Garrett Axiom Vs Minelab SDC 2300

[HardPack]

11 hours ago, HardPack said:

Has anyone had an issue with the SDC 2300 feature “Automatic Ground Tracking” balancing out a target after multiple passes?

The above question may have been buried in a prior post. Any AGT issues?

[Jeff McClendon]

On 1/1/2023 at 7:06 AM, HardPack said:

Both detectors fold up or slide up compact for packing.  The 2300 may be a bit on the heavy side compared to the Axiom but is manageable. Already have the Garrett Z-Lynk wireless transmitter plus the 1/4” receiver for my headphones. What has been your experience with either detector?

Since the SDC 2300 is waterproof, it also has proprietary waterproof audio jack connections . You will need an adapter cable with a female 1/4" plug-in along with the proprietary male plug-in on the other end in order to use your Z-Lynk system. They cost around $75 to $100 depending on availability.

With the Axiom, Z-Lynk is included or not depending on which bundled package you get. At any rate, with either package, your Z-Lynk headphones will pair up easily. 

You are saying the SDC weight is manageable. Ash kept saying the SDC is light in the video you posted. In my opinion the SDC is not light......why was Ash using a guide stick and why do many users use a full harness system with the SDC 2300.....

I never used a harness with my TDI SL or with my SPP. I don't use a harness with my GPX 6000 using the stock 11" coil or the Coiltek 10X5. I have heard that a harness is not necessary with the Axiom using the smaller coils. 

So manageable on relatively flat land and manageable on a mountain side picking ones way around shrubs, trees, boulders and talus slopes are two utterly different things when using the SDC 2300.

[Jeff McClendon]

There are some great deals on used SDC 2300s at the moment online. They are very tempting. I was very tempted and almost pulled the trigger. Then my shoulder and back reminded me about where I often detect for gold nuggets and I stuck with my GPX 6000.

Everyone that has held/used both on this forum has commented on the ease of use weight wise of the Axiom and GPX 6000 compared to the SDC 2300, the GPX 5000 series and the GPZ.

[HardPack]

The next logical step for me is the find a local shop then test each unit for myself. Meanwhile, the EQ900 is going to get a work out. Thank for the input.

[Gerry in Idaho]

I have owned both and had great success with each detector.  I've been able to do things with the SDC-2300, many other PI's could not, including using it fully submerged in water and find amazing treasures.  Warning, it's Waterproof capabilities are not as good as I had hoped.  

As mentioned, the SDC-2300 is Turn on and go with not many adjustments needed.  It's Processing and Timing are designed for smaller gold..

and or certain specimens the older PI's can't see.  

 

Yes it can find big gold, just ask a few of my customers.

The SDC-2300 is a great detector for certain tasks and I have many customers who enjoy it's compactness and capability.  It's extremely awkward to swing and most who hunt for a period of time should be using a swing arm (the same one off of a GPZ-7000 is perfect).

 

The Axiom (new kid on the block) is still unknown by most. 

I assure you, it's gold hunting capabilities are above the SDC-2300 for a variety of tasks.  It has more coil selection, better tuning options, Iron Identification when needed, is much lighter and easier to swing. 

The coils are hot on the edge as is the SDC for pinpointing small nuggets near surface.

It can find a variety of gold at greater depths vs the SDC-2300, but that's because of the added Timings and coil options.

 

At today's price comparison, you can purchase a new (10 yr old detector) in box SDC-2300 for $3400 and it comes with 1 coil, 3 yr warranty and crappy headphones that most of my customers seem to break.  It's a very compact detector but heavy, turn on and go, finds small gold with ease.

The new kid on the block Axiom is $3999, American made with 2 yr warranty. comes with 2 coils, better headphones, is compact, light weight, and has more capabilities for more kinds of gold prospecting.  A nice padded Carry Case/BackPack comes with each purchase as well. Another thing many folks miss, is the ability for Software Upgrades vs the SDC-2300.  As a Bonus (just a matter of time), you'll see a good following of Relic Hunters using the Axiom because of it's added features and coil offerings.

Something many folks don't look or think about.  RESALE -  SDC-2300 is pretty much a gold prospecting tool and has a smaller audience.  The Axiom will be more desired for Prospectors, Beach Hunters and Relic Hunters, so your resale audience is bigger, broader and easier to move which is an added value and more $$.

For my style of detecting, it's an easy answer, Axiom.

Either way you go, they are both fantastic detectors and the SDC-2300 is proven for it's limited uses.  The new kid on the block Axiom just needs a little time to shine.  Heck I remember when the SDC-2300 came out and how so many folks were not happy at 1st.  After time it was realized yes, it is a great detector for smaller nuggets.

Hopefully this info helps you and many others down the road.

Below gold found by Steve Herschbach with the Axiom.

Bottom line, these detectors are tools and those who use them most get best rewards.

Gerry's Detectors

www.gerrysdetectors.com

 

 

[geof_junk]

Gerry I was looking for the fish in your mouth, did I miss it. 😀

[Gerry in Idaho]

On 1/3/2023 at 2:30 PM, geof_junk said:

Gerry I was looking for the fish in your mouth, did I miss it. 😀

I'll double down on the next post for you..

[HardPack]

Thanks for all the input, picked the Minelab SDC 2300. Got some old stacked tailings buried in vines & thorns that need a good raking. 

[Gold neck prospecting]

I've recently been detecting with the new axiom and honestly I really like that machine. I've been running the sdc for the past 6 years I've gone through 2 of them, my current sdc I've had for 3 years now the knuckle is completely worn out, the cams on the collapsible stock are gone, I have half a dozen popsicle sticks and 2 rolls of electrical tape holding it together and the external speaker is completely dead.  think the materials used are junk and the headphone jack is nonsense. Now i'm not knocking the sdc its an outstanding machine and I've found some incredible gold with it large and small. The sdc is not the most comfortable machine to swing alot of times I hold it past the hand grip. No I'm not a sugar foot I swing my 7000 all day and don't use the harness or the 3rd shaft. This is strictly my honest intake of the sdc and the axiom. Now the axiom. I've only taken axiom out less than a dozen times since I recently got the machine. I revisited old patches that has been creamed by the 7000 the sdc and a 4500. Signals are rare at these spots now how ever I've hit small gold at depth the sdc or the 7000 didn't hear. I did hit a 12dwt specimen the sdc hold not hear that the axiom hit, I'm not sure I swung that same spot with the 7000, I do know the axiom hits smaller gold stronger than the 7000 I've proven that. The axiom is well ballanced it pendulums against the forearm which makes it comfortable I like that the shaft clicks into position, I do think the axiom is a little noisy but not as bad as the 6000, the settings for the axiom do exactly what they intend to do except the iron ID. To adjust the tone to your  hearing ability is great, swing speed is cool but if your in slow and you swing to fast you miss targets that is the most important function of the machine you have to follow. If I'm drinking around I'm in medium until I find that tip off piece then I go into slow mode and go over everything low and slow and it works that's how I got that 12 dwt specimen I had mentioned and a hand full of dinks. I'm not a fan of the z link head phones, I do have the z link wireless I used for the sdc I just link the receiver to the axiom and use killer b's wasp headphones. One thing I like the sdc over the axiom is the ground ballanced, the sdc is pretty much a 1 and done type ground ballance the axiom I have to treat as if it's a vlf every time I see a ground change. I absolutely like the fact I can change coils on the fly with out any special tools and the coils being submersible unlike the coil teck coils for the sdc not sure why a coil company would make coil you can't dunk in water for a water proof machine. I think the axiom has a larger potential over the sdc, I really hope garrett comes up with software updates I read they from non garrett employees they do but I heard they dont from a trusted source. I do think the axiom has some improvements to make but in all reality I just replaced and will continue to replace my sdc for the axiom. When I'm not doing welding jobs I prospect gold is part of my income so I can't  pussyfoot around. I run 3 detectors,  1 was the sdc now the axiom to locate shallow patches, 2 the 7000 to bring in after a patch was located and 3 a vlf to cherry pick through trashy areas like mine dumps rock piles things like that. Good luck out in the gold fields 

[Gold neck prospecting]

Failed to mention the battery life for the axiom is fantastic plus the booster pack is great, I could run all day with the sdc and 3/4- 7/8 of the day with the 7000 if you can last all day pretty much all you need just recharge at night. I like you can really tweak the axioms settings to perform what you intend to hunt like the 7000 almost plays a big role.