I'll play.
BTW... this HAS to be the longest running zombie thread EVER on THR. Don't worry though... the Mods trace my movements in an effort to uncover and lock any SHTF or Zombie thread that escapes their attention for too long.
I think I've watched ever poorly casted, B-rated Zombie film ever made-- twice. I've even read WWZ and a few other books. (God help me, I have WWZ in HARDBACK.)
Here's a couple thoughts:
I think I'd want a small caliber full-auto gun like an MP5 for those buggers.
Sounds good on the surface, but every zombie encounter is going to have its own best weapons and tactic. Oh sure... a lot of weapons lend themselves well to ALL roles, but there ARE some that are better than others in different scenerios.
For instance:
That Full-auto MP5 sounds good. But what if you are Bugged into your upper floor with the stairwell destroyed? Seems like a small caliber semiauto would work well for picking off stragglers. In this case, it's really just target practice.
If you are out and about, will you have enough rounds for Full auto, "less-than-accurate" fire? What about time to reload? Will you be swarmed while reloading?
If you are doing a little maneuver like getting to Andy's Gun Shop like in DoTD 2004, well, you want something that can you can shoot a lot without reloading. You want something that had good knockdown in order to insure that brain destruction is assured. You want something that is easily maneuverable. Your longest shot is going to probably be at 10 paces.
I'd personally like a semi-auto AK or AR with a reflex sight, Forward grip and sturdy stock (may have to club with it.) I'd want as many magazines as I could carry and get to easily. And then I'd want a Back-up Handgun--any reliable highcap in 9mm, 40, or 45 would be fine.
Now if you have successfully fortified your "compound" and are set up to ride out the end of the world, you want a few options.
I'd have to assume you have some kind of fence or wall. It's up to you if you wanted to dispose of the Living Dead outside your compound. Remember-- every bullet you shoot is one less you have for later. Also remember-- the conventional wisdom is that gunshots also attract more zombies. You'd likely be killing one only to have 10 replace it.
For disposing of Zombies outside the wall, something silent would be a better option. A suppressed 22 would be ideal. However, if you can't go through all the paperwork-- or you did not think ahead, a 22 that can shoot 22 shorts such as most tube-magazine ones should keep noise down enough to limit more showing up.
I personally, would try to round up the ones outside the gate. Seems to me that something that keeps going and going like an Entergizer Battery and that doesn't sleep and (maybe) doesn't require food would be an EXCELLENT energy source. I'm thinking we could pop a baker's dozen or so on a treadmill and see see what happens. Horsepower could be replaced with Zombiepower!
And maybe keep a few chained up near the gates to your "compound" as an effective "guard dog" for dissuading looters.
We gotta think outside the box, people!
For compound defense, I'd think you'd want firearms that could reach to the end of your secure parameter. I'd let ammuntion supply dictate what firearms I'd use.
For instance:
.22 rimfire is CHEAP. You can have 10's of thousands of rounds for very little money. It would be good for picking off stuff.
Next, Mosins have been cheap. 7.62x54R has been cheap. It's got the knockdown and range of a 30-06. Seems to be a good option to have a lot of rifles and ammunition for parameter defense when you aren't getting "assaulted."
Remember... surviving the end of the world isn't a constant heavy firefight. It can have low-intensity mundane moments. I'd have a few mosins propped against the wall.
Ok... now in the event of an assault-- whether it be rapidly moving zombies or roving bands of mutant cannibal looters. You want something in the realm of an intermediate caliber, high capacity carbine. An AR or AK is a great choice. Just pick something and stack the ammo high!
In the event that you MAY have to aquire ammunition outside your existing supplies (you shouldn't have to-- remember, stack deep.) I'd have at least a couple firearms in some of the most common calibers. If for no other reason, if you DO aquire some ammunition, you'll have something to shoot it with. Remember-- we are in a mode where everything needs to be useful.
In the unlikely event that your actual home has been breached, Shotguns are nice to push back the invaders. Reliable and high capacity is what we are looking for here. I like pumps and other tube-fed magazines, but I think a magazine fed will reload faster. That means getting a few Saiga 12's, 20's of .410's (hey-- the kids need to pull their weight, too!)
Whatever you do, don't hit zombies with molitov cocktails if you don't have a parameter wall to hold them back. Sure, they will eventually burn up, but until they do, they are walking torches. They'll set everything they bump into on fire if you aren't careful. Remember, they don't feel pain-- and they aren't afraid of fire.
Don't think that a "moat" or being on an island will protect you, either. Remember-- zombies don't breath. They will walk along the bottom or float if filled with gases. It may take them some time, but they'll get there eventually. And you won't see them coming if they are on the bottom until its likely too late. Something to think about, huh?
Anyway... that's my thoughts up to now. I'm sure more will come if this hasn't been locked by then.
-- John
Who new this one was still open?
