You know I really don't disagree with any of the posts here. I use a PI (GS5) for gold hunting(not in AZ).
For just passing thru AZ buying ANY detector for one outing or two just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Day dreamer should ask folks on those forums do they have a claim he could detect on( hopefully MXT can
handle the mineralization at that location) for a day or two. I remember Bill Southern(owner) on nuggetshooter
has directed some newbies to some areas. If that fails there is some literature out there on where to go. I think
Bill has some in his shop. Welgus has some locations in his books.
http://www.nuggetshooter.com/Store/NuggetShooters1.html
If you want to spend a bit more money join the GPAA or a local club(RoadRunner?)
Regarding buying a PI for nugget hunting in AZ. Well I would only buy one if you lived in AZ and were serious and went out every weekend would be my advise.
Yes the PIs handle the mineralization (GPs and SDs) better than VLFs and they are of course much deeper. There are a lot of areas
where you simply can't use a VLF.
However as they don't have reliable iron ID it is a dig it all situation which works well in virgin desert areas with no trash but not
effective in high trash areas. Yes ALL the serious nugget hunters in AZ use Minelab PIs. Those who started out with VLFs quickly changed over to PIs. You don't need to spend $3500 to get started as buying used PIs from folks who gave it up is the way to go. Finding a good used $1600 PI would be the way to go for a newbie that just moved to AZ.
Understand the strengths and weakness of the MXT. Just look at Alaska. The MXT is king at Ganes Creek. The Minelab PIs are king at Moore Creek. Why? Canes Creek is loaded with iron and the MXT can ID iron (Steve's MXT gold nugget VDI secrets on the Alaska gold forum). Whereas Moore Creek has little iron and is suitable for PIs.
Amona- I understand your views. The sites listed above aren't really generic nugget hunting sites but AZ Minelab PI sites. So if you drop in you will have to listen to the AZ Minelab viewpoint. Dropping in with a MXT, an Infinium or in my case a GS5 you will receive some grief from some Minelab worshipporters and yes they are going to tell you to buy Minelab PIs. Probably more gold has been found with VLFs but still there isn't a central website for VLF nugget hunters.
My attitude for gold hunting is the same for coin/relic hunting. I am not here to pay off my detector just have fun. After many decades of coin and relic hunting I wanted a new challenge in gold hunting when I moved west. My coin and gold detectors are not investments- just play toys. If I find something of value- it is a bonus. Use what you can afford and enjoy yourself. My free time is rare and valuable and like golfers or fisherman I will pay what it takes to have fun in my limited time off. If you are not enjoying yourself nuggetshooting regardless of the cost of your equipment- give it up and go beach hunting or bass fishing. Judging from the amount of used Minelab PIs I see in Ebay all the time apparently a lot of people have indeed given it up. Certainly no where near as easy as the Minelab ads suggest. If it was so easy half the residents in Az would be nugget hunting. Expect to get skulked- but be delighted to find something is my viewpoint.
George
