Hello Dakota,
Been using a 1000 PM since '97 and it's a capable machine. Lots of features that you only find on the top-O-the line machines today (bi-level audio, surface-blanking etc.). I've got 5 coils for mine: stock 8.5, 12.5, 4.5, 10.5 HotHead and the 5.5 HotHead "Ferret" coil.
Of them all, I use the 5.5" coil the most and this coil pretty much just stays on the machine for sniping coins and jewelry on trashy sites. It's a hot little coil on this machine and I highly recommend it if you can still find one. With the stock coil, it's an average type-depth machine.
The 1000 doesn't hit as hard on nickels in disc. mode as some of my other TID machines IF you just notch in the 'nickel' bar, but if you notch in a few of the lower notches as well, it hits them pretty hard.
By way of comparison, I have a 250, 1500, Tejon and Sidewinder as well as a Surfmaster II. The 1000 PM will still hunt with the best of them. It's primarily a coin/jewelry machine. It doesn't handle heavy iron on relic sites as well as some and it's not the best choice in wet beach sand either, but I have different machines for different types of hunting.
This machine got alot of "firsts" for me: first barber (dime and quarter), first ring, first gold, first diamond, first merc., first IH etc. etc. so I have a soft spot for that old green club. Garrett recently did some kind of 'circuitry upgrade' on mine.
It's one machine that I've never even thought of selling.
HH!
Skillet
