lobo st or minelab?

[ol' pirate]

I'm new here, and new to detecting, but I'm about to buy my first modern detector. I had my mind made up on the lobo st, but have recently read about minelab's ability to detect nuggets up to three time the depth. Any truth to this, or is it hype? My detecting will be split roughly half nugget hunting for placer gold in a small creek that I have a gold claim on, and half beach hunting for gold with diamonds attached! I also plan on some relic hunting many of BC's ghost towns. I am interested in any advice, both picking a machine, as well as how to go about finding that treasure ( what parts of a beach might be most productive?)!!

 

[Redlance]

Which Minelab model did you have in mind. Some gold models are pulse induction, and therefore lack a discimination circuit which you might want for some forms of hunting, otherwise, it's pretty much all-metal hunting. Redlance

 

[ol' pirate]

I'm really not sure which model minelab, but the gold models seem to be at least twice (or more) the price of the ST, and so I would want to see a large increase in depth detection to justify the cost. I suppose I should see if there's much gold in my creek before I sell the farm to buy the minelab. I'm close to a lot of beaches here (okanagan valley in BC) and so I'm thinking a few extra rings I might find with a good discriminating unit might make up for a few lost nuggets!

 

[frank c]

HAD A EUREKA, NO BIG DEAL, SOLD IT TO GET THE LOBO ST. I WON'T CONSIDER SELLING THE LOBO ST. PRICE ON MINELAB ISN'T JUSTIFIED, I THINK LOBO IS THE BETTER CHOICE

 

[El Cuerno]

on a buried dime? I had one 6 years ago and thinking of getting another only if they have improve the depth close to what you get with the Vaquero. The Vaquero I just sold got me my deepest dime (elbow deep)but I did not like the modulation, 6" sounds the same as 9". The Tejon has the depth modulation I like but not as accurate as the Vaquero on deep signals. I remember the Lobo ST also has a nice depth modulation but here in Tex. I never dug a dime over 7".

 

[ol' pirate]

I can't give you any depths yet 'cause I haven't bought a machine yet! I think I'm pretty much sold on the lobo, since according to most reviews and comments it seems like the best bang for the buck. If I get lucky, maybe I'll go with a more advanced 'gold only' detector in the future. I plan to make a purchase in the next week or two, and I'll let you know how my first outing goes. My first trips will be to the beaches near my home (while the water level is still low), since there's still a few feet of snow where I plan to look for nuggets....something you texan's don't have to worry about!!!

 

[El Cuerno]

n/t

 

[El Cuerno]

beach? most single frequency detector run noisy in sand wet by saltwater but should run oK in the dry sand.

 

[ol' pirate]

nope, all freshwater. I live in BC's okanagan valley, hundreds of sandy beaches within two hour's drive, packed full of tourists all summer, but hardly a soul right now ( it was -10 c last night!) Water levels drop during winter, then rise again after snow run-off from the mountains. I can hardly wait to get out there!

 

[Big Red]

I have a LST and it is a great detector....Very sensitive on small gold....The Ground Tracking is awesome. Not only is it a great Gold nugget detector....Its really good on coin shooting as well as relic hunting. I have dug 9+ inch dimes and quarters at 12 inches. This machine is built really well with great balance....lots of coils available.

 

[Tracy(CA)]

Something to consider is the amount of trash thats at a beaches and camps sites, it can be tremendous. The pulse induction Minelabs may go deeper in mineralized ground, but no discrimination capabilities. You will be digging everything you hit. A VLF will machine will be better in that area. I suggest buying the LST first, great way to be introduced to metal detecting, maybe latter then when you have experienced what you may need, maybe a minelab. The "pros" have both types as needs require.

Good luck and enjoy-Tracy

 

[ol' pirate]

Thanks , good advice, I think I will go with the lobo. A few rings will go a long way toward buying more specialized equipment down the road if i need it. I'm looking foward to getting out there!

 

[frank c]

el cuerno, I have a clad dime at 8.5" in a test garden, Arizona mineralized ground,loaded with black sand,she picks it up no problem,I have'nt tried the dime deeper yet. With good earphones and tight tuning theres no depth problem with the LOBO ST. If I wanted to dig to China I'd have kept the P.I. I sold.

 

[El Cuerno]

n/t

 

[El Cuerno]

I even bought the 8" round coil because I was told it was deeper then the elliptical but I saw no difference. Have you tried the new 8X9 coil on the LST?