fredmason Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Very Nice, Jonathan! A new detector that "sees" the ground differently can find what others missed. Also, when ever someone tries a new toy they tend to hunt a little different than the one they are accustomed to... The 5000/2300 combo is certainly a winner for those that have the need and the money...way to go Minelab! fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Hi all, I am from Tasmania, Australia and new to this forum.I have a ML GPX 5000 and a Garrett ATX and despite the challenges of steep terrain, sometimes impenetrable vegetation and highly variable weather conditions, have managed to find a little gold with both of them. Recent finds include: 23 nuggets total weight 10gms ranging from 0.5gms to 2.6gms with the ATX and 4 nuggets total weight 7.0gms ranging from 0.15gms to 5.5gms with the GPX. I had my GPX5000 for some months before I found my first gold with it and the ATX three weeks due to it being more user friendly in tight conditions. Hope to post some photos soon as I figure out how to upload them. Cheers, Fox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 G'day everyone, here's photos of some Tasmanian gold : #1 - 7gms found with GPX5000 #2 - 10gms found with ATX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Hello Fox, and welcome to the forum! Great finds you are making there, and good machines you have. Good luck, hope you find more gold soon. It is good to hear from somebody finding gold in Australia with the ATX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Thank you for your kind welcome, Steve. I enjoy reading your posts and have learnt a lot from them.I have been following with interest reports on the SDC2300 on this and other forums and get the impression that it would eclipse the ATX in its ability to detect small gold. It would be interesting to try out an SDC in areas that I have previously worked with the other two machines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 The ATX is a very good detector. I do believe the SDC will hit smaller gold than the already very small gold the ATX will detect. How much difference that makes for weight in the vial however is extremely hard to say. Having both, I do prefer to grab the SDC to hunt gold but at the same time if all I had was the ATX would do well with it also. The SDC just makes it easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridge Runner Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Steve Have you tested the 8 inch coil of the ATX on very small gold that the SDC can detect ? The small coil in the center of 12 inch coil of the ATX may be hot but is 8 to 8 the same ? If the 8 inch of the ATX is also hot on small gold then I wouldn't want to be swinging the big coil all day. Now just in case it's not then I'll need to save more for what's better and that would be the SDC. I do like the size of the 8 inch coil. Being it will give you a fair range of detecting. Chuck Anders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I had Chris find a nugget with the SDC. I had my ATX with 8" coil along. I do lots of stuff that never sees the internet directly, but which forms the basis for the opinions I offer. The ATX with 8" mono coil at sensitivity 13 would not pick up the tiny nugget Chris found with the SDC when the nugget was excavated, on the surface, and edge of ATX 8" mono coil rubbed directly on the nugget. Now maybe the center 5" portion of the 10" x 12" ATX DD coil would have done better. But 8" coil to 8" coil the SDC has the edge. But we are talking really tiny, like a half grain (grain not gram) flake of gold. Seriously, this gets to be like comparing a White's GMT to a Fisher Gold Bug 2. Both will find tiny gold, but if I have to give a nod to one over the other, in my opinion the Gold Bug 2 has a slight edge on the tiny stuff. That opinion based on actual head to head tests. I will never offer an opinion on something unless I have seen it with my own eyes. So at this point I have to say the SDC has the edge for the tiny stuff compared to the ATX. Larger stuff though - my in house jury is still out on that one. Stock coil to stock coil I am curious about more than 8" coil to 8" coil. Ah well, too many questions, too little time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridge Runner Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Steve Thanks for the info and your opinion. It's only so many hours in a day you have . So should one spend it testing to answer questions are nugget hunting. Well the nugget hunting won out but answer some questions if can. Thanks again Steve. Chuck Anders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.8761b3d9b3da119b9e6d1912f67275ad.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now