If u were to buy detector under $1000 which would u buy

[gold hound]

I have a Garrett, (I believe scorpion) that looks like a Fischer gold bug but can almost guarantee it doesn't function like 1!!! Not a knock on Garrett! Read a review and they said it looked like a gold bug. Knew gold bug has its followers as a VLF had good reviews for prospecting finding smaller gold, so I bought Garrett unit.
During field tests in hot zones with hot rocks everywhere it was completely useless. Could not get ground balance to work and cancel. Could have just been a bad unit, but probably more suited for finding bullet casings, license plates, and soda cans. So, for $1000 or less which detector would u buy strictly for prospecting? Keeping in mind some of these hills I'll be prospecting might as well be iron dumps. Thanks for any input!!! & again I'm not bad mouthing Garrett or its products! Gold bug may have same issues for the spot I was trying to work... I'll admit I'm a noob detector operator

 

[Ocean7]

might check Minelab Eureka Gold Metal Detector @ Kellyco but ask the gold bugs what they have best success. Don't forget the Aussies - lots of gold being found there. Minelab should ignore hot rocks.

 

[cudamark]

I'd get the Gold Bug 2.

 

[TerryC]

I owned a Garrett Scorpion. Ho hum. It does not come CLOSE to the performance of the Gold Bug 2. I own the Gold Bug 2 and the Whites GMT. Search my archives for a comparison of the two. Admittedly, I have not been prospecting for a year, but for about 850, you cannot go wrong with the GB2. Of course, this is a personal preference... I believe, for the money, the GB2 is hard to beat. I have heard, mostly from my buddy Terry Soloman, that the Tesoros are good. If he says they are, they are. Your choice. TTC

 

[Frankn]

About 16 or so years ago I was looking at the original gold bug and then the gold bug II came out. I got one and it was good finding small nuggets. What was special about it was that you could tell the hot rocks from gold without even bending over. You just put the coil over the signal at about 2" high. If you lowered it and the signal got louder it was gold. If you raised it and it got loude, it was a hot rock. Hot rocks are on the negative side of the null point, so they react backwards on this detector. Lost that detector in a fire or it would still be in my stable. Frank...-

 

[RvPrepper]

I am going with the White's Spectra V3i Metal Detector so we shall see. I have been studying the list below.

1= White's Spectra V3i Metal Detector
2= Fisher CZ-21 Quicksilver
3= White's Surf PI Dual Field Metal Detector
4= Minelab Eureka Gold
5= Minelab Sovereign GT Metal Detector

 

[gold hound]

Wish I would have joined tnet before waisting $750... Lesson learned... Would still like some more input before I make my decision. I appreciated everybody's feed back. Thank u

 

[adamBomb]

Wish I would have joined tnet before waisting $750... Lesson learned... Would still like some more input before I make my decision. I appreciated everybody's feed back. Thank u

I am not sure what works in your area so you might want to check with local people...but If I only had $1000 to buy an all around machine - I would go Fisher CZ3D or Minelab Soviergn GT. Both work on land and at the beach in wetsand. And both have great reviews. Neither is water proof though.

 

[penzfan]

SovGT

 

[gold hound]

Discontinued the sovgt. Did see a minelab on eBay for $350.

 

[gold hound]

How does the sovgt rate for prospecting and being able to cancel out hot rocks

 

[Phantasman]

I haven't found anything made in the past or new that I would change my Fisher F5 for. I'm not a big deeeeep digger fan. I like having the best info of whats in the ground, from mineralization to targets. I'm satisfied with 8" clarity over 14" confusion. I can go AM if I want 10" depth though (coins). The F5 does use GB coils.

The F5, 11"DD and 5"DD, a Lesche 85, a Deteknix XPointer. Under $1000 with enough left over for a bottle of Jim Beam at the pub to celebrate, for me.

The GB can fit in there as a substitute with the 5X10 and 6.5 DD as well.

 

[penzfan]

Dealers on this forum still have new ones available for around $900 or you can find them used on CL and EB. The SovGT is one of the best in high mineralized soils but not sure about hot rocks as I don't usually run across that issue in the ocean.

Discontinued the sovgt. Did see a minelab on eBay for $350.

 

[Fletch88]

I have a new in box gold bug 2 I no longer need after transferring jobs. Pm me an offer.

 

[penzfan]

Hey Fletch,

How's it going in Loosiana?

T

 

[hammer0419]

V3i is serious detector. Lots to learn. The MXT All Pro is an incredible detector. Super easy, deep, produces. Can be had for $730.