[size=large]My son, grandson, and I had a great time today trying out a couple of vintage detectors for about 3 hours. My son used our old A.H. Pro Backpacker which has discrimination and about a 6" coil. We haven't used that one much in nearly 30 years. I used my vintage Garrett BFO All Purpose with discrimination and the original one piece small coil/large coil combo. I knew he would beat me like a drum since he moves so fast but I could go along behind him and still pick up coins he missed, sometimes right next to the hole he filled in 
The A.H. Pro is certainly a good coin machine since it picked up about 80% of the day's take of nearly $17 in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, a couple of cheap rings and a golden necklace that we think may not be real gold.
I was amazed that the old Garrett BFO worked as good as it did. I tuned it up and adjusted the discriminator by using a penny, dime, nickel, and steel washer as targets and set it up to detect all but the washer. Then I used the small coil 99% of the time. I found eight nickels as well as the usual pennies, dimes, and quarters. No silver 8-( Most of the time lately I've been using a Whites 6000 Di or a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV and have never turned up that many nickels. I also found a copper Star of David that was missed completely by the Backpacker even after I had pointed out the target with the old Garrett. Most amazing is that if the discriminator indicated it was a coin it was right better than 95% of the time. Those other times the target turned out to be a pull tab, pop top, or some wadded up foil and that's to be expected. The other thing about the BFO is that it could pinpoint a target so well. Very accurate with that small coil! It seemed to be more accurate than the Tracker IV with 4" coil I usually use for trashy areas. Most of the targets at this site are shallow so these two machines could do well. I'm sure neither of them would detect at much depth with the small coils. I really enjoyed taking this old machine out though.
Anyone still using the BFO's? bob[/size]
The A.H. Pro is certainly a good coin machine since it picked up about 80% of the day's take of nearly $17 in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, a couple of cheap rings and a golden necklace that we think may not be real gold.
I was amazed that the old Garrett BFO worked as good as it did. I tuned it up and adjusted the discriminator by using a penny, dime, nickel, and steel washer as targets and set it up to detect all but the washer. Then I used the small coil 99% of the time. I found eight nickels as well as the usual pennies, dimes, and quarters. No silver 8-( Most of the time lately I've been using a Whites 6000 Di or a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV and have never turned up that many nickels. I also found a copper Star of David that was missed completely by the Backpacker even after I had pointed out the target with the old Garrett. Most amazing is that if the discriminator indicated it was a coin it was right better than 95% of the time. Those other times the target turned out to be a pull tab, pop top, or some wadded up foil and that's to be expected. The other thing about the BFO is that it could pinpoint a target so well. Very accurate with that small coil! It seemed to be more accurate than the Tracker IV with 4" coil I usually use for trashy areas. Most of the targets at this site are shallow so these two machines could do well. I'm sure neither of them would detect at much depth with the small coils. I really enjoyed taking this old machine out though.
Anyone still using the BFO's? bob[/size]