Land Ranger Pro Review - Part 1...

[Garrett424]

If I was going to push my pocket book beyond $500 for a good deep detector, it would be either the Omega 8500, or the Makro Racer 2. But for under $500, it's hard to beat the LRP.

I agree although I don't intend to break the 500 mark unless I absolutely have to. I haven't even cracked the 200 dollar mark yet. I have no problem with good used equipment. In fact, I LOVE finding deals on good equipment. It actually makes me happy. Why pay for depreciation when you don't have to??

I'm currently looking into several deals. I just need to make up my mind and narrow the field to one.

Whenever I make up my mind to get something (anything), it always appears; sometimes out of the blue in the craziest ways. When I decided to get a Delta I started looking around. I found one on Craigslist for 175.00 and made the call. The girl had just sold it so I missed it.

So maybe 10 days later I saw an ad for another Delta for 200 bucks. I made the call and set up the meeting. When I got there I told the guy I had recently missed a deal on a Delta on Craigslist. As it turned out, HE was the guy who beat me to it. Then he knocked 25 bucks off and I got it at the original price. How cool is that??

He had also bought a Garrett Ace 250 from a pawn shop and liked it better. That's why I got the Delta and it was like brand new. I am absolutely certain that I got the better end of that deal.

That Delta was definitely meant for me as far as I'm concerned because it found it's way straight back to me in an unlikely way. I also have no doubt that my upgrade is just waiting to come my way as well. These things have happened to me over and over again in so many areas. It's just a matter of where you put your focus and then allowing the process to unfold in it's own time and it's own way. That may sound a little spooky, strange or whatever but as long as it actually works I really don't care how it sounds.

I've already found a deal on a good, solid G2 at an incredible price. I'm real close to grabbing that one.

 

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[Phantasman]

Sounds like patience favors you. I can't see the Ace 250 being better than the Delta in many ways. But some people like simplicity more, which the Ace is.

 

[Garrett424]

Sounds like patience favors you. I can't see the Ace 250 being better than the Delta in many ways. But some people like simplicity more, which the Ace is.

I agree. I gave him the cash and got out of there in a bit of a hurry before he changed his mind.

But, if he likes the Ace, who am I to question him? We all have our own own personal preferences. But again, there is still no doubt in my mind that I got the better end of that deal. He got a good deal on the Ace too. He said he paid 150.00 for it from a pawn shop. He actually tried to sell it back after getting the Delta and the only offered him 30 bucks. He decided to keep it and apparently, after using it a couple of times it grew on him. I am very thankful for that.

Honestly, he just didn't strike me as someone who would get into this hobby as seriously as you and I have. He was a Baltimore City boy. I just can't picture him stomping around in the woods for too long. But of course, I could be wrong.

He asked if I would be willing to take him out hunting and I told him I would. We exchanged a couple of emails and then I never heard from him again. His last email was a litany of complaints about finding nothing but trash and getting dirty. I explained that this is part of the hobby, to be patient, etc. That's the last I ever heard from the guy.

Oh well. Not everyone is cut out for hunting treasure in the dirt.
I'm sure glad that I am...

 

[bowwinkles]

I have been running in DISC4 but this morning I switched to DISC A (artifacts) I needed to know if the detector could tolerate my soil with the fixed ground balance. Three hours later I can say all went well and a good many of the finds were over 8 inches. I am not a fan of this stock coil and am ready for a change to a smaller coil. Part of what came out of the ground had that yellow color and the LRP has paid for its self plus part of what ever replacement coil I choose. Hunter GT was going to get us a video of the 5 inch but I will probably order b4 he gets that done.

 

[Phantasman]

After viewing the recent couple of user video's on the MXS whites machine that costs more than double of this unit. I concluded that the almost double weight and the limited degree function of the whites machine, certainly did not justify its cost and as of now you have to live with the coil it comes with. This machine has a ton of accessory coils that is available and has nearly the same function as this new tool trying to enter the market. I would like to see a video of a head to head of these two.

I don't see anything in the MX Sport I'd give up my LRP for at almost three times the price. I saw a guy selling one on another forum saying this:

Only 9 days old. Never been outside. Played with it 15-20 min. inside. Simply too heavy and can't read the small etched info on the display. Age has finally caught up with me. Comes with coil cover, head phones, head phone adapter and what ever else was in the box. Water proof to 10'. Unit is 9 days old. $ 595.00. Call 478-XXX-XXXX. Please, calls only. Also could bring to Larry's hunt in Va. next week. Thanks for looking! wilson

And after another video of a sample hunt, it doesn't seem to do anything better than the LRP. The video is very informative, but I don't believe they found a Roman diamond bracelet.

 

[TheHunterGT]

I have been running in DISC4 but this morning I switched to DISC A (artifacts) I needed to know if the detector could tolerate my soil with the fixed ground balance. Three hours later I can say all went well and a good many of the finds were over 8 inches. I am not a fan of this stock coil and am ready for a change to a smaller coil. Part of what came out of the ground had that yellow color and the LRP has paid for its self plus part of what ever replacement coil I choose. Hunter GT was going to get us a video of the 5 inch but I will probably order b4 he gets that done.

Unfortunately the 5in DD for the LRP won't be here until Tuesday. I must say I am not a fan on the 11DD for the simple fact the fins are on the back of the coil...I much prefer them in the middle.

I just went and tested the Gold Bug SE in my nasty soil...it has the 5in DD.

In AM mode...max gain...slight hum on thresh.

4in silver dime = decent VCO
6in silver dime = whisper VCO

4in and 6in silver quarter = solid VCO
8in silver quarter = nothing


Disc mode...max gain...Disc at 0...20...40 did not matter.

4in dime = high tone but no VID
6in silver dime = nothing

4in quarter = high tone with VID bouncing
6in quarter = nothing



So I must say I am not thinking the 5in DD will blow me away on the LRP in my nasty soil....but I did not expect miracles. Plenty of trashy parks and schools and campgrounds in Colorado, and that is why I got it. Obviously the Gold Bug is a hotter machine. Guessing if these were gold coins it would have screamed even with the 5in DD.

Will be buying a NEL Sharpshooter (9.5x5.5) and the Hunter (12.5x8.5) for the Gold Bug....and using my home-made adapters to trade the NELs over the the LRP.

This will give us both 5in DD's....both large 11 and 12 DD's respectively....and then the 9.5x5 Sharpshooter to swap back and forth via the adapter.

Calling it a day after that....do not see us needing anything else for a long while. Will be at least a few years until we upgrade again. Very happy with where we sit once those NELs arrive in a month or 2. Going to work these 5 inchers to death on the top layers...then break out the deeper coils during the summer months.

Sorry for long winded reply....

 

[Phantasman]

The 5" DD was probably better for you over the 4" concentric since DDs are not as effected by mineralization. Remember that the Gold Bug is operating at 19khz and that the higher frequency is more susceptible to mineralization. If you hunt coins with the GB, I suggest to turn the gain down since coins are larger than small nuggets. The gain is raised to find smaller objects, like a smaller than BB gold nugget, something a high frequency can see over the 8khz signals. Not a lot of difference between the GB and the F19. Both are good.

I'm interested to see if the 5" DD on the LRP gets that 8" quarter in either Mode 4 or AM. But with your bad ass soil, I'm not holding my breath. But heck, it's more about where you hunt than how deep. Most good targets have been found in the first 6". And who knows, maybe your wife will find a golf ball size nugget. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[TheHunterGT]

Not holding my breath on a 8 inch quarter in my dirt either. Depth is definitely not this coils strong suit - but depth is the least of my concern in my compact soil. I will say the Gold Bug did quite well at Montes NBT passing 7 of 8 paths. So I am pretty excited to see what the LRP can do when that 5in coil arrives on Tuesday.

I will play around with the gain and threshold settings on the Gold Bug to see what I can muster in the next few days. The wife took me by surprise when she bought it...so still reading and watching videos.

Getting a crash course tomorrow. We are going out for a few hours. She will go over the top layers and I will follow behind her with the LRP and 11" DD. See how it works.

Also...ordered enough parts to make 8 total cables.....4 push to screw and 4 screw to push. Once those are working properly I will start on getting the Sharpshooter and Hunter into the arsenal. Should be a potent combo having a GB and LRP with NELs and 5in DD's....not much will hide then. Exciting times!

 

[bowwinkles]

I called Kellyco and tried to order a couple of coils but got some female instead of the person I normally deal with. It was like talking to a rock and I was not able to place the order due to her not wanting to take the time to look up the numbers. She said they were short handed and was only taking qualified orders where the request had all the proper data ahead of time. I may have to go to another vendor in order to accomplish that job.

 

[PaJim]

Seems like they are starting to jack up the price of this unit? Or am I imaging things? I used to see it brand new with free shipping on ebay for around the 270 mark, not I'm seeing most things at $300 or north.

 

[bowwinkles]

Let me double check, I have seen somewhere that the 10 inch elliptical for the F-5 that has the slip connector will it work on the LRP?

 

[Phantasman]

Seems like they are starting to jack up the price of this unit? Or am I imaging things? I used to see it brand new with free shipping on ebay for around the 270 mark, not I'm seeing most things at $300 or north.

The best price the LRP ever was, was before Christmas when Wal-Mart had it for $228 plus tax and shipping and Amazon matched it at $228 with no tax and free shipping. I believe this was a FTP promo that turned very successful, since FTP drop shipped both. Amazon price is now $356 and Walmart is $283. Best price right now that I could find is this with no tax and free shipping.

Welcome to NextWarehouse.com

 

[TheHunterGT]

Wow...$356 is steep for Amazon. Usually hovers at the $280 range. Alot of dealers sell it for $404 which is bonkers.

IMO it is worth every penny of $300....so anything less is a bargain in my eyes.

 

[PaJim]

Just snagged a barely used LRP for $220. I have 5 days on a 50+ acre colonial field and I just felt that I needed something more up to the task than my whites coinmaster. Plus.... I don't have the cash for an AT Pro or similar machine. I've done a lot of research and think the LRP will serve me well for what I do.

 

[Phantasman]

Yea The Big Lebowski has got to be my favorite.Jeff Bridges movie,the dude or el dudereno.

Hey supertraq. Did you get a LRP last week? I saw your question about Greek coils and Dave J's response on Finds. I'm interested in how well they work.

 

[Phantasman]

Just snagged a barely used LRP for $220. I have 5 days on a 50+ acre colonial field and I just felt that I needed something more up to the task than my whites coinmaster. Plus.... I don't have the cash for an AT Pro or similar machine. I've done a lot of research and think the LRP will serve me well for what I do.

Like to hear what you think, Jim. I had the CoinmasterGT, but thought it too heavy and always sounding off. But the depth was good.

 

[Phantasman]

Wow...$356 is steep for Amazon. Usually hovers at the $280 range. Alot of dealers sell it for $404 which is bonkers.

IMO it is worth every penny of $300....so anything less is a bargain in my eyes.

Amazon raised it again today. $405.82.

 

[TheHunterGT]

Amazon raised it again today. $405.82.

I had to go look...thought you were BS-ing lol. Bonkers.

 

[N5XTR]

Price hike.

I will confirm the price hike. Ordered my LRP for $283.99 on February 29th, now it is $405.82 (same link). I feel that I should show this to the wife.
If I had waited until now, I probably would choose the ACE 400 at $339.

 

[PaJim]

Seems like the company caught on to the popularity of this machine and want to capitalize on it. I wonder if it will get as good reviews now that it isn't considered to be bargain priced....