Well J.K., I've never nugget hunted with my XLT or Spectrum (no nuggets in WI) but I've sure read up on it as you never know when the oppurtunity will present itself. From all I've read it seems that if you want to search for coins get a coin machine & if you want gold get a gold machine. However for the occasional nugget hunter I heard the XLT can't be beat. You just won't find the small-small nuggets that a gold detector will find. I've found some pretty small pieces of gold jewelry with both my Eagle Spectrum & XLT & that wasn't even using the Prospecting program or the ring enhancement program, just a deep coin program ala Townley. Idea: find enough nuggets with your XLT to afford a gold machine then really start smokin'! GOD BLESS AMERICA Sarge out.