Mini Bazooka thoughts

[Nuggetbrain]

Hello all. Due to my newness to prospecting (and a small budget) I am looking at the Mini Bazooka Sluice to get started.

If you have experience with this sluice and can post a few of your thoughts I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

Tim

 

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[Aufisher]

Go for a small sniper. Down the road you can get a bigger Prospector. Both great tools for many flow scenarios.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Agreed. The mini really needs a classifier which is more $$, get the 30" Sniper instead and the the only classifiers you need are a kitchen strainer and a 50 mesh for finish panning.

 

[benny]

The mini is great for prospecting cuz it's so easy to set up and tear down. Get a bigger model if you want to move dirt.

 

[kengold]

Like Tim I am thinking of getting a bazooka. At the moment I am using a 36in Angus McKirk AU trap and getting pretty good results but I have probably been using it wrongly because I shovel most sized rocks straight in and I suspect I am losing quite a bit of gold because some large stones do sit over the riffles. I don't have the patience or a good enough back to classify. I was thinking of the 36in Prospector because it seems reasonably lightweight, which is important to me, but is it the best bazooka choice under 37 inch and is it worthwhile getting another smaller bazooka to cope with lower water conditions and perhaps a backpack- say a super mini or 24in sniper?

 

[vaquero44]

the mackirk sluices you really should at least classify down to 1/2" is the recommended thing for those and what happens the bigger rocks can cause water surge therefore blowing out gold

 

[KevinInColorado]

If you have back trouble I'd suggest you get the 30" Sniper. It uses less water, weighs less and won't let you get overcome by gold fever and hurt yourself like a Prospector might ;-)

Then set a big rock next to the top corner of the sluice, rest your full shovel on the Rock and sorta shake the material off the shovel into the sluice. Back trouble free sluice!

PS run it steeeep! So you don't have to bend over to clear the grizzly. Don't worry, it'll still keep the gold!

 

[davidhorton001]

I have a super mini and I love how fast it is to set up. Here are my thoughts.

It works in small steams and big steams and doesn't need as much water flow
I personally don't classify my material, with the proper angle and water flow I can send rocks that range in size from 1"-4"+ down the skip plate and not have to touch it. And catch fly poop.
Clean up is fast

The cons
The super mini can only handle so much material. I usually do a half a shovel full at a time or slowly dump a 3 gal bucket. If you find a spot and you need to move a lot a dirt the mini will do it but it will take a lot of time.

The trap is small so you have to empty it more often.

Well that's my 2 cents. Hope it helps

 

[kengold]

If you have back trouble I'd suggest you get the 30" Sniper. It uses less water, weighs less and won't let you get overcome by gold fever and hurt yourself like a Prospector might ;-)

Then set a big rock next to the top corner of the sluice, rest your full shovel on the Rock and sorta shake the material off the shovel into the sluice. Back trouble free sluice!

PS run it steeeep! So you don't have to bend over to clear the grizzly. Don't worry, it'll still keep the gold!

Thanks for this and all your other information on the bazookas -that is really helpful

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

I was very excited to get my email today that my 36" Prospector has been shipped! I've been reading all the threads and I too would like to thank all of you for some great advice and input.

I haven't been this excited for the UPS driver in a loooooong time. Now I just need my May vacation to get here!

 

[Nuggetbrain]

Let us know when you get it and your experiences with it!

Good luck!

Tim

 

[goldenmojo]

I have a Supermini and a Prospector. I use the super most of the time due to ease of use. I can get it out of the water, dump the trap and get it back in the cradle in less than fifteen seconds. Here is some gold caught with my Supermini last week.

 

[kayakpat]

the way everybody talks of the bazooka, I feel like they make sluices like the A52 obsolete

 

[arizau]

the way everybody talks of the bazooka, I feel like they make sluices like the A52 obsolete

Not obsolete, but...... Bazookas are a better alternative where stream conditions are conducive or can be made conducive by minor damming to operate one. Operating one usually requires no classifying thus maximizing potential outing throughput. Simple formula....The more paydirt you run, the more gold you recover.

 

[AlaskaGold]

I have a Supermini and a Prospector. I use the super most of the time due to ease of use. I can get it out of the water, dump the trap and get it back in the cradle in less than fifteen seconds. Here is some gold caught with my Supermini last week.

View attachment 1148612

Not to hijack the thread but holy cow mojo, just killing the gold, amazing...

 

[Aufisher]

Go Mojo! Bazooka power all the way!