WHATS THE BEST NUGGET MACHINE:confused:

[C.J.M.]

Whats the best nugget hunting detector between $ 400--------$1,000? the more I read the more I hear WHITES holds the lead what I can see the m/l 5000 is the best but wow---expensive for this country boy.could use some feed back please.

 

[hershey1]

Steve has an excellent review of nugget detectors at the top of this forum page. His expertise and having used about all of the GOLD seeking machines may help with your decision. HH

 

[steve herschbach]

Wouldn't be great if it were that easy? Just have one detector be the "best" then we can forget the rest.

What is the best gun? Best fishing pole? Best ATV? It all depends on your exact needs. I have three nugget detectors I rely on and could never own just one, since owning just one would leave me short in the capability department. What ground mineralization are you dealing with? What is the exact nature and depth of the gold? How much trash are you dealing with?

Flip it around, and I could buy any nugget detector made and do pretty well. The prospecting gig is more about the operator, just like fishing is more about the fisherman that what exact fishing pole they own. Just buying a good fishing pole does not make you a good fisherman. All the name brand units made with nugget detecting in mind can find gold for a capable operator.

http://www.detectorprospector.com/gold-prospecting-guides/steve-guide-gold-nugget-detectors.htm

 

[Hoser John]

The unit that was used extensively to learn its' quirks,ins and outs and not a closet queen. Takes time to learn detecting first as nugget shooting is definately the hardest form of detecting to learn,and most expensive.So learn coins,beaches,parks and relics ,then try nugget shooting as less than 1 in a 100 stick with it.John

 

[Hobo lobo]

Best? Best P.I.? Best for the money? Best VLF? Best for small nuggets? Deepest? Easiest to operate ? Lightest & easiest to swing all day .

 

[machineman]

I am no expert, but at that price point you are probably looking at a vlf detector. The most popular ones seem to be Gold bug 2, Whites GMT, Tesoro Lobo ST, Gold bug Pro, Older Whites Gold masters. Some people also like Xterra 705, Eureka gold, AT gold, and original Gold bug. The best one however is the one you learn to use well. They are all great and will find gold. Read Steves guides they are nearly priceless.

 

[Gila Marc]

I like the Tesoro Lobo ST. Not hard to learn and is VERY sensitive to small gold in the desert.

 

[panama rich]

The best nugget machine for me has been a dredge by far.
My nugget detectors are a Garrett Infinium and a Compass Gold Scanner Pro. I wish that the Infinium had a discriminator and I wish that the Compass had a
PI cicuit also. So your answer is what most of us find, it is nice to have more than one detector for nugget hunting.
VLF detectors find smaller nuggets and PI detectors eliminate the ground better. Since most nuggets are very small you may want to start with a VLF
detector. The Minelab 5000 is a PI detector and White's in the under $1000 range is a VLF. Since you like White's (and they make many fine detectors)
that may be your ticket.
Good luck,
Rich

 

[iron bark]

Before M/L PI we only used VLF detector and there were many large and small nuggets found with them.A2B Garret were good on small gold ADS deep seekers were good but a bit noisy the m/l gt 1600 I found my best bit ever with one of them ,A few years ago I used a Tesoro Dingo just used it in junk spots found gold with it ,the dingo is a modified Lobo to handle the mineral here in Australia, but all of these detector are old technology . Get out there and see what detectors are doing the job finding gold then make the correct choice regards john

 

[Hobo lobo]

My biggest nugget (9 OZ) was found with the old original Gold Bug, my second biggest (5 OZ) was found with the older Garrett Ground Hog (A2B), both before PIs were around. What ever detector you decide on, spend the time & learn it.

 

[James02]

Very good advice.

 

[Smigo]

GMT