[size=small]...I agree with Scully. Yes the TS will find gold, but it isnt designed for nuggetsooting except in the loosest terms. Free, pure nugget gold being soft, becomes small in streams and rivers, due to erosion. This means you are looking for itsy bits of metal that will look more like the smallest lead shot or fishing sinkers than anything else. In fact, you'll find far more of these than any gold, Ill wager. There remains a wicked and exploitable tendency among us humans to allow technology to solve all our problems for us - this includes the perennial question: "Which detector is best for..."
To the point of exclusion, prospectors dredge, sluice and pan in streams (or some derivitive of these), and save electronic nuggetshooting for the banks and slope floats around the creeks. There's a reason for this. The search for gold is a highly specialized field of endeavor and if you are able to do enough of it to make it worth your while, then you owe it to your success to have the right equipment. Depending on dumb luck with compromise tools is a poor strategy.
If it is just a whim or occasional thing that you intend, then by all means, get the TS and have a go. Practice at home with the smallest bits of lead you can find, the aforementioned shot and sinkers. Dont be afraid to go small, either. How small? ever seen a lentil? Half that size, might be too big!
I know, I've seen the ads that claim some bloke found a monster nugget somewhere - probably right up there in the very hills you intend to explore. Yes, it happens, but it is unusual. This is why you are seeing it bragged about in the first place (more on this at the end).
However, consider this: With TS in hand, get a full length wetsuit with booties ($100-150) and some used sneakers from the thrift store and do most of your gold prespecting at local lakes, swimming holes and the sea coast - in truth you'll likely do far better, for a lot less money.
But, this won't satisfy your sense of adventure or lust for riches, will it? Then join the GPAA, get serious and plan to develop some real muscle lifting rocks and bending your will to the flow of creekwater in search of gold (dont try the opposite - the creek will win). Spend your money on the right tools for the job and while youre at it, quadruple your budget for all of this to include some serious camping gear. A new Bobcat would be nice, too.
Oh yes, if you are married, I hope your wife likes outdoor living.
Please dont be offended by all of this, nor my final words to come, but I suggest you stop watching the TV shows and reading the magazine articles that tell you how easy it is to "Get Rich Prospecting!"
Such stuff has a second (if not primary) purpose, ie, to sell products or services. Millions of people have been duped into goldrushing (and many other activities) over the centuries by the very same hype.
If you havent already, do some real research first on the science and prectice of gleaning gold from the earth. The Egyptians and Romans killed uncountable numbers of nameless slaves during their reigns to get the gold they coveted. Can you guess why? Because, if it were easy, my friend, everyone would be doing it.
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