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I keeping going back and forth on several detectors. If you had the choice of one, I would like to hear your opinions and choices. Makro gold kruzer Minelab equinox 800 Minelab GM 1000 XP Deus with HF coil I would love to get a Minelab PI machine but unfortunately I think they are out of my budget at the moment. And there seems to be lots of mixed opinions on the whites tdi. So I figured a good vlf would be the best choice for my next detector. Most of my gold detecting will be in Colorado so I am not expecting huge nuggets but gold is gold and it all adds up ???

Hi all, I haven’t really been keeping up with the multitude of new vlf detectors that have came out over the last couple of years. Is there a new preferred detector for working quartz reefs? Or does everyone still use the gmt and goldbug? Thanks

In your opinion or experience what is the deepest smallest picker that you found with a VLF? Which VLF detector do you think does the best with depth and sensitivity?

Hello everyone, I am new here to this forum. Recently my home town at my home country, prospectors started to discover Gold nuggets in large sizes at the surface without digging it, see the attached email The creek and valleys are so large that you can not cover by using a handheld detectors. I did some search and came across two other types. One is using a drone metal detector although the product is not out yet https://www.treasurehunter3d.com/dronerover and the other is long distance detectors upto 2km and 30 meters deep http://www.megalocators.com/en/ or http://www.imagelocators.com/index.php/component/virtuemart/long-range-locators/x-finder-gold-detector-long-range-locator-detail?Itemid=0 video is https://youtu.be/kv6EmzH34Ao I couldn't find review on the performance on the long range detectors, did any of you use it? or whether these are legit products that work? Thank you

I'm planning on doing some river sluicing in Colorado this summer, but also trying my hand at doing some detecting. Looking for the right set up for that region. Does anyone have experienced suggestions?

Which one of the three would be best on dry beach sand? All with standard coil. 1. Old Tesoro Diablo-2 Gold Demon (20 khz). Gnd Adj, Sensitivity, Threshold. No discrimination capability 2. Old Tesoro Silver Sabre Umax (10 khz). 3. Old Fisher 1235X (5.7 khz). 4. New Fisher F22 (7.5 khz).

hello what is the best vlf detector for nuggets gold?

Hi All I'm new to this smart hobby of metal detecting/prospecting and I found this great website to be pretty helpful to its contents which I decided to join this forum to learn more. I'm planning to head to East Africa to do some gold prospecting with the help of good metal detector and I need your advice on some issues. To start with need good MD to take with me so please give me your advice on the very best gold nugget detectors for the budget of $800 or less? What are the very best gold nugget detectors for the budget of $800 or less? Even these Chinese made MDs if you think they can do the job comparatively then please list them all. Thank you.

I know that many, if not most, prospectors are usually thrilled to find tiny gold. More power to them. Undoubtedly finding a lot of such small gold will eventually translate into a lot of gold when it's all put together. However, personally I'm solely interested in larger-sized nuggets of, say, 2 grams and up. I have no problem with missing nuggets any smaller than that. Not particularly interested in relics, artifacts or silver. I was originally leaning towards buying a GB2 until I realized that they excel in finding the tiniest gold, not the larger, deeper nuggets. Also, I would prefer something that has something of a graphical interface along the lines of the Garrett AT Gold. If the Garrett ATX Deepseeker Package was priced about $800 less I'd buy it, but at $2500+ It's just too expensive (aside from its exceptionally-heavy weight.) What would be the best VLF machines for someone who's *only* interested in prospecting for *big*, *deep* gold in the Western USA?

Go easy on me Steve, I just got an F75 and found silver in Cobalt Ontario. I have badgered/convinced my friend to head west into gold country next trip. So now I'm looking at GB2, GM1K, ATX?, GPX5K?, who knows? So much to learn but the gold is calling me! Would love to be you with a slew of machines to pick from, but I gotta start small then find enough to fund the good machine... or so I keep telling myself! There's been gold found in southern MN near Zumbrota, and whatever else is here is fly spec size so maybe the GB2 would be sensible to start with, that could be useful locally. The Gold Monster really appeals for just a bit more... The F75 sure beats my Vaquero, with my poor hearing seeing the numbers really makes a difference, so the GM1K has an appeal over the GB2. Might be coming through Reno in November for a gold detecting class, but that's up in the air yet. Maybe next year I'll have something to post here, it's my intent anyway! Do you ever show your collection? It would be an education for sure. Does Fools Gold count? Found a huge specimen that does bear some non-ferrous metal (silver, nickel, cobalt maybe) but I kept it for the huge face of iron pyrite. Not gold but it sure glitters!

I've got the Mxt All Pro but originally bought it so I could do both park, beach and gold prospecting but Now that I've got the GM1000 and sdc for gold I'm not so sure that the Mxt is the best machine out there for coin hunting that's also an easy to use machine? What are your thoughts or suggestions for a great coin detector?. Thanks again mate

I've been using the tesoro lobo for 8 years now with great success. I'm ready for something different with a little more depth. I find gold nuggets and quartz/gold. Most of the Au/quartz comes from taillings and when they go quite I rake and find more...sometimes. I've been looking at the ATX but read it has trouble finding Au/quartz. I understand size matters on ability for any detector. 2000ish is my budget and that can buy a lot of rakes. I'm just not 100% I like the way it sounds and I'm sure we can get along just fine. Discrimination is not that important, I hardly use it. Any info would help thanks.

Hello. I am very new to MD. I am looking at buying my first one and looking for any advice on what to get. I will be detecting on lakes, beaches and in the piney woods of texas. Ground is going to be a mixture of hard soil some soft and beach sand at times. It will be in creek beds,lake water and every once in a while the beach. I am not looking for the cheapest but not the most expensive either. My budget will be some where around $200.00 and $800.00. I have looked at the Garret AT pro. And the T2 SE. But if their is something different or better please share and let me know So what do you guys think.

Hi Y'all! Great forum! Sorry if this has already been covered a zillion times, but..... I'm self-employed and am fortunate enough to be able to live and travel in an RV full-time. I live on a barrier island on the east coast of Florida during the winter and travel in the summer/fall/spring. My main places are Florida, Tennessee, and Montana (home of most awesome grandchild on earth). I love to metal detect. I don't have much room to store those 10 different detectors that I would love to own (RV). I have room for 2 or 3 at the most (if I want to have clothes and shoes too), and am loathe to part with my antique DFX, which has been my buddy for 10 years. Even though it's great for dirt-diggin' in Tennessee...and not much else. I've tried it on the beach here and it doesn't seem to like that wet salt sand very much. It positively seems to hate that mineralized dirt in Montana too. Maybe I didn't have it set up right. I've been researching for weeks and here is what I've almost decided on. If you guys could tell me if I'm on the right track, I'd be very grateful! 1. Garrett Infinium LS- Double duty for the beach/salt water hunting + a low-cost PI machine to find me tons (LOL) of 1+ gram nuggets in Montana. I usually dig everything at the beach and targets of any kind are few and far between in the places we camp in Montana. (Yeah, I kinda know where to look-presently working on a ghost town/mining camp book). I'd also kinda like to try sniping in some of those 38 degree creeks and rivers (certified diver/have wetsuit/will travel). Hubby thinks I'm nuts. 2. Gold Bug 2- Maybe I could go back over those tailing piles in Montana and find those hundreds of -1 gram nuggets that the Infinium will miss. 3. Keep my friend, the DFX. Every time I think of selling it, it tosses me a merc or two....no joke. Thanks, guys!

hello masters. Electron and gold coins come out in the area we are in. Can you give me machine advice? maximum 1500 $

I am writing this in hopes that some metal detector manufacturers will read this and see what is wanted by the people in the field. What manufacturer to you think is on the leading edge? (why) What manufacture do you think needs a wake up call? What is your favorite all purpose detector? (coin, jewelry, and relic) What is your favorite prospecting detector? What do you wish the manufacturers would incorporate in new machines? I am not going to answer the question as I do not feel my knowledge base is at the level of the people on this forum. I still use a 30 year old detector. Everything I have read shows that this forum has the highest knowledge base of ones I have seen. Add any additional question that you think may be of interest.

Hello all I'm new to this forum and I'm interested in buying a metal detector. I was thinking about going with the Garret AT Gold. I know nothing about detecting but did some reading and this one just catches my eye, any thoughts? Thanks for your inputs in advance.

I was looking to see if anyone had suggestions about a detector I could go with for prospecting here in Maine. I have seen one topic on this site about this subject, someone who had a Makro Racer. In my experience VLF of any sort don't work around here, there are so many large hot rocks and hot soil they don't stand much of a chance. I'm nearly certain you will need a PI detector to find anything in the good areas(less touched). I have seen many nuggets in this area, even in the heavily hunted Swift River. I have not personally seen anything over 1/2 ounce, but I'm certain there are some. There are plenty of "picker" sized nuggets but most of the gold is in very small pieces. I'm not certain even if I bought a nice PI detector it would be worthwhile, hence why I am here! I've heard many times the largest amount of the gold is eluvial or even the alluvial from old river beds. I've seen people pulling 1/8-1/4oz nuggets out of the clay near, but not in, the river, well outside the high water mark. So there are nuggets up here, not loaded, but here. The terrain to the areas untouched are harsh, so I was looking for a lighter detector. Very steep jagged landscape. In the end, my question is, with so many hot rocks is it worthwhile to buy a decent PI to detect pickers and maybe some nuggets, or spend the same amount and just buy a dredge? If it's worth the while, any suggestions on a detector under 3k?(not sure if I should bother with waterproof or not) Thanks!

I am curious as to which machine you prefer for inland gold jewelry hunting and why. Always like learning about other peoples machines and methods. Thank you.

Hi, im after some advice on metal detectors. I live in the UK and im currently using the Nokta fors core with a 15'' coil for coin and relic hunting but im looking to buy a new detector primarily to search for Roman silver coins and hammered silver coins only. The sites im currently on are rich in history finding coins form Julius Caesar Roman through to Elizabeth II. But im only getting finds up to 12' to 14'' max' with the detector im using at the moment and feel as though im missing quite few finds. Does any one know which is a good detector to purchase, hopefully something good on mineralised ground discriminants iron well and goes verry deep on small silver coins hopefully well over 12'' to 14'' . I know its a tough one but any help or advice is verry much appreciated. thanks paul

I have had some sucess finding nuggets with a Fisher Gold Bug Pro but recently went out with a friend who has a Minelab 5000. He was easily picking up nuggets where the GB gave no indication at all. I realised I needed something better but was not sure what would be appropriate. The 5000 is rather large and heavy for carrying a long distance and is complicated compared with the GB Is there any recommendation as to a detector that is significantly better than the GB but has its lightweight features and ease of use? I suppose the Minelab 7000 would be even less likely to meet my needs.?I am not very fit and only get out gold detecting a few times a year.

We hear about the hot PI detectors so many have to nugget hunt with. Maybe if you don't have far to travel you may not carry a backup. I myself it's a long trip to nugget land in the sky so I have a backup and another backup. What I'd like to know from you is your backup another PI are a VLF ? Whatever you carry have you had the need to fall back on it ? Chuck PS What I read on here it sounds if all own GPZ's.

Take a nugget around .3 gram in fairly mineralized soil. Which will locate it deeper a Whites TDI original, a Garrett Infinium, a Gold Bug Pro, or a Makro Gold Racer? And approx. how deep for each ? Thanks

Hi steve, i don't know if you remember me, i'am Franck the French living in Ecuador and i asked you for some advise last year (november 2015) about gold detector to prospect gold in rain forest and mountain (Llanganati mountain...), after study the differents possibilities you suggest me, i took a sdc2300, very good detector that allow to find very small nuggest, but i encountered un big problem not expected in rain forest...the trash...i had to dig a huge quantity of metallic trash, result of various centuries of wood exploitation, farming etc so there is plenty of claws, barbed wire, pieces of sardine can, beer caps etc...so much than i expected... it's not possible in that conditions to prospect with pulse induction material, moreover the ground is not so mineralized that i thought (volcanic region but no many hot rocks..) so i have to reconsider my prospecting strategy and change the detector for Gold VLF ... .... here in Ecuador i have the choice in this list of detector : Garret : AT Gold (1300$) - AT PRO (1300$) - GTI 2500 (with coils 9.5" & 12" and Eagle Eye - 2000$) - GTAx 550 (900$) Fisher : Gold BUG PRO (1150$) - F5 (1400$) Whites : TDi PRO (2300$) Minelab : XTERRA 705 (GOLD Pack - 1000$) - Eureka GOLD (900$) - CTX3030 (3000$) - SAFARI (1400$) Nokta : FORS CORE (2000$) - FORS GOLD (2000$) - Velox One (2000$) - CF77 (with 3 coils c23 c28 c45 - 2000$) Other : DELTA PULSE 2 (650$) - DETECH SSP 5100 (1750$) ??? do know something about those ones, seem to be ground Radar more than detectors..... I read a lot about all those detectors but a never used them so the choice is hard.... Importants things for me : 1 - I will make ONLY Gold Nugget prospection, here there is no coins nor Jewelry so i'am only interested to Gold nugget prospection capabilities of the detector... and i need one that can discriminate very well that huge quantity of metallic trash i encountered !!!! it's so borring to prospect in all metal mode and spent my time digging trash.... 2 - I need one that resist hard rain with coil avaible for water, no need of a real underwater detector, just one able to detect banks of lake and river and dry land too 3 - Ground is low to medium mineralized Can you suggest me detectors in the list below for various kind of price ??? Thanks, Franck

Hey guys! Firstly, wanted to say hi and what a pleasure it is to meet you all. What a great forum with so much valuable info! Keep it up. I'm in Zimbabwe and want to start detecting for gold in areas that I believe are fertile. Unfortunately I don't have the capital for a GPZ 7000 or similar and as I'm starting out not wanting to invest alot at the beginning, I wanted your guys advice as to the best most affordable detector to go with - can be Minelab or any other brand. As things progress (hopefully) I will upgrade. Thanks again and I look forward to all your thoughts and opinions.