abenson

Yea definitely a risk in using notch in goldfield, especially for the really small nuggets. In that ground a .20 gram or smaller nugget is virtually invisible to any VLF I've used at 1". The response on the Equinox is in the negative numbers and on the Deus 2 anywhere from 00 to 11 or so. On one of my past videos I dug a .50 gram nugget with the D2 at about 3 inches and it really struggled to even tell there was something there. If one wants to dig everything they could score a few small ones. But to me it's not worth it. The 6000 will easily get the smaller nuggets at twice the depth as either the Equinox or D2. When I use a V:LF in that particular area I accept the fact that the nuggets are going to have to be bigger and closer the the surface for me to detect them. So where the trash is unbearable that's were I'll pull out the VLF's. As you can see in this last video the .40 gram nugget I found in the trash was virtually on the surface.

Yes Chuck the damp soil did cause problems and made the detectors more noisy. The rain didn't last long though so only the top 1/2 of soil was wet. However the GoldHawk coil handled it very well. I only used the Equinox for about 30 minutes as the wet soil was really causing a lot of coil knock. The Deus 2 actually handled the salt better with the new update and 9" coil.

Had the opportunity to meet up with Steve Herschbach and Steve (Condor) over the weekend and do some gold nugget hunting and testing of the new Garrett Axiom. I took along a few machines with some new updates and coils to try out on this trip and just wanted to give a few thoughts on what I experienced as well as share a video I did of the trip. Unfortunately I missed out on the detector comparison and recovery of the big nugget Condor found. But was involved in the reburial of the nugget and testing of multiple machines and coils over it. You can read Condor's story below. The clear winner was the 7000 with the 17" concentric coil. Close behind at about and inch (maybe more) less depth was the 6000 running either the 11" or 13x17 mono coil seemed to make no difference. Axiom in this scenario was in third running either the 7x11 or 11x13 coils. While I was there Steve let me use the Axiom for about 15 or 20 minutes. Now obviously that's not enough time to become an expert by any means. But it did allow me to experience the Axiom first hand. I just used the settings Steve had loaded at the time and I'm not even sure what timing was being used. Garrett did a good job with the Axiom. It is very well balanced and one can easily swing it all day long with the 7x11 coil. Menu seems very straight forward and easy to navigate. The machine is well built and folds down to a very compact size for easy transport. Having used many PI's in the passed, I feel I could make an easy transition to the Axiom and do well with it. Two things I noticed in my limited time with the Axiom are, first, the threshold is very similar to the 6000 and has a little wavier in it. A good running 6000 has a small wavier in the threshold, unlike the 5000 which can have a rock solid threshold. Second, target response on the Axiom seemed to be a little sharper than either the 5000 or 6000. Not saying either is good or bad, it's just some observations I took away with me. Overall I'm excited to get one when they become available. Hopefully by the first week of November so I can take it relic hunting in Virginia. XP Deus 2 running the 9" coil with the latest update allowing disc notch has greatly improved the machine in trash and hot rock strewn areas. I ran the D2 through a very trashy area with disc notched out up to 25 as most of your smaller shallow gold will ID in the 30's. I was able to pull a .40 gram nugget from the mess and was happy with it's performance in that scenario. Finally, the new GoldHawk 5x10 mono coil is a really great coil IMO. It makes the threshold on the 6000 even smoother than it was before and handles bad ground well. In this particular area there is a lot of salt and red clay. With the 11" and bigger coils the 6000 moans and groans over this ground in areas. With the 5x10 there are very few places it has any trouble at all. I think this will allow a person to hear smaller and possibly deeper nuggets with the added stability. Sensitivity to small gold is also amazing. We buried a .10 gram nugget next to the big nugget Condor found and ran various coils over it on the 6000 and Axiom. I think it was about 1.5 inches deep and Steve commented that I was being a little optimistic about being able to detect it. The 5x10 GoldHawk coil picked it no problem and was easily the winner in this case. The next day I took it to an area I had pulled a few nuggets from in the past with the 11" mono on the 6000 and had gridded the area at least 2 times before. I was able to pull 7 nuggets from this same patch which really was amazing. Ended up with 2.4 grams for the trip. Video is below if any of you are interested in watching.

Yea I get similar results with the 14" DD

Steve it was great getting together with you and Condor over the last few days. It was also great to get the Axiom in my hands for awhile and try it out. It's one sweet machine. Very well behaved and fun to use. Garrett did a great job with the Axiom. I will be getting an Axiom and it will be replacing my GPX 5000 I recently sold. The 6000 is staying put and I'm very happy with it. I can see where some may jump to conclusions and sell a poorly manufactured 6000 that may have coil and/or EMI issues in hopes that the Axiom solves those problems for them. I think it would better to send a 6000 back to Minelab and have it checked out prior to making a decision Ike that. I personally have not had any of the radical behavior as some people describe with their 6000. In fact I commented to Steve that the threshold on my 6000 was identical to that of the Axiom, very smooth. The Axiom will have It's place and for some may be the only PI they need. For others like myself it will be another tool ro use on sites that require the ability to handle hotrocks or large amounts of iron trash. Steve thanks for sharing your opinions on the Axiom and where it falls performance wise as compared to other PI's on the market.

Well if the time frame is anything like the Apex release, we won't see the public getting the Axiom for a few months. Apex was announced in April I got mine in September and I was one of the first to get one. So other packages and coils could be a ways off.

I'm one of those that will use a PI once the VLF can't find anymore. Gold nugget, relic and beach hunting I've used a PI for 1000's and 1000's of hours. Coin hunting in parks not so much. I really gets down to being in the right frame of mind when you switch over to a PI. You can't go running all over the country side swinging like a madman. You have to slow down, evaluate every target and make a dig decision based off a few audio characteristics. So what if you dig some iron targets with a PI. It's not like you'll never dig any with a VLF. Neither is better than the other, different tool for different circumstances. But, it really is amazing what a VLF will leave behind, especially in high mineral/salt ground.

Good write up and it was good meeting you. Wish you could have found gold on your trip. I think I ended up with 9 or 10 small ones over the 2 days I was there. I wish I could have made Monte's outing but we were getting ready to list our house for sale and I had a lot to do to get it ready. I actually have not metal detected since the day after you left until yesterday, because of our move. Hope it gets cooled down a little now here in the west so I can get out more. We just tied the record yesterday for hottest summer in Salt Lake City and hottest July on record since 1875. If you ever get out this way again, let me know.

The Axiom is a great looking machine and looking forward to trying one out. The only real concern I have right now is how the audio is with z-lynk system. I tried it on my 5000 and Docs battery system trying to go wireless and didn't care for. Although on the Aoex the audio seemed fine.

I agree with Jeff. DD coil on the 6000 is good in EMI environments. Same location that gives my D2 fits in my yard I can run the 6000 and 14" DD with very little EMI. I'm hoping the Axiom will handle EMI, I just sold my 5000 and hope to replace it with the Axiom soon as my primary relic hunting PI. It may have been a mistake to sell the 5000 without comparing it to the Axiom but at this point in my life I'm done swinging that 5000 hooked to headphones and power cords, not to mention the weight.

Checks a lot of boxes for me. Going to keep the 6000 for gold but will probably let the 5000 go and get the Axiom for beach and relics. As a relic hunter I'm usually swinging a detector 10 to 12 hours a day at DIV for 6 days straight. The Axiom would be so much nicer to swing than the 5000 and rainproof to boot.

Decisions, decisions! What to keep, what to buy? Never ending rotation of detectors. I'm guessing there's going to be a bunch of 5000 and 6000 listed in the coming weeks.

I like my 6K, I know some people have had issues with it but I haven't had any. Since I've started using the 6K for relic hunting and learning it for that type of hunting, I would be more inclined to sell the 5K and get an Axiom rather than sell the 6K. The 5K to me is great but just too much of a dinosaur by today's standards when it comes to metal detectors.

Yea no kidding! I'd have a hard time paying much more than $3500 for it. Not like I need one right now having both a 5000 and 6000, they pretty much cover my needs. If I gold nugget hunted more I could maybe see it. But for me it would just be a new toy to learn and play with.

Great info Steve! Answers a lot of questions for me. Really looking forward to seeing the Axiom in action on some videos in the wild. Good to see an American company getting back into the game. Be happy to support Garrett on this one if the price is right.

Garrett ATX new is $2500 so we already know it's going to be more than that.

For me if it's the same price as the 6000, I'll just stick with the 6000. I really don't have that many issues with EMI or hot rocks where I use it. Been using it for relics a lot lately too and I really like it for that purpose as well. Now if the Axiom is priced low enough I wouldn't mind adding it to the lineup as a complimentary PI to the 6000.

About the same weight as the GPX 6000 if I'm not mistaken, iron check, handles EMI and hot rocks better. The Axiom may just give the 6000 a run for the money. If it's priced at 3k or under it's going to be a no brainer for someone looking to get into a multipurpose PI.

Nice looking detector! Hats off to Garrett. Sounds like it will be a decent performer in multiple situations.

Joel (kickindirt) on this forum sells them.

Nice report Steve. Good to hear the D2 has gotten better with the latest update.

That's something I noticed on the Legend I borrowed for a few days. The GB was different every time I did it. But that was version 1.06. I figured they had it fixed but I guess not.

What puzzles me is why Garrett even wants to compete in the PI gold prospecting market. Minelab clearly has the edge and it's doubtful Garrett will bring anything to the table that will trump Minelab. On the other hand the beach and relic hunting market sure could use a good PI that's light, waterproof, has iron disc, decent depth and wireless headphones. At the moment XP and Nokta/Makro have nothing, It's pretty obvious Fisher can't pull their heads out and it seems Minelab is not interested in those markets. So Garrett give me a good relic/beach PI that can also do some prospecting and I'm all ears.

All I can say is after the Apex subpar performance I hope Garrett really has something to talk about with this new detector. I can tell you right now I'm not going to even think about buying one until the initial reviews are out. All the latest ergonomics, looks and features can't replace subpar performance these days. The competition is too stiff to release a lack luster performer.

Yea TDI repackage would be a waste of time. ATX repackage in a lighter configuration, waterproof, iron disc, rechargeable battery, and wireless headphones for around $2000 would be a winner IMO.