X-50 or Scorpion for a do-it-all?

[Pyledriver]

I know the 50 doesn't have a prospecting program..but.. I'm looking at both a Scorpion and a 50 right now with the intent of picking up a mult-purpose detector that I COULD use to search for gold. I know the Scorpion is made FOR gold, but will work in a general role as well. What I don't know is whether the 50 will work halfway decent to find gold-I know it's a great multi-purpose detector. Sucks being a noob...

 

[ivanll]

A detector is a tool, let the job it is used for and ease of use be the determining factor.
New technology versus old technology, the choice is simple.

 

[nvchris]

The Scorpion is crap. Heres my list of multi purpose detectors,

Xterra 70

Whites MXT

If you want a vlf for nuggets

Whites GMT

Gold Bug ll

If you real want to find nuggets get a pulse induction.

Minelab (any one of there P.I.'s)

Whites TDI

nvchris

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

If you are going to use an X-Terra for nugget hunting then only the 70 is good enough. If you can use small lead sinkers to test each detector for sensitivity, then you can get a good idea of how small a piece that they can detect.(I've tried this on my 30 and it was flat out hearing a 1 gram sinker at all. The prospecting mode on the 70 is a whole other ball game.
I'm in the same situation that you are in at the moment. I'm looking very closely at the X-Terra70, the MXT, the GMT and the Gold Stinger.
I have no gold hunting experience to offer, so I won't comment beyond this. Hopefully you will get experienced prospectors that can make intelligent comment on this for you.
Mick Evans

 

[Andy Sabisch]

Your comment that "The Scorpion is crap" may be a bit harsh . . . I've been to Alaska a few times and have always found gold - some quite small - with the Scorpion. Are there detectors that perform better and go deeper? Sure, but in the price range Pyledriver was looking, the Scorpion is still a solid performer in the gold fields (and I have used it around foundations we came across with good results as well).

LIST PRICES

Garrett Scorpion: $550

Whites GMT: $800
Minelab X-70" $950
Whites MXT: $800
Fisher Gold Bug II: $880
Whites TDI: $1500
Minelab GPX 4500: $6,000

The other Minelab PI units are discontinued

 

[montanagold]

I had a scorpion years ago and it was real hard to use. I used the 50 for a long time and did well with it. I have to agree if you want to do both coin hunting and prospecting go with the 70 otherwise you would have to get 2 detectors. the gold bug is a great machine.

 

[Monte]

I mean, you say you want a "multi-purpose" detector, and end by saying you know the X-Terra 50 is a "great multi-purpose detector." Let me assure you that there are a LOT of "multi-purpose" detectors on the market now or in recent years, but few are really "great" when you include the task of gold nugget hunting. I am referring to serious nugget hunting applications.

I know the 50 doesn't have a prospecting program..but.. I'm looking at both a Scorpion and a 50 right now with the intent of picking up a mult-purpose detector that I COULD use to search for gold.

While both offer manual Ground balance, I found the X-Terra 50 'OK' for general coin hunting needs, but not what I would want for nugget shooting. The X-Terra 70 is, by far, the best nugget shooter in the X-Terra series, and is way better than the X-T 50 in all respects.

If you're looking in a particular price range that would include the X-Terra 50 and Scorpion Gold Stinger, and if you don't mind not having the visual TID, then the Scorpion really is the better "multi-purpose" unit of the two once you add nugget shooting needs.

I know the Scorpion is made FOR gold, but will work in a general role as well.

The Scorpion Gold Stinger is a carry-over of the respected 15 kHz GroundHog models. The early GroundHogs were a VLF/TR-Disc. design and the Scorpion adds to that with a reasonably functional motion Discriminate mode. Due to that, it was MADE FOR multi-purpose operation.

I've used a Scorpion Gold Stinger for a variety of metal detecting applications and was generally pleased with the performance. The biggest weakness with it, in my opinion, is that it is very hard to find any of the older round, concentric search coils that work on it. Thus, you're pretty much limited to the standard and smaller elliptical coil. They do the job, but you'll need both of them to tackle an assortment of tasks.

The biggest weakness with the Scorpion is the nutty battery location and steps required to change out the three 9-V batteries. What I DO like, however, is the 10-turn manual Ground Balance to fine-tune the GB setting, as well as the broad range Discrimination adjustment.

With the combination of a true All Metal search mode and both motion-based Discrimination and TR-Discrimination circuitry, I would easily take a Scorpion Gold Stinger over the X-Terra 50 if I had the intentions of gold nugget hunting.

What I don't know is whether the 50 will work halfway decent to find gold-I know it's a great multi-purpose detector.

Not in my opinion. The X-Terra 70, yes, but I've hit better on smaller gold nuggets with a White's M6 than I have the X-Terra 50. With that said, you might shop for a decent used unit such as an MXT which is most certainly a top nugget shooter.

If you are looking for just one detector to own do do everything from coin hunting to small artifact/relic hunting to gold nugget hunting, etc., etc., realize there are very few that are a "jack of All Trade" that can hold their own most of the time. The old saying "Jack of All Trades, but Master of None" really does apply to offerings in this hobby. That's why many of us make it a point to own at least two (2) detectors in order to tailor the detector and coil to various hunting environments and needs.

While I am going to be adding the latest model from White's to my personal battery, I'll remind you that every detector I own and use is a "used detector" so don't hesitate to shop around.

Monte

 

[BarnacleBill]

I'll assume you just walked into my shop and gave me your opening request:

I know the 50 doesn't have a prospecting program..but.. I'm looking at both a Scorpion and a 50 right now with the intent of picking up a mult-purpose detector that I COULD use to search for gold. I know the Scorpion is made FOR gold, but will work in a general role as well. What I don't know is whether the 50 will work halfway decent to find gold-I know it's a great multi-purpose detector. Sucks being a noob...

Here's what I'm hearing:

1. You're a newbie to detecting that has been doing some research and needs help with a decision.

2. By your emphasis of the word COULD it sounds to me like gold detecting will NOT be the primary use of the detector, but a secondary one. Therefore I'm going to want to know more about what that percentage of time & place gold detecting is going to be.

3. Will the X50 "halfway decent to find gold"?

Here will be how I address your questions:

1A. You're a newb, let me repeat that, you're a newb. The Scorpion has a 10 turn ground balance control! For an experienced hobbyist that is looking for a more prospecting oriented detector, that would be a positive. But for a newb this is a non-starter! Most newbs can't ground balance a single turn controlled detector, let alone handle a 10 turn. I'm not going to sell you any detector with a 10 turn ground balance knob on it, period!

2A. In regards to handling highly mineralized ground as could be found in gold bearing areas, I recently made this post (very long) that I also checked the X50, though not mentioned. The X50 GB'd fine & and was able to be run at full sensitivity in black sand.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,878311,878311#msg-878311

3A. Yes it will find gold nuggets, heck people with Ace 250's will find gold nuggets with them. With a high frequency coil attached it improves significantly in sensitivity to gold. See this post:

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,290751,290751#msg-290751

Now let's look at the interfaces and consider how user friendly they are, plus consider the learning curves:


[attachment 120388 Scorp.gif]

[attachment 120389 X50Terraface.jpg]

Anyone? ... Anyone? ... Bueller?

If you are not going to do more than casual prospecting a couple times of year, then the X50 is the choice. If you are going to be in difficult ground on a regular basis and want a more capable multi-purpose, then the X70 vs MXT is the decision to be made.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[nvchris]

Andy,


Your right "crap" may be out of line I didn't conceder that I might be insulting Garret fans.

It's hard to give away a Scorpion let alone sell one to a person with detecting experience. I've seen them go for as low as $150. The only people that buy them new are uninformed beginners or Garret owners.

Price and value go hand in hand and you really do get what you pay for. Is there a better gold detector for less (then the Scorpion) sure the Gold Snoop. I didn't list it. Because as far as I know it's not imported in the US.

Still I'll stand by my statement "the Scorpion is crap" The only thing it excels at it eating batteries. Sure you can find nuggets with it but other then the nostalgia of using an outdated detector what's the point. "Solid performer in the gold fields" thats not what the majority of seasoned prospectors say about it. It's marginal at best even for a coin/relic unit. (It's best suited for loamy soils or in non to low mineralized ground )

Actual retail price. The GPX sells for 4495.95 and the Scorpion as low as 395. I realize you might have used full retail just for comparison and shock value.

There are dealers that still have brand new Gp 3000's in stock along with the GP 3500, GPX 4000, SD 2100v2 and SD 2200v2. I Cant see why you would make claim "The other Minelab PI units are discontinued" when Minelab's website still lists the 4000 and others.

nvchris

 

[Andy Sabisch]

NVCHRIS,

You are welcome to your opinion as I and others are to theirs. I have a Gold Scorpion and stand behind my statement that I can find gold with it . . . and have for years. Is it long in the tooth? Sure, but there are plenty of people still using older detectors with good success.

I'm sure there are also dealers with stock of Minelab's no longer in production . . . . . if you question my statement, why not give them a call tomorrow and ask if the factory is still producing the SD 2100 and SD 2200? There's a reason the prices on these units was just dropped. As to the GP 3000, 3500 and 4000 . . . . . you can probably get a great deal from a dealer that still has them in stock . . . . . . the GPX 4500 was recently lowered in price from it's $5995 price to address sales.

I use what works and and am not an "uniformed beginner or a Garrett fan" . . . . . with unlimited funds and if I lived in the gold fields, I would clearly use something different, but for the amount of time I do hunt the gold fields, the Garret and X-70 are my primary choices.

Andy Sabisch

 

[David]

Andy or anyone, what unit would be best for gold Ore Sampling rocks by putting the detector in a stationary bench testing position and waving samples in front of the coil with your hand out, in the field.

(The Scorpion is the only unit I am aware of that is available new that still has TR circuit. So it may have a specific use that no other unit has on the market today being ore grading-sampling in TR.)

"Flip the switch again for true TR discrimination in order to accurately identify conductive ore." "Use it when prospecting to sample ore." "True TR Discrimination to accurately identify or grade conductive ore with the flip of a switch." "T/R Discrimination Calibrated (Hot Rocks and Ore Sampling)." "True TR Discrimination to accurately grade or identify conductive ore."

A Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger in TR mode(has Calibrated TR discrimination and ore grading). I wonder if using this TR for ore grading is better than using a VLF ?? Like the Whites GMT, Gold Bug-2 w/6", Eureka Gold @ 60kHz, X-Terra 70 w/6" DD HF ?? (I have an X-Terra 70.)

 

[Pyledriver]

Wow, thanks for the replies!! Yes, I'm a noob...guilty as charged! I think the problem I'm having is that I'm trying to do too much with one detector. However, after more reading and experimenting with a Scorpion a bit, I think I"m going to keep researching and trying different models till I find one I like. Having a Tesoro Silver uMax, I really like the light weight and simplicity, so I guess I'll have to see what they offer in the same category as the x-terra units. TID may still be a deciding factor for me..we'll see!!