Feel Like Selling My Machine....

[1515Art]

I hunted all the amra claims a couple of years ago with my detector and had exactly the same results as you, I covered as much ground as possible trying to understand the terrain and the gold indicators. Same thing with the other two clubs I belong to and the areas I explored off on my own. 6 months into nugget hunting I managed to score my first nugget a one 1/2g rye patch beauty wandering with that same style. Luckily a friend gave me a little help confirming an area I’d previously been skunked on several times was an old hunted patch and my confidence in the area changed, as did my approach. I slowed down and stayed put and eventually found another little piece, then another. Wandering will hit the random nugget, but it’s tough because most of the easy spots have been hit so hard and so much depends on which foot to follow, the easy ones are gone. Trash is good if you can have confidence that detectable gold was found in the area you are hunting,  If I went back out to any of the AMRA claims I’d grid a small spot clean it out and move over to the next grid until I started to skip targets then take a break until I could go back and dig all targets and think  I’d have a higher chance of success really slowing down and finding confidence in one spot. 

[geof_junk]

I have been chasing gold since 1964  and found about 5 oz before I started detecting in 1980. Spent 8 weeks 12 hours a day detecting in the golden triangle victoria at the start of the detecting rush. I knew about panning and dredging for gold but those 8 weeks detecting was only a learning activity (NO GOLD).I was not hunting in the right spots. As for lead I have over 35 kilos from bullets and sinkers (Thats would be over 1000 oz if it was gold.) I have found over 100 oz of gold and I still do not know what is worst finding heaps of targets or spend days trying new ground and finding no targets at all, but finding a virgin patch sure makes up for it. My advice keep trying and changing your methods till you find what suit you, then refine it. I will not say best of luck as luck only goes so far but persistence pay off better.   

[nighthunter]

All much appreciated. I could very well not have the best settings engaged but I was finding really small lead bullet fragments and micro wires so I must be in the neighborhood. I had doc's handy pocket guide with me too which helped bring me back to earth.

I have a couple more big areas in mind to retry some days on. One being a known producer but also is secured by a club so Im off to join them (they are cheap too!).

On a technical note, I've started to wonder if an SDC wouldnt have been a better machine for me. I struggled a lot with the decision (for months) and was glad about it but after seeing how I've worked the places I've been so far, I may have been better off with the SDC. I have had few chances to really put a decent size coil to use yet. I was also around several dry creek banks and working the 5000 on that was tough. Anybody switched from one to another? (maybe thats another thread)

 

[Hard Prospector]

Also consider beach detecting......its the only gold being replenished "annually"

[nighthunter]

Thanks, all taken under consideration. Though as far as the SDC goes, I have heard the opposite at least once. I think it would be very useful or even more so for some of the spots I was in. There's also something to be said for a detector you can just grab from behind your seat and GO! I think I need both actually.... just need some winning lotto numbers now.

[Swampstomper Al]

All I'm going to say is: There's detectable gold locations in SoCal..
Watching "high-graded" vids & listening to fish stories at gold shows is not research..

Swamp

[Andyy]

Night hunter,  also look at the geology of the club claims.  Figure out why they picked those claims.  Walk around them.  Then find areas with similar types of geology and walk some around those.  Study the trash.  Are there square nails, maybe boot tacks, wire ..?  That is great.  Stay in the area.  Or are you hunting on the side of the hill where people are shooting at?  I stay away from those areas unless I know there is good gold there.  Also buy a .25g nugget if needed and bury it in a vial at one of those claims and gain confidence in your settings.  And lastly, start out in washes with less than 2' of overburden, if you can.  Otherwise you will be digging some deep trash and that really wears on your mind quickly.  

Research, research, research .... hike, hike, hike... and lastly ...

BE THE GOLD :p

[Andyy]

On November 2, 2018 at 7:18 PM, Adam H said:

I would take a 5000 over an SDC any day....

Interesting.  I actually think beginners are better starting off with the SDC, for the sole reason that there is much more small gold out there and I have seen many times a buddy out perform my gpx 5000 in spots I have pounded.  After the SDC teaches the technique and locations to a newbie, then I would move them to the GPX's.  But that is just my opinion.

[phoenix]

On 11/29/2018 at 3:33 PM, nighthunter said:

Though as far as the SDC goes, I have heard the opposite at least once. I think it would be very useful or even more so for some of the spots I was in.

Hey nighthunter.   Very rarely do I use my 2300, I just don`t want to chase point oners anymore, so a lot of days I come home empty handed with the 7000, but if I absolutely need a gold fix today, I go to the 2300 every time.  Yesterday I went to a spot with 2 mates that has produced a lot of gold for detector operators and me and the guy with the 5000 got one small piece each and the guy with the 2300 got five.     Dave