Etrac and Gold nugget hunting

[fisherknot]

I have several detectors and Etrac is the one I grab first when coin or relic hunting. On my bucket list is to head west to try gold nugget detecting and panning. Does anyone have experience using the Etrac for nugget hunting and what coil might be best. I am thinking for getting a Sun Ray Stealth X 5 sniper coil. I could use it at home for trashy areas but will it be better than the stock coil for nuggets? I don't believe minelabs have a sniper coil for the Etrac.

 

[roadapple]

IMO.....Not a good choice to use the E-Trac as a Gold nugget detector, as there are many other choices. I have the X5 coil and it is
fantastic for high trash areas. But I also have a PI Whites TDI for chasing Gold nuggets. A Gold Bug 2 is another choice..... Best of luck on your trip west !

 

[jarid]

I love my E trac (for coins) I live outwest and do a little prospecting and can tell you the E trac even with the X5 (i have one) would be a poor nugget machine. there are many many better choices.
Happy Hunting.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

It would be great if the nuggets are the size of a nickel or the size of a nice gold ring. The mineralization of the ground
where gold is found is the killer. Most nuggets are very small. But some get lucky and find a huge nugget.
You might find one like the one pictured.
Man finds huge nugget

 

[fisherknot]

Thanks for the response. I may go ahead and get the sun Ray coil as we have some areas at home that we don't hunt much due to the trash. I will have to figure something out for my nugget hunt as I don't think I have much chance of getting a hunker. I have an AT pro also but have been told they don't do very well on nugget hunting either. Dave

 

[jd88047]

The great thing about Etrac is the discrimination. The bad thing about hunting gold nuggets would be the discrimination. I dont try to find small gold and silver with it. I have a coiltec 6 inch coil, and its decent. But will have to take my Etrac to the desert sometime and test it. I like to try and fool my detectors so I know what I walking over. You discount your AT Pro but thats exactly what I use for bad dirt. I would say use your eyes and take a miners pan with ya.