A bit green when it comes to detecting

[LordJR]

Last month I finally got myself a metal detector for the intent on finding gold nuggets. Because of my starting price range, I ended up with the Minelabs Xtera-705 Gold Package detector. I've taken it out a few times and actually found horse shoe nails out at Ophir on my first time out. But have yet to get the hang of the settings out in the field. I've watched countless YouTube videos and read the instructions, but settings part never seems to work as intended and I've yet to find any gold with it. I've heard from some that I should just go All Metals, instead of Prospector mode. Out in the field I've mostly been in Prospector mode, but even with the canceling out, I still decided to give it a dig anyways and found the nail. 
Would be nice if I could go out with other detectors sometimes to a place that is known to have gold so I can test out my settings. 

[shivan]

I am by no means an expert detector, but i believe detecting takes a lot of patience and persistence.
It helps to also know the extent of your machine. Getting a small test nugget or a bit of lead and doing a few tests will help you get used to depths and signals.
I need to get a new battery before i can do any more detecting and has been a while sine i have been for a swing, but you would be welcome out with us.

[Rowdy]

I don't want to sound negative here but with my own experience with a VLF detector I have never found any gold with the 3 VLF's that I have owned. It was only after I got a PI detector and did a course on how and where to use it that I had some success. That being said I know of people who still use VLF's and they find gold more often than I do with the PI. There is still gold out there you just have to be in the right place. Hope to hear of some success you have soon.
Rowdy