 hours or a little less on the new Minelab SDC 2300 and so far am impressed with this detector and it does exactly as Minelab says it will. It finds smaller gold incredibly well and at considerable depth. I have not done any real side by side testing with the other PI units I own, but have been purposely hunting hammered patches at the LSD and Quartzsite areas and I have hunted most of these areas in the past with the GPX 5000 and it's predecessors as well as the ATX and so have many of you on this forum. That being said there are a couple things I had to get used to.First the threshold is NOT like the SD and GPX series we are used to and is somewhat "fluttery" for lack of a better term and at first took some getting used to. Thought it was a problem, but after talking to others using the detector it seems this is the norm for this new technology that allows for the hyper sensitivity to small targets.Also the signal it gives in no way will prepare you for how small a target this detector will hear at several inches deep. If the SDC 2300 gives a repeatable signal no matter how faint it is a target or rare hot rock and there is very little ground noise to deal with. Also no falsing when bumped, really none....So far I am up to 9 small nuggets in 4 trips out totaling around 20 hours as mentioned and it is nice to be nailing a little bit almost every trip again. I have also dug some trash targets from over a foot deep which assure me this detector will hear a good sized 1/4 or better ounce nugget at a pretty good depth though not near as deep as a GPX 5000 equipped with a larger coil. In shallow ground the SDC will hold the edge for sure.....More to come and sorry about the crappy iphone pic, but you get the idea.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Au Seeker Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Looking good Bill, if you keep that up it won't be long before the SDC 2300 pays for itself!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno Chris Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I've got pieces of a gram plus to 6 inches depth. In Alaska, I got a specimen with a good quarter ounce of gold which is much more gold than rock by weight, and got it at around 9 inches and it was not a weak signal, though not a screamer. So yes, it will get good sized stuff deeper, though not as deep as a GPX in the bigger stuff. The 3/4 ouncer I got screamed, but it was only a couple inches deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly starkey Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Sounds like your having fun Bill small gold is still better than none way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomH Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 WTG! Nice nugs. Pretty cool your getting them out of hammered areas.Tom H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Yup and will be at LSD this weekend, but not at the flats as planned since the road is too washed out at Littls San Domingo wash to get the coach in. Will be camped at the top of the hill at the quarry before the turn off Castle Hot Springs road to Little San Domingo Wash. Stop up and say hello.Yes Kelly small gold still pays the same and piles up pretty fast plus there is lots of it yet out there in hammered areas where tagging a sizable nuggets are few and far between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Tons a au 2 u 2 with your new tool as there are so many new ones now to try. I'm working the Notka Fors at this time and quite a bit different from american operation,heading to the boonies as town tests inconclusive.-John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Let us know what ya think John.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Ron Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Checked out their website ... Looks like the Nokta is just another, somewhat expensive, VLF operating at about 15 Hz...That seems like it would not be so sensitive to small gold???? Looking forward to your hands on experience with it... Cheers, Unc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssweat Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Looks like a great machine, very impressive start. I may get one once i find enough gold to do it lol. I love how compact it can get like a Transformer for adults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Very interested in the 2300 as that small a gold that deep on a pulse is VERY different. 3 days at our rock show and 1 day to heal and back on the testing trail hopefully. Hope ya find some righteous species this weekend Bill John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Got 7 more this weekend out at LSD, biggest was .5 g.... Having fun with this detector and is much like a GPX 5000 in sensitive/fine timings as I said before, but more sensitive to small stuff at depth I think. Very compact with no extra cords etc as well as no bungee cord needed. Also there is literally zero false signals as I also mentioned which is pretty cool....Finds so far.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ4AU Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Hello Bill,Looks good so far, the only question that I have not seen asked is about the discrimination, how good does it discriminate?Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reno Chris Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) how good does it discriminate?The SDC 2300 has no discrimination setting. Its a fixed mono coil, and the Minelab discrimination only works with a DD coil, so it has no discrimination. Edited October 12, 2014 by Reno Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ4AU Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Thanks Chris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C... Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 WTG Bill It was good seeing you again Mike C... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Ron Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 How have you done at the really hammered spots like Gypsy Moth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 That is where some of them came from Ron.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Very impressive from a hammered spot. Kudos for sure-John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomH Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Nice looking gold Bill Glad you were able to snag some this weekend also.I wasn't able to make it up your way.Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.