Nick look very careful at the detectors. This seems to be an entry model by Fisher, and there are several things that I didnt like in the way they describe it. It seems that although it is sensitive, that sensitivity to small gold is only "maybe" in the 1st inch or so. I seen promotions where they state...." Let’s face it, most dug nuggets at the shallower depths will be smaller in size for the most part and this is where this little gem will show its best sensitivity!" I am reading this for their meaning of shallow depth at what size? While I tend to think shallow is first 6 inches, small flakes need to be virtually right on the surface with this machine as it is a low freq detector at 19khz. I dont know how much gold we would ever find in the first 1 inch of soil, unless there was solid bedrock right below it. So it seems to me that those required conditions are much more difficult to find ....than areas that can be detected with a much better machine capable of doing 3 to 10 inches....but that brings us back to the same dilemma. Size and depth go hand in hand to the sensitivity abilities of the machine. That is why more experienced guys have multiple detectors to match the terrain that they are detecting in, with the known gold size that can be expected to be found.

Smaller coils are good for trashy areas or a lot of "hot" rocks, but they give up depth.  A larger coil will find deeper targets, but make it a little harder to pick out the good targets in trashy areas.  Have never used Fisher products, I have a White's MXT for coin,jewelry,relic, & prospecting work, and just picked up an MX-5 as a back up, and depending on performance, may relegate the MXT to back up status, as we don't have much nugget shooting in my area.  These are both in the 14khz range, so I suspect the 19khz will be a little better on gold.  The higher the frequency the better for detecting gold.  For a general use unit, for me, the MXT in any of it's versions is hard to pass up.  Has been said that once you get used to it and know it, you won't be "out gunned", especiallly for general detecting.  There are other specific gold machines on the market that will out perform it, or others in that general vein.  The best advice is to find a dealer that handles several brands, have a long conversation of expectations, and try/handle a few before purchasing.

One of the old truisms on detectors is that every $100 is worth around 1" in depth, depending on ground, coils, user experience/confidence with that particular machine

A general rule to remember is that for each $100 you spend you can detect 1" deeper. I spent $1300 on mine and I have only used it twice, I am hoping of going out to Arizona on a friends claim and doing some wandering through the desert with it next winter.

 

I use a gold bug from the 1990's which is now the new gold bug two which is now the red hot item in some cases . My wife has the new gold bug and it will find very small gold and at fairly good depths and is also very light and she uses it as her hill detector in steep ground. You can put a larger coil on it as well. In fact I have a floor model for sale, ben assembled and turned on to demonstrate, new detector warranty, cheap, 475.oo with my putting up the difference on the gap out the door, shipped tax and all.Tom