Uhmm... No. 12ga is around 18mm, about 3/4". A 37mm is closer to an inch and a half. He basically was talking about using it to deploy smoke cannisters and using flares as poor-boy WP rounds in a counter ambush situation. Not sure if he's watched too many movies, or doesn't realize that squad and platoon-level tactics don't translate to one or two people very well.



If I didn't like you, I'd point out my customers try and fail to do that every day, but but I do value your opinion even if we don't always agree. As a result, I will not insult you by comparing you to my dead beat customers.

And part of why I discount the idea of hording nickels of a certain date is because so long as the nickel is US currency, it's only going to be worth five cents. With the mixed metal coinage, you aren't going to be able to separate the nickel from the copper if you melt them down in a backyard foundry. Even if you could, the penalty is what? 5 years and 10K if you get caught? The risks don't outweigh the gains. Not until there is no more US Government.

To Joe Average, it's not worth much as a practical item, so as a PAW prep, it's pretty much a null. If we are getting Mad Max here, then there is plenty of good alloys just sitting around waiting to be banged into new shapes. Nickel would only be of real value in a TEOTWAKI situation to a neo-alchemist.

In a more practical and logical scenario, if you want to collect coins as an investment/hobby, go for it. My grandfather did that, and in times of need the family has sold some of his coins and stamps. But if you want to invest in them as a metal, its going to be a while before they are worth more than five cents no matter how much it costs to make them.

The reason I mentioned dimes is a silver dime is pure silver- melt it down and you have silver. That has some properties that are readily exploitable in a low-probability scenario- high silver solder is still almost unbeaten for electronics solder, and even some more practical metal working applications. It can be used for fillings. It can be changed into other forms. And silver dimes are old enough and have been so ruthlessly culled from circulation that they are going to do be dismissed as pocket change- they have real value for collectors. It's going to be decades before the nickels do unless you find something like a mistamp.

If you want to invest in small, easily negotiated metal bits.... Catalytic converters are going to be a better return on your money. And with a better risk:profit ratio. *laughs* And if I find you under my car with a hacksaw, I'll be rather annoyed.