Roughwater

44 minutes ago, jasong said:

For all around coils I feel that 14" is too small, but that's just my personal preference and the areas I hunt. The 17x11 was perfect for me but I like the 17x13 even better because its more sensitive, deeper, and I don't mind the weight since I spent a lot of hours swinging a GPZ. I have a rigid schedule when I detect and I try never to fall below 2 grams/day average so covering more ground is more important to me then finding every last nugget. But for someone else a 14x9 might be perfect.

Thanks much Jasong I much appreciate your input.

Terry

13 minutes ago, jasong said:

That 17x13 Evo is the best all around coil I've ever used on a GPX

Jasong,

I'm not sure the 14X9 Evo is out yet in the US?  I'm not seeing any US dealers advertising it yet and I've looked.

It looks like you are sold on the 17X13 Evo.  Do you think the smaller 14X9 Evo could take it's place as your best all around coil?

3 hours ago, Mxt Sniper said:

I am waiting on the new Nugget Finder Evo mono 14x9 coil,

Anyone know if this coil can be bought in the US yet or even bought outside the US and shipped here?

3 hours ago, Mxt Sniper said:

I am waiting on the new Nugget Finder Evo mono 14x9 coil, I also have the 14" Elite mono, which works great,it truly gets 1-2 more inches on gram size nuggets at extreme depth, over stock type coils of similar size.

I have seen some reviews of the Evo coils and I like the way they tapered the bottom of the coil around the edges so doesn't catch on things easily.  Of course it being light and from what I hear thin and possibly improved sounds like a coil that would find a lot of regular use.  Now you got me thinking too.  

Ok, I done did it.  There was a Detech spiral wound ultra 15" coil on ebay for 170.  Since I have no large DD coils I thought for the price I doubt I can do any better anywhere.  So now I suddenly added 2 more coils, the 25" NF mono and the 15" Detech ultra DD. So I have my mineralized ground pretty well covered if I encounter any with the 11"commander DD and the 15" Detech.  

I do keep going back and looking at the 14X9 Coil tech blitz coil though.  Looks like one that works well for small to large nuggets, is lite, looks to pin point easy cover more ground per swing than the stock coil and looks to be fairly hot on the size nuggets I'm most likely to find.

I stopped by Rye Patch on my way back from AK in 06 and went to the same area I had in 05 but due to not quickly finding anything and anxious to get back home I only stayed there part of a day.  It was pretty quiet there, only one camper there, a guy who said his name was Steve.  Not even sure if he was detecting.  He had a telescope setting out so maybe just watching the stars?  Looks like it would be a good place to do that too?  

The last pic is my truck and overloaded little trailer with my partners 5" dredge and all the other equipment of his I carried up to AK.  I had to stop in Tx and drop the trailer off and then it was home to NC from there.  It's a 10K plus round trip.  Lots of great scenery along the way though.

Terry

One should not browse Ebay!  I just found a 25" used nugget finder mono advantage coil for 250 so had to buy it. They are 600 new.  

Maybe still some money left for a new Tech coil! 

13 minutes ago, cabelafella said:

if I was you I would add one of the new technology coils  13x17 evo or coiltek 18 elite just because it gives you a slight advantage technologically  especialy on flogged ground.  for that deep nugget . plus it will keep the coil makers in cash to come up with new coils for us to buy!

I hear ya, or maybe you hear me.  Someone even suggested a Detech coil and they do seem to have some that sound interesting as well.  It would be so easy to go on a coil buying binge right now, just not easy to pay it back.  

I have a bit of money right now but when I retire I just have that once a month paycheck so I figure I best get what I can now.  

26 minutes ago, AuWanderer said:

get a new technology coil.

AUWander,

I think you are right.  I believe these new technology coils are the way to go. One common thread about them seems to be better sensitivity to small gold even on the larger coils.  In the case of large mono coils I'm not sure the depth would change much but would be nice to be able to pick up even the little stuff with a large coil.  Pinpointing could be a problem with the round ones but putting gold under the coil is the first order of business.   One problem is I don't have months to test coils in gold bearing areas.  I will go west for a month and come back.  Maybe get out there again in the winter to someplace like Az.  

I think having a better detector and better coil and good training can equal success.  

Dean, Fred Chris and Mitchel, appreciate the input.

 I have a couple things going for me that will help me catch back up a bit to where I left off 10 years ago when I went prospecting.  One of the things I have going for me is that though it's been a while I do have some experience using a detector with finding gold.  Not a lot bit some.  The other thing I got going for me is that I will be going to Gerry Mcmullen's training in Oregon in July.  We will also meet up in North Carolina at the Beach in June for training on the 3030.  But in July in Oregon it will be training on the 5000.  Gerry knows his s$!$ when it comes to detectors. He trained me on the GP 3500 back in 05 at Rye Patch and the day after I completed the training I found 6 nuggets at rye patch on my own, the largest being a one ouncer.  I think a lot of it was luck at being in the right place at the right time with the right tool and the right training and the right coil.  The part of finding the nuggets that I don't call luck was using Gerry's training to the fullest, being wise enough to move my detecting a couple hundred yards from the one little area everybody seemed to be beating to death with detectors and once finding a nugget crossing and crisscrossing that 100X100 yrd area that I found that first nugget in.  The attached pics are of mostly the nuggets I found that one day at Rye patch in 05.  I really want to get my coil over some targets again and see some glistening gold!    

9 hours ago, bado1 said:

Why the need for the  larger coils? Do you swing a lot of open ground?

Have you looked in to the NF Evolution coils?

 

Dean

Dean,

Thanks for the input.

Right now I'm not swinging any ground.  I'm stuck here in the eastern US working but soon to be retired so gathering my prospecting guns and ammo (detectors and coils) for a long trip west.  

I was thinking the 8" mono would cover most of my field work and I have the 11" coils for slightly more open areas and the 16" NF in fairly open and over some tailing piles and help in finding patches etc.  But I doubt I'll ever see ground that hasn't seen a detector before so I felt it would be good to have one coil that would probably go deeper than possibly anything that's been over the ground before thus my interest in a larger coil than the 16.

 I figure a really big coil wouldn't see a lot of use but maybe could find that one decent nugget other detector coil combo's just couldn't see?  I figure that's one reason nearly everybody buy's the latest greatest detector is to find those nuggets in previously hunted out areas?  I can see there are different elliptical coils that would be more efficient in covering a given area compared to a round coil but I don't think the depth capability would be much better that what I already have now?  

You see I have several question marks thus the uncertainty of my statements.  I would rather be a little over-gunned than under within reason.  I feel pretty confident I have the right guns now just wanting to feel like I have the best ammo too.  I'm hoping that some of you with more experience than me (most of you) would help point me in the right direction. 

I could maybe see the 19X13 Evo.  

Some of the previously listed coils I mentioned like the new 18" mono Elite are getting great reviews or at least it's little brother is (the 14" Mono elite) by Gerry who I know and trust but I already have a 16" coil already so no sense in going smaller I figure.  

I have a new coiltek 15" Wot for my Eureka and very impressed with the quality and sturdy look of it's build which increased my interest in the coiltek brand.  I am trying to keep an open mind and can be swayed however.  

Terry 

10 minutes ago, Rege-PA said:

A 15in Detech Ultmate DD. Getting some great reviews

I'll look into that.  It's close to the size of my nuggetfinder but I don't have a large DD coil so I'll check out the reviews.  Thanks

I would like some opinions on what my next coil selection should be for my GPX 5000.   I have my Vlf unit (Eureka Gold) with 3 coils to cover the smaller gold.

Presently for the 5000 I have a 8" commander mono, 11" commander DD, 11" commander mono and a 16" Nuggetfinder Mono Advantage and I would like at least one more coil.

I'm thinking to maybe get an even larger mono.  Maybe the 22" Coiltek Goldstalker mono, Or the New Coiltek 18" round Mono Elite. But the Coiltek 24X14 goldstalker sounds interesting.  Then of course there is the Nugget finder 25" mono Advantage but it's much more expensive than any of the others.  On the smaller side there is the 14X9 Blitz said to be developed for the 5000.   

So what would you all think I should buy?  

22 minutes ago, AU_Solitude said:

You should avoid those minors camps... Stop pretty theft.

Glad they didn't steal your humor.  Maybe I should have said "Miner" instead of Minor.  Might give one the wrong impression. 

25 minutes ago, AU_Solitude said:

You should avoid those minors camps... Stop pretty theft.

Glad they didn't steal your humor.  Maybe I should have said "Miner" instead of Minor.  Might give one the wrong impression.    An English major I'm not.

4 hours ago, Reno Chris said:

I know because I helped the production company which did the program select sites and I appear in the episode as one of the experts.

I had no Idea we have a movie star in our midst!

I watched the video, very educational. It would be kinda nice to just locate one of those gold veins or find one of those ancient lake beds that the rivers flowed into.  I just need a detector who's depth is measured in hundreds of feet instead of inches.  

5 hours ago, Rege-PA said:

 I am now working to get my finances back enough so I can retire to a life of chasing the elusive nugget again and I am hoping by the end of May that I will restart my dream.

Sorry to hear of that.  There are always a few low life's out there just waiting for some easy money to steal.  I was at a minors camp in AK and they had a serious anti theft policy. You steal something and you get caught, you may not leave AK.  Needless to say the camp was pretty theft free! 

20 hours ago, fredmason said:

I am confused...the wm connects wirelessly...there is no physical attachment-hense the name, wireless module...

I think my brain has turned to shrapnel or worse.  Previously, I meant to say the part that was missing is a cover that attaches on the back of the 3030 to the waterproof "headphone connector" (I had previously said the coil connector though I know the difference).  I re-looked at the manual and they are calling it the headphone module not the wireless module as I previously stated.  The mind is a terrible thing to waste but maybe too late for me on that one.    My mind does half work as I went to bed last night thinking "did I write Coil connector instead of headphone connector"? But I was too tired to check at the time.  

20 hours ago, fredmason said:

I am confused...the wm connects wirelessly...there is no physical attachment-hense the name, wireless module...

I think my brain has turned to shrapnel or worse.  Previously, I meant to say the part that was missing is a cover that attaches on the back of the 3030 to the waterproof "headphone connector" (I had previously said the coil connector though I know the difference).  I re-looked at the manual and they are calling it the headphone module not the wireless module as I previously stated.  The mind is a terrible thing to waste but maybe too late for me on that one.    My mind does half work as I went to bed last night thinking "did I write Coil connector instead of headphone connector"? But I was too tired to check at the time.  

7 hours ago, Ridge Runner said:

So until then I wish both of us the best of luck with our detectors.

Amen!

I get on this website and time goes by fast.  Someone recently made a comment about retirement saying when your work starts getting in the way of your hobby you know it's time to retire.  That's definitely where I am at in life.  Just a couple more weeks --- No I gotta get to my homework. 

Terry

11 hours ago, Ridge Runner said:

I don't think the cost is the issue for me but more it has to do with the weight. I know I got the MX Sport and I'm not sure just how long it will work for me because of it's weight. I'm just not as young and strong as times past.

Chuck,

I know what you mean.  I'm 66 and hoping the weight of the 3030 won't be too much.  If it is I'll just strap on my harness and bungie for my GPX.  Light weight does often convert to more pleasant though so I totally understand.  Not being a Minelab guy, somehow I ended up with 3 of them and I don't think I'll regret it for the uses I need them for.  I kinda liked the possibilities of the Sport and if it becomes what it was meant to be I think you will be real happy with it.  

Terry

10 hours ago, fredmason said:

I am confused...the wm connects wirelessly...there is no physical attachment-hense the name, wireless module...

Fred, Maybe I am the one confused.  In reading the manual there is a cover that screws into the waterproof coil plug that was missing  But in my 3030 manual it looked like it was calling it a wireless module thus my confusion. 

It also was calling the Module that clips on your shirt or where ever one chooses, the wireless module so I was certainly confused.

Terry

I think it pretty Cool that Steve has has managed to put together a website that has pulled together so many thoughtful and knowledgeable people on this hobby from the US and around the globe.  Pretty awesome, it really is and part of the awesomeness is that you all take the time to spread your knowledge to anyone who requests it.  I am enjoying this ride through metal detecting knowledge and history.  Thanks. 

Those of you who hunt are probably aware there are websites online where you can purchase landowner maps you can install on a hand held GPS which show who owns every piece of property in a given area, be it public land or private.  Is there anything comparable to that for gold claims especially on public lands here in the US?

Terry

1 hour ago, AU_Solitude said:

however, it seems to me that the vast majority of larger nuggets seem to be plucked from lower elevations here in California. Why is this?

Solitude,

Reading between, or maybe above the lines you have your answer.