ive narrowed it down to 3 detectors.. which should i buy?

[M3R1IN]

ok im looking into a MD strictly for gold
Whites MXT, Minelab Explorer 2 and Fisher F75
what would u buy?

 

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[warsawdaddy]

Stickly for gold?Or for gold nuggets?If for nuggets only,none of the above.

 

[M3R1IN]

ok how about the GMT, i am looking for strictly gold prospecting meaning gold nuggets

 

[TreasureTales]

Tesoro Lobo Super Trac. Such a good machine that you won't need any other detector for different types of detecting. Why would you want a one-trick pony machine when the Lobo will do so much more?

 

[warsawdaddy]

The GMT is a good gold unit,even the previous model,the V-Sat.But also,and maybe a tad better,is the GoldBug 2(Fisher).A 3.88 nugget was just found last wk in the Bradshaws with a GoldBug.But probably a unit better than these would be the Infinium(Garrett).It's a little pricey(1100) but not nearly as high as the SD2200,and can be used for all occasions as it is a PI unit.

 

[bakergeol]

Being from Canada I was wondering about your ground conditions. Heavy mineralization? Amount of hot rocks? A lot of iron? Size of gold? What are other users in your area using?
I own VLFs(GMT and X-5) and a PI(GS5) and certain areas favor certain detectors.
VLFs such as the LST,MXT or F75 have an advantage in price, being able to detect smaller gold than PIs, iron determination, and have the ability to used for other purposes than nugget detecting.
PIs have the depth advantage in mineralized ground and the ability to ignore a lot of "hot rocks"(not all) but iron determination is still rudimentary on most PIs.
Of the three detectors you menitioned the MXT or F75 would be my choice(I would not even consider the Explorer).

Too bad Willy is not around to comment on the Infinium(I believe he is from Canada?)

George

 

[TonyinCT]

Of the three the F75 is the new kid on the blcok and the MXT is based on the GMT. I would suggest that you look into a strictly gold nugget hunter detector. There are many that can be bought and most are good . If you need more help and let me know.
8)

 

[Jim McCulloch]

For STRICTLY nugget hunting, under typical Canadian conditions, NONE of those mentioned will compare to the GMT. With THREE ground balance modes. manual, automatic, and instantaneous "GRAB", it is more versatile than anything else. It has 1,000:1 ground balance resolution (compared to 15:1 with the GoldBug II) thus the GMT is extremely sensitive to small gold. The iron ID is second to none (closest comparison is the MXT). Now, for MULTI-PURPOSE use, the top ranker is the MXT, followed by the F-75, then the Lobo Supertraq. The same guy designed all three of those machines, the LST being the oldest technology, the F-75 being Fisher's intended competitiion to the MXT. As regards the GMT, there are two versions, the standard (rod) mount, as well as the rare, but still available chest or hip mount. (White's made 50 body mount GMT's earlier this year on special order). Hope this helps; HH Jim

 

[BobbyS]

Hello M3r1in,
I wanted a multi purpose unit that was strong on gold nuggets, so i looked deep into all the units out there.
Although there is little information regarding nugget hunting using the F-75.
Todays technology was important in my final choice " so I bought a F-75 ,will be testing it out soon on a remote field thats not hunted out.

Will let you know the results hopefully in the near future.

Bob.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HIO: I grew up in the era where the best of the "few" detectors only dreamed of ground balancing. the best by far, was the Gardner.

As a result, re balancing with the first generation GB machines is an automatic thingie for me, it is of no importance, just part of using one of the machines. Besides, I still have a tongue in cheek attitude on this being done automatically for me. Even the Manufactureres say it is best for an experienced detectorist to manually balance for max recoveries.

I have been reading negative reports on the Garrett Gold Scorpion, most center on balancing as being problamatic and difficult. I have found Garrett to be the leader in detector designs and cannot believe that he would leave it on the market if it was inefficient.

Sooo, I recently purchased one to give it a full field trial here in Mexico, where you can pick up fist sized rocks of almost pure iron in a field of the same etc.. Yes, there are great quantities of gold in that mess also, we shall see.

Naturally a machine such as the Minelab will be superior, but I believe that the Scorpion will definitely fill in an efficient notch for the budget sensitive Gold detectorist.

Another thing that appeals to me is that I generally have to pack my equipment in on mules or burros and need something that isn't too delicate or complicated. Thumb rule, "the further the distance from help and the more complicate the detector , the more likely something will go wrong".

Most things I can field fix myself with simple equipment.

How about you other Scorpion users posting your results and problems?

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[thompy]

for a all around i would go with a xterra70 for gold, good results in alaska and austrailia, sounds hotter than the mxt, havent heard much on the f75 on gold other than jewelery, same with the t2 which i use, just found my first old mine last weekend. Thompy

 

[M3R1IN]

I should have modified that post to include the GMT i forgot to add it and have been busier than a pig in poop lately.
I like what ive read on the GMT and i do prefer a detector with a display of some sort, being a visual learner it helps keep me focused so i really must insist on having a display...analog knobs and switches just seem to make me angry.
Real de Tayopa as much as i have grown to trust your wise opinion on things, i cannot seem to find any common ground with you on that goldstinger
i have had one in my posession for about a year and i havent had much luck with it or found it very user friendly. I know lots of people who swear by them but i have only been frustrated by it so far. Having used the MXT on loan before i have been very satisfied with it but am looking for something more devoted to gold as relics and coins arent very common in my area as my province is only 102 years old so theres just not that much history here that isnt a national historic site or protected somehow. I dont really have to travel that far to get to gold country so i plan to focus on that.

 

[TreasureTales]

Oh yeah, I forgot men are visual creatures. I withdraw my suggestion because it has no screen to watch. Good luck in your decision making, and remember it's the detectorist more than the detector anyway.

 

[M3R1IN]

oohhh ouch! that cuts deep man thanks for the nice stab. Thanks for the confidence boost!

 

[TreasureTales]

oohhh ouch! that cuts deep man thanks for the nice stab. Thanks for the confidence boost!

Didn't think you needed a detector, you're doing ok in your culvert cleanouts, right? And those sapphire bags. Didn't mean to stab you, just forgot about the visual thing.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI Merlin my friend: I would like to hear more of your problems with the Gold Scorpion. I am honestly interested.

As I mentioned, I am going to give it a thorough field test for my own information, but if anyone is interested, I will post the results later.

Good luck on your gold recoveries

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[M3R1IN]

yeah treasure tales, im doing especially well with my sapphires and decent with the placer gold but i wantum findum em nuggets, and im taking off to alaska in a week so im gonna get a decent detector with a display, thats all.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI M3rlin: If you can afford an Alaskan gold nuggett trip, then by all means get the best, anything less would be penny wise and dollar foolish.

I am basically referring to someone working in their own territrory with a limited budget. The Scorpion "will" work, I just want to know how well in Mexican iron and mineralized fields.

The bigest that I have found so far was a 31.1 gram beauty found .wth an older Garrett Master Hunter ADS-7 up at Tayopa..

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[M3R1IN]

I can afford this trip because i have talked my father into it and he is paying for most of the expenses.
If i were to get the best detector i would severely drain my savings so im having to limit myself to $1000 for a detector
I have other obligations to attend to in Thailand in the Fall which is where most of my savings are reserved for... so . . yeah

 

[golddigger14s]

I like my GB2, it doesn't have a lot of depth but it will find very small stuff. I've heard it said that 95% of the gold found in the world will fit through window screen. Another thing I like about the GB2 is the fact it has no visual display that I have to keep looking at. (and I'm a guy)