Bought a BGT Sniper 30

[dsrtdwg1]

Bought a BGT Sniper 30 and am pleased with it! My previous experience with sluices of any type was 30+ years ago,I worked on a small operation here in the desert that had big wood boxes and I had a packrat dredge that I would fool around with. Like everyone else,I have read about the BGT and had to try it myself.
I'm going to take a leap here and say that they are a 21st century solution to a 19th century activity!

The area I went to is worked over and probably has nothing left but flood fines....it caught them. There will be a small learning curve to it. I tried hard to get the V look to the flow over the slick plate and probably did not have enough drop on the box...I'll get it figured out. Something that I forgot to do as some here have recommended is pre load the box with some gravel, I can see how this will help. Next time.

Now a question for all the BGT gurus out there. How small are the holes/jets in the pressure tubes of the Sniper? Where are the hole located. When I first got the box I looked into the trap and could not see any holes? I can not see them or feel them with my finger. Someone needs to tell me so I am not walking around thinking it's Black Magic.

 

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[arizau]

One of those pivoted inspection mirrors and some manipulation with various diameter wire, clay molds, etc. should tell the tale. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=inspection mirror

PS: DIY'ers often ask these questions and at least one of the answers (hole size) to the questions you asked seems to be a well guarded secret that even owners do not disclose openly in any forum that I have seen. The holes are reported to be at opposing angles somewhere along the lower portion of the sides of the bottom half of the tubes from what I have read.

 

[OwenT]

If you stick your fingers in you can feel the holes in the pipes. Or shoot water down the bottom chamber and watch the water come out. There's like 3 on each side of each pipe I think and they face mostly down which is why you can't see them. I think they're probably like a 1/4" wide on the sniper.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Oh and blow off all concerns about getting a V over the slick plate. That only matters on 19th and 20th century sluices. Read more of the posts here about how to run it. Guidance varies by model of course. For the Sniper, keep it fairly close to level and try to get enough water over the deck to push the smaller rocks over the grizzly. The gold in the trap doesn't know or care what the water flow looks like, just get enough volume and you win.

 

[mytimetoshine]

Yes the V means nothing on the bazooka. You still want it level but just try to get as much water volume over the plate and grizzlies as you can without dropping it too steep.

 

[goldenmojo]

Congratulations on purchasing your sniper. All the Bazookas are great machines and will catch gold even the fine stuff as you found out. If you have lots of flow run it flatter. Other than that it is forgiving to all kinds of conditions and predicaments. Happy Gold Getting.

 

[Aufisher]

Welcome to the family! Great choice! Enjoy!

 

[PurpleGold]

I just bought the 30" Sniper online yesterday so I cannot wait for it to arrive. I also purchased the X-Stream Hybrid Pro hand dredge from Steve Wilcox online yesterday. I'm finally taking this fluid bed leap with you. Can you post some pictures of your setup in the water? I'm hounding right now for BGT setup tips and tricks. Since you also have the 30 Sniper too I'd love to learn what you have to offer.

 

[goldenmojo]

Congratulations on purchasing a Bazooka. I set mine up depending on the speed of the water. Real fast and I run it flatter. real slow equals more pitch. Super fine gold run it a little flatter. My favorite setup is a small boulder that is solidly buried. I then side the bazooka up to it and wedge a big rock on the other side. I then place a flattish rock under the intake end and wedge the nose up with another flattish rock. I wedge a rock on top as needed to hold it down then dam around it as needed unless if the water is fast enough.

 

[goldenmojo]

 

[Bronze]

Great choice! The BGT is a great tool to have in the box. Especially if you are testing areas. The one thing that you will find is that once you get used to the Sniper, you will quickly outgrow it to process more material and the next thing you know.....youve got a big Prospector model sitting next to it.

 

[Adventure_Time]

Yes the V means nothing on the bazooka. You still want it level but just try to get as much water volume over the plate and grizzlies as you can without dropping it too steep.

The V is meant to guide you in leveling the sluice and getting a straight waterflow, it has nothing to do with sluice design.

 

[KevinInColorado]

The V is meant to guide you in leveling the sluice and getting a straight waterflow, it has nothing to do with sluice design.

I agree with mtts, don't worry about what the water surface looks like flowing over the skid plate on a Bazooka, just get enough water and you'll be fine.

 

[PurpleGold]

How long did it take to get you 30" Sniper? I ordered mine over a week ago and the order is still awaiting fulfillment.

 

[GoldpannerDave]

How long did it take to get you 30" Sniper? I ordered mine over a week ago and the order is still awaiting fulfillment.

They get backlogged. I think lots of folks convince wives or others that a BGT would be a great Christmas gift and that may have something to do with it. Plus, there is a lot of vacation time from Thanksgiving to now (we just had a 3-day weekend). But don't worry, it will get to you soon and then you can put it in a creek right here in Colorado (if the weather cooperates--we had snow flurries today from about 9-9:30 and there is still plenty of snow on the ground.

Of course, you may have seen in KevinInColorado's thread that he got out Sunday (I think it was). February is usually OK for sluicing in Denver but not in Cache Creek (closed) and there is usually a lot of ice on the Ark, though Clear Creek and South Platte in/near Denver should be fine. Arapahoe Bar gets the warm water from Coors, so it is a good place to go; notice GrizzlyGremlin has been active there recently.

 

[Goldwasher]

It's not made until you order it. So, if you have some in front of yours when you order your getting in line. Sometimes the line is long.

 

[Aufisher]

Any wait for a Bazooka is well worth it. Start working out while you wait so when the sluice arrives you can shovel all day!

 

[GoldpannerDave]

It's not made until you order it. So, if you have some in front of yours when you order your getting in line. Sometimes the line is long.

Thanks for jumping in here since you have a lot more knowledge about it than I do.

 

[GoldpannerDave]

Any wait for a Bazooka is well worth it. Start working out while you wait so when the sluice arrives you can shovel all day!

That is the truth!! The 48" Miner wears me out; shoot the 30" Sniper can do that, too. Of course, I am now an old guy, so I get worn out easier than I used to.

 

[PurpleGold]

Any wait for a Bazooka is well worth it. Start working out while you wait so when the sluice arrives you can shovel all day!

I've totally been doing just this! I wonder how many times daily I check my email hoping for that shipping confirmation. Or how many times my mind wanders to shoveling straight into the zooka.