Help! Need Advice about buying Detector

[ProspectorRain]

Hi everyone,

I am new to metal detecting and would like some advice about the purchasing options I have. These are the 2 I have:

Option#1: Gold Monster 1000 New
I would be buying it new, it is $900 before tax. Obviously a great choice for beginners, I hear a lot of good things about this one.

Option#2: Axiom
I would be buying it used, but barely. It's only been used once. It would be $1500 cash, but also comes with the additional DD coil & headphones. I hear also a lot of nice things about this one, as it is PI and not VLF.

What do you think would be a better bang for the buck? Thank you!

 

[DizzyDigger]

Hi Rain,

Personally, I would not recommend either of those as a first detector.

Question(s): What is it you want to hunt for? Coins, gold, relics?

What kind of country will you be hunting in? Desert, schools, parks?

It sounds like you have plenty of budget, so that's not an issue, but you
need to get a machine you can learn on, and become proficient with over
time. Both of the machines you suggested would be quite advanced for
a person new to detecting. JMHO

 

[ProspectorRain]

Hi Dizzy - I will be hunting for gold. Both in the desert and in the Sierra Nevada mountains 🤗.

 

[AstralDruid]

I would have to agree with DD... I've been at it for 30 years,, both of the machines you have mentioned would still slightly terrify me. Steep learning curves can lead you into a situation where it is not enjoyable... I feel that the enjoyment is the number one target !.. If you are enjoying and learning then great,, if you are bamboozled and a beginner.....
Something just as capable, lighter and more user friendly would be by recommendation..

 

[Terry Soloman]

As an experience gold prospector, The Minelab is the better choice of the two. However, I would like to throw a third machine into the mix. Runs about $350.00, The Fisher Gold Bug Pro. That will leave you enough for a proper pick, scoop, kneepads, yadda, yadda, yadda. The Fisher will find just about anything the 1000 will.

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[DizzyDigger]

The Fisher Gold Bug Pro. That will leave you enough for a proper pick, scoop, kneepads, yadda, yadda, yadda. The Fisher will find just about anything the 1000 will.

If you're concentrating on gold, then I agree 100% with Terry. The Gold Bug Pro
will do a fine job on gold..big down to pretty damn small.

I also heard a rumor there's going to be a Nokta Fors Gold pro pack
for sale soon.

 

[Mattock]

Go with what Terry recommended Gold Bug Pro from Fisher.

 

[ProspectorRain]

Hi all, thanks very much for your inputs, they are very helpful. I see the gold bug pro has a great price and lots of recs 😄. I will get that one, and use it for a bit to see if the detecting will stick or if I will get too tired of swinging it around for a few hours at a time.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Hi all, thanks very much for your inputs, they are very helpful. I see the gold bug pro has a great price and lots of recs 😄. I will get that one, and use it for a bit to see if the detecting will stick or if I will get too tired of swinging it around for a few hours at a time.

The best piece of advice I could offer would be for you to get to know
your machine, and what it's telling you. Be patient, and as you grow in
experience you'll learn what's good to dig, and what not to. Still, you'll
find plenty of .22 slugs and other goodies as you are searching for gold.
If so, no worries; if you're finding those little shreds of lead, you'll find
gold, as well.