Description
Minelab SDC 2300 Gold Metal Detector (Universal Li-ion version)
At a glance
The Minelab SDC 2300 is a compact, fully submersible pulse induction gold detector built on MPF (Multi Period Fast) technology for sub-gram nuggets on land and underwater to 3 m (10 ft). 2.3 kg (5.1 lb), folds to 40 cm (15.7 in) with no assembly required, rechargeable Li-ion battery with up to 8 hours of runtime, 8 in (20 cm) round Monoloop coil, automatic ground tracking and one-press Noise Cancel. 3-year Minelab warranty.
History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized Minelab dealer; every SDC 2300 we sell is new, ships from Minelab's authorized US distributor, and carries the full 3-year Minelab warranty.
Exclusive History Seekers bonus: free with every Minelab SDC 2300
Buy your Minelab SDC 2300 from History Seekers and receive a free 1-year subscription to American Digger Magazine, the definitive print resource for relic hunters, coin shooters, and serious diggers. Real finds, real research, and real history delivered directly to your door. This bonus is available exclusively through HistorySeekers.net.
Notice: the free subscription offer applies strictly to listed prices. It cannot be combined with other discount codes or promotions. If a coupon or promotional discount is used at checkout, the free magazine subscription is excluded.
15% Minelab Military Discount: active duty and veteran service members save 15% on Minelab detectors (accessories excluded). Contact us directly at (256) 284-2247 to order with the discount. Cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts, including the free magazine subscription.
Sub-Gram Gold, On Land and Underwater
The SDC 2300 exists for the gold most machines never hear: sub-gram nuggets in mineralized ground, and gold that sits underwater where most pulse induction detectors cannot follow. Fully submersible to 3 m (10 ft), it moves from dry wash to riverbed without a pause, and its military-grade hinged construction with carbon-fiber shafts needs no assembly at all: unfold it and hunt.
MPF (Multi Period Fast) technology switches between transmit and receive signals at extremely high speed, leaving minimal residual transmit signal during the receive cycle. The practical result is a clear, sharp response on very small gold that slower PI circuits smear past, while the pulse induction platform stays stable in the hot, iron-stained ground where VLF detectors turn noisy.
Built to Travel
Folded, the SDC 2300 measures just 40 cm (15.7 in) and fits carry-on luggage and most backpacks, which makes it the machine that actually reaches the remote patches other detectors stay home from. This is the Universal Li-ion version (SKU 3230-0003): a rechargeable 7.4 V / 4200 mAh lithium-ion battery pack and universal charger are included, with up to 8 hours of runtime per charge. On a long trip with no way to charge, the same battery compartment also runs on four C-cell alkaline batteries (not included).
Why the SDC 2300
Within Minelab's gold lineup, the SDC 2300 is the one detector built to go under water. Its 8 in (20 cm) Monoloop coil and sealed electronics are rated to 3 m (10 ft), where the GPX 6000 keeps only its coils waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft) and its control box rain-proof, and the GPZ 7000 is the heavier maximum-depth flagship for open ground. The Gold Monster 2000 is the automatic VLF entry point with a target ID; the SDC 2300 is the pulse induction step up for prospectors whose ground is too hot for a VLF and whose gold is too small for a slow PI.
Most dealer pages still run the launch-era copy for this machine, down to a box list with C-cell batteries and a smart charger. That describes the original pack. The detector we sell is the current Universal Li-ion version: the lithium-ion pack and universal charger are in the box, the C-cells are an option you buy at a gas station, and the specifications on this page are the ones printed on Minelab's own SDC 2300 pages today.
The control set is the reason first-time pulse induction users get on with it. A sensitivity dial (Normal 1 to 5, Salt 1 to 3), a one-press Noise Cancel button and automatic ground tracking handle the settings that keep other PI machines chattering. Nine LEDs show the detection response, threshold level and battery charge, with a separate LED for low-battery warning, and the threshold has nine levels with a low or high pitch option. There is no target ID screen: a soft, low tone means a small or deep target, a loud, high tone means a larger or shallower one, and you dig them all.
Technical Specs and Benefits
| Spec (usa.minelab.com) | What It Does in the Field |
|---|---|
| MPF (Multi Period Fast) pulse induction | Ultra-fast switching between transmit and receive leaves almost no residual signal, so very small gold gives a clear, sharp response in mineralized ground. |
| Search modes: Normal and Salt | Normal suits most goldfields; Salt settles the machine on salt lakes, beaches and salt-rich ground. |
| Sensitivity: Normal 1 to 5, Salt 1 to 3 | One dial. Run it high in quiet ground, back it off in noisy ground; nothing else to program. |
| Automatic ground tracking and one-press Noise Cancel | The detector rebalances itself as the ground changes and cancels electrical interference on a single button press. |
| 8 in (20 cm) round Monoloop coil, standard | Small enough for creek beds and tight spots, sensitive to sub-gram gold; Coiltek's Gold Extreme line is the aftermarket option. |
| Weight 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) | Heavier than it looks for its size because of the sealed, folding build; the trade is a machine you can pack anywhere. |
| Length: 150 cm (59.1 in) extended, 40 cm (15.7 in) collapsed | Full-length swing when open; fits carry-on luggage and most backpacks when folded, with no assembly either way. |
| Waterproof to 3 m (10 ft) | Fully submersible: riverbeds, creek pools and shorelines are in bounds, not just splashes. |
| 9 LED indicators plus a low-battery LED | Detection strength, threshold level and battery charge at a glance, with an early warning before the pack runs down. |
| Audio: built-in speaker, wired SDC headphones included, 6-pin jack, 9 threshold levels, low or high pitch | Set the threshold and pitch to your hearing; the 6-pin jack takes your own wired headphones. No wireless audio is built in. |
| Battery: 7.4 V / 4200 mAh Li-ion pack and universal charger included; or 4 x C-cell alkaline (not included) | Up to 8 hours per charge, with a store-bought fallback for remote trips. |
| Operating temperature 0 to 50 C (32 to 122 F) | Desert summer to alpine creek; the machine is rated for the range gold country throws at it. |
| Warranty | 3-year Minelab warranty, control box and coil. |
| Part number | 3230-0003 (Universal Li-ion version) |
| UPC | 811493017389 |
| Condition | New |
SDC 2300 vs GPX 6000: Which One Do You Need?
| Feature | SDC 2300 | GPX 6000 |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | MPF pulse induction | GeoSense-PI pulse induction |
| Waterproof | Fully submersible to 3 m (10 ft) | Coils to 1 m (3.3 ft); control box rain-proof only |
| Weight | 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) | 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) |
| Coils in the box | 8 in (20 cm) round Monoloop | GPX 11 11 in (28 cm) Monoloop and GPX 14 14 in (36 cm) Double-D |
| Collapsed length | 40 cm (15.7 in) | 67 cm (26.5 in) |
| Headphones | Wired SDC headphones | ML 100 Bluetooth wireless |
| Best fit | Water, creek beds, tight terrain, walk-in patches, sub-gram gold | Covering open gold ground all day with larger coils |
Choose the SDC 2300 if your gold is in or beside water, if you hike in, or if the sub-gram nuggets are the target. Choose the GPX 6000 for lighter all-day coverage of open ground. Many serious prospectors run both, and everything that fits the SDC 2300 is on our SDC 2300 coils, audio and accessories page.
Who it is for
Reach for the SDC 2300 if you hunt gold in and around water, hike into remote patches where pack size matters, or chase the sub-gram nuggets bigger machines sweep past. For covering open gold ground all day with larger coils, see the GPX 6000; for maximum depth, the GPZ 7000. Many serious prospectors run the SDC alongside one of them.
Honest limits: it is a pulse induction machine with no target ID and no discrimination, so every metal target sounds off and iron trash gets dug. There is no wireless audio built in, no backlight, and the Li-ion pack runs about 8 hours, so a spare pack or a set of C-cells belongs in the kit for a long day. At 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) it is not the lightest gold detector Minelab makes, only the most packable and the only fully submersible one. Like every gold-prospecting detector we sell, the SDC 2300 is a final-sale item under our refund policy; warranty service runs through Minelab's authorized repair center.
What Comes Standard in the Factory Box
- Minelab SDC 2300 detector with 8 in (20 cm) round Monoloop coil, hinged folding build, no assembly required
- Minelab wired SDC headphones
- Rechargeable 7.4 V / 4200 mAh lithium-ion battery pack
- Universal battery charger
- 3-year Minelab warranty, control box and coil
Minelab's product page and downloads for the SDC 2300 are here: Minelab SDC 2300 (usa.minelab.com).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SDC 2300 waterproof, and can it find gold underwater?
Yes. The SDC 2300 is fully submersible to 3 m (10 ft), with sealed electronics and a waterproof 8 in (20 cm) Monoloop coil, so it can find gold in creek beds, shallow pools and shorelines where most pulse induction detectors cannot go. It works the same on dry land.
What battery does the SDC 2300 use, and how long does it run?
This is the Universal Li-ion version (SKU 3230-0003): a rechargeable 7.4 V / 4200 mAh lithium-ion battery pack and universal charger ship in the box, running up to 8 hours per charge. The same compartment also takes four C-cell alkaline batteries, which are not included, as a backup for remote trips.
How small does the SDC 2300 fold?
It collapses to 40 cm (15.7 in) and extends to 150 cm (59.1 in), with no assembly required. Folded, it fits carry-on luggage and most backpacks; unfold it and hunt.
What is MPF technology?
Multi Period Fast is Minelab's ultra-fast pulse induction switching between transmit and receive signals, leaving minimal residual transmit signal during receive so very small gold produces a clear, sharp response, even in mineralized ground.
SDC 2300 or GPX 6000: which one do I need?
The SDC 2300 is the submersible, packable specialist for water work, tight terrain and remote hikes, and it folds to 40 cm (15.7 in). The GPX 6000 is lighter on the arm at 2.1 kg (4.6 lb), ships with two larger coils and is built for covering open gold ground all day. Different jobs; many prospectors own both.
Does the SDC 2300 have a target ID or discrimination?
No. It is a pulse induction detector with continuous audio: nine LEDs show detection strength, threshold and battery, and the tone tells you size and depth (soft and low for small or deep, loud and high for large or shallow). Every metal target sounds off, so you dig iron along with gold. The sensitivity dial, one-press Noise Cancel and automatic ground tracking are the only controls you manage.
What accessories fit the SDC 2300?
Coiltek's Gold Extreme Monoloop coil line (10x5 in, 11 in and 14x9 in) with its accessories pack, the wired ML 100 headphones with the detachable SDC cable, the dedicated lithium-ion battery pack, the 8 in (20 cm) skidplate and the carry bag. No GPX, GPZ or Gold Monster coil fits the SDC 2300. Everything that fits is on our SDC 2300 accessories page.
Is History Seekers an authorized Minelab dealer, and can I return the SDC 2300?
History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized Minelab dealer; every SDC 2300 we sell is new, ships from Minelab's authorized US distributor, and carries the full 3-year Minelab warranty. As a gold-prospecting detector it is a final-sale item under our refund policy and is not eligible for return; warranty issues are handled by Minelab's authorized repair center. Active duty and veteran service members can ask us about the 15% Minelab military discount by phone.
Who you are buying from
History Seekers is a small American business and a working detecting channel: over 1.1 million people follow our hunts on Facebook and YouTube. Everyone here detects, from the top down: gold, relics, coins, jewelry, even float copper. We hunt with the gear we sell, and the person who answers your call has real dirt time. Every purchase keeps everyday Americans working.
History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized Minelab dealer. Every SDC 2300 we sell ships new from Minelab's authorized US distributor with the full 3-year Minelab warranty, and your setup questions get answered by people who have swung a PI in real gold country. Call 256-284-2247 before you buy if you are deciding between the SDC 2300 and the GPX 6000; we will tell you straight which one fits your ground. Because at History Seekers, the story is more important than the artifact.
See everything that fits your machine:What Fits the Minelab SDC 2300