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TURNMASTER
100 hrs to learn any machine. Hundreds more for it to speak to you. IMO

I hunt nuggets rarely, but have a couple thousand hours on my Xterra then add the AT Pro and Explorer. I have researched electronic prospecting heavily. Here is the thing; You need a machine you will use. Then you need a machine that will work in your area. Also you need a machine that will find the types of gold in your area. Some of this is from memory, GB and GBII will find VERY small gold along with one of the Whites machines. PI = DEEP but limited on small. Xterra can find some of the weird stuff missed by others. Several have differences on how they handle differing iron conditions.

Just because a machine works well for me here does not mean it will be the best machine in your neighborhood, and visa versa.

EVERY MD will find gold, period, Ace 250 too. If you get to looking around you will find this to be true. Though maybe not as well as some others, smaller, deeper, better ground handling and etc.

I would talk to the local prospectors and find what they are finding gold with and then determine weather or not they are shining you on. Gal I work with runs an MXT and prospects alot (alot) only to find out she does not find much gold and rarely ever uses her MD ( something like 20 hours???)

Another guy runs his MXT a lot for coins and took it to AK and hit real AU (14 Oz nugget).

Which one stands the best chance of hitting MD gold? The one who knows the machine!

Know your machine, Know your area, Know your gold.

Read this
http://www.akmining.com/forums/showthread.php/13-Latest-Nugget-Detector-Recommendations-for-Alaska

Jeff

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Salida
Curious as to why the Tesoro Vaquero was listed?
It's not a gold machine.
Salica

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snakejim
White's has a new gold detector, the GMZ that retails for $499.95.

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keppy

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ToddB64
Greetings !

I'm investigating metal detectors for Prospecting natural gold and need some opinions on the best brand and model from the list below. These are not listed in any particular order, but are the lowest price models I could find on the web for gold prospecting.

#1..Tesoro Vaquero
#2..White's GMT
#3..Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger
#4..Fisher Gold Bug
#5..Teknetics G2
#6..Minelab X-Terra 705 Gold Pack

Thanks for your opinions and recommendations. :please:

ToddB64

You left out the , Fisher Gold bug Pro., the Minelab Eureka & Tesoro Lobo Super Traq..........

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ToddB64
Greetings !

I'm investigating metal detectors for Prospecting natural gold and need some opinions on the best brand and model from the list below. These are not listed in any particular order, but are the lowest price models I could find on the web for gold prospecting.

#1..Tesoro Vaquero
#2..White's GMT
#3..Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger
#4..Fisher Gold Bug
#5..Teknetics G2
#6..Minelab X-Terra 705 Gold Pack

Thanks for your opinions and recommendations. :please:

ToddB64

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keppy

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ToddB64

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fredm
for only nugget hunting the Fisher gold bugs, my fav is the gold bug 2; and the GMT series....for multi-purpose the X-705 and Tesoro LoboST...no opinion about the others...there is no Best detector,

fred

fredm.......Thanks for your input !

I like the way you differentiated between gold-only vs multi-purpose machines......that's an important point to consider when making a purchase.

ToddB64 :wink:

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keppy
I don't think there is a gold only detector.....If there was you would not be digging iron and other metal junk ... it would only sound off on gold............... And you would not be digging junk........

keppy.......Good point ! :clapping: I stand corrected......should have said "gold dedicated",or perhaps "gold oriented", instead of "gold-only".

Todd

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ToddB64

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fredm
for only nugget hunting the Fisher gold bugs, my fav is the gold bug 2; and the GMT series....for multi-purpose the X-705 and Tesoro LoboST...no opinion about the others...there is no Best detector,

fred

fredm.......Thanks for your input !

I like the way you differentiated between gold-only vs multi-purpose machines......that's an important point to consider when making a purchase.

ToddB64 :wink:

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starvin
A VLF detector would be my choice the eureka gold- the PI Gpx 5000- both by Mine Lab. The others just miss to much. This is just my opinion from being out there trying my luck. I have used the MXT PRO with some success, but missed a lot more.

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fredm
for only nugget hunting the Fisher gold bugs, my fav is the gold bug 2; and the GMT series....for multi-purpose the X-705 and Tesoro LoboST...no opinion about the others...there is no Best detector,

fred

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grumpy
I believe the model you are looking for in the tessoro line is a Lobo super traq not the one you listed for gold prospecting;

Just my guess, and i hear it is the best from people in our area for the money in gold fields.
Grumpy

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Blank Planet
Fisher Gold Bug
Teknetics G2