"What's the ultimate zombie apocalypse firearm?" Topic

Only one huh?

My DPMS ar15. 3 swappable uppers. Fires 223, I have a conversion bolt (cmmg) that lets it fire 22 rimfire, and an upper that lets it fire 9mm. Underslung 37mm Spikes Tactical "Havoc" flaregun (lots of fun with THAT puppy YouTube link not mine but this is similar to my setup) Have a 3-9x39 scope on the long-barrel upper as well as a red/greendot NC*Star optic on the carbine upper with the Havoc and the 9mm one.

I plan to get a .223 suppressor for it this or next tax return. (unles something else comes up) and eventually want to get a slidefire stock, but that's more for fun than something seriously combat-worthy

I have other firearms I like BETTER for a given task, but you said only one… So that's my "one".

No argument there on the AR-15 series. In the right hands of someone highly trained it is the way to go. Ammo availablity might be an issue. But as the case of the resent shooter out West he fired what 60 round and his hit ratio was not great.

VR
James Mattes

Yeah, as we know highly trained trumps idiot with weapon just squeezing rounds off if a general direction …

Ruger 10/22… the round is sufficient to bust into a Zed's head and take small game with. The rifle is light, accurate, semi-automatic, and offers little recoil, muzzle flash, or noise when fired. Additionally, the rifle is easy to work on, affordable, and is can be upgraded with almost as many after-market parts as an AR or many shotguns. The point that really sells a 10/22 is that the ammo is possibly one of the most common rounds available, it's cheap (~$30/1000 rounds where I live), and that same 1000 rounds weighs about as must as 50 shotgun rounds and requires about the same amount of space to carry.

Auto shotgun is probably the most practical, though I would prefer an auto grenade launcher.

Something reliable like an AK47 or the opposite like a Blunderbuss

Where can you find 30 M1 ammo these day?. Its rare in KY and expensive (and thus not usually found in most gun shops). Something simple to maintain, good penetration and with a bayonet are all needed but the most important would be the ability of ammo. A 22 would be number 1 followed by an AR or 9mm

A Ruger 10/22 in an M-1 carbine stock lets you mount a bayonet, as does an AR in 22. Add a good scope for longer ranges. It takes standard 30 round banana clips and I would avoid the larger drum mags as they jam.

22s are easier to add a silencer as well.

AR-15 with acog scope., 223 ammo is easy to come by and headshots with it would be lethal. Also , very easy to use and maintain.

Thing about large calibre weapons – the 12 gauges, .308's, et al – you can't pick and choose where you use them.
You might have to touch off a round in an enclosed stairwell, down a sewer pipe, or inside a vehicle.

When that happens, you enter the wonderful world of permanent hearing damage, and all zombies get a stealth bonus versus you.

Maybe I could have a nice big bunker and a couple of these

So I can just engage the zeds safely from a distance just like a computer game :)

I think this has been covered in several topics, but again my picks are:

12ga semi-auto shotgun with sawed off barrel.

Wow. One little post, I come back 18hrs later and and 61 responses… Nicely one and all.

Hmm, a lot of autos etc being chosen here, and a mix of 'that would be the best ever' mixed with 'there's only so much ammunition availible'.

I would have thought that any weapon, such as an AR15/M16 family or whatever, would have to be set to semi-auto fire nearly ALL the time to try to minimise excessive ammunition expenditure, otherwise a squirt at full auto will take out a zed, but at the expense of 5-6 bullets fired that would be needed later. I'd probably prefer an assault rifle over a shot gun generally for the ammo storage space requirements (I imagine a 30 round mag would take around the same amount of room as half as many shotgun shells for the average shot gun? I am a decent shot I believe so would rely on my aim more than the spread of the shot to take down a zed head.

For pure fun though, yeah, the AA-12 would be my weapon of choice.

As for my game, well I have predominantly Walkers. However every zombie group that activates due to a human must roll a D6 per zombie in the group. On a 6 they are a random zed that isn't a Walker, so varying between Ragers that sprint towards you, crawlers (those chopped off at the waist sort of thing), fatties (the over-weight people that couldn't run to get away), armoured zeds and so on. And then there's other humans too. I suppose a weapon that could handle all/any of that lot would be the winner!

I also wouldn't go for a flamethrower. Heavy (tiring and slow), very limited ammo, limited effect against a non-living targets in the immediate term (the kill them now term), it would be about the worst after a chainsaw IMO. (although the fun factor is high)

Laters,

Ark

Based on the Sons of Guns episode, I want that 10/22 bullpup that they made.

Whole thing is very cheap to acquire, well-balanced, and you can carry obscene quantities of ammunition (something like 3,000 rounds in the space of 4 M16 magazines). Oh, and a .22rimfire is pathetically easy to suppress if noise is an issue.

I'm not sure a flamethrower will work on certain zombies. You want an instant kill and chances are that if you light up a zombie it won't go down, but will still be charging you on fire … not a nice prospect imho.

Step 1: Surround your place of residence with a web of razor wire at ankle height
Step 2: watch as the zeds flop and thrash their way towards you, sloughing off more and more flesh as they struggle until they are no longer capable of moving
Step3: finish them off with a pneumatic nail gun and remove the bodies (perhaps by rendering them down into helpful bio-diesel).

Compressed air is hardly the most difficult to create resource and there are far more nails out there than there are bullets. It is more a safe execution tool than a proper weapon though. For scavanging, I would go for something more conventional like a carbine or a maybe a shotgun (if it is the "shoot 'em in the head" type) although I concur on the whole weight and bulk of ammo issue.

i have a polish ak74 and alot of ammo. that will do…

As others have, I'm assuming "shamblers" not ragers.

I'd go with the .22--but not the 10/22 (yes, I know its cheap and there's plenty of after-market parts, but it is a pain in the rear to clean well). Instead, I'd go with the S&W MP15-22, with flip-up iron sights, a red dot sight, bipod, and plenty of magazines.

I used to scoff at red dot sights but recently got one on another rifle and it is great as it allows me to shoot with both eyes open (so I retain good peripheral vision). The iron sights are for back-up.

Why .22? For all the reasons others have posted.

Rob

Folding stock Saiga 12 with 20 round drum mags :-)

Since you can't kill something already dead, you need to blow it to hell so I'd go auto shotgun for personal use and a quad .50 or some kinda autocannon for a vehicle mount.

Happy hunting,
Brian

Yup, assuming mostly shambled walker types, but with the odd fast zed.

What's more scary is that some of you here seem to actually own your own guns, not just the odd double barrell, but military grade kit with all the bling. Suppose my reaction is to be expected as I live in a country with relatively few firearms.

I like the point Katzbalger you made about maintaining your peripheral vision, very important especially if you got jumped by a pack of them at close quarters. Don't want to kill everything in front of you to find some got to your sides.

@ John lacouer, yup, that sounds like a plan, just have it on semi-auto and not full!

All that said, seems like the best would be a trusty pump shotgun backed up with a 9mm.

"I'm going with a Semi-Auto .22 Rifle with a high capacity magazine and a scope"

add in a .22 handgun and some kind of sword axe hammer.

What gun would it be easiest to manufacture new ammo by hand with limited tools and resources?

In 'unreality', I would use the old AR7(different company makes it now), tricked out with extended mags and scoped.
With my arthritis and eyesight I would prefer grenades and keep one for myself if I get swarmed.

M1 Abrahms tank

What's more scary is that some of you here seem to actually own your own guns, not just the odd double barrell, but military grade kit with all the bling. Suppose my reaction is to be expected as I live in a country with relatively few firearms.

Well, we do kinda have this clause in the Constitution that says people are supposed to be armed if they so choose, and the Government is supposed to keep it's nose out.

But there's quite a few differences between the civilian AR15 and a military M16/M4. Not the least of which is the completely different lower receiver to be able to hold the burst/full-auto parts.

Then again, I was taught that a 3-round burst from an M16 is a waste of two rounds.

I don't own the 10/22 conversion that I described, but it's on the list.

Saiga-12 shotgun in AK-47-style furniture, complete with folding stock, vertical foregrip, and Surefire light/laser combo. 10-round magazines filled with .000 buckshot allow for maximum close-quarters stopping power and quick reloads.

What's more scary is that some of you here seem to actually own your own guns, not just the odd double barrell, but military grade kit with all the bling. Suppose my reaction is to be expected as I live in a country with relatively few firearms.

No politics on this board, please!

@Ark3nubis: many veterans own a civilian version of the weapon that they were trained on. Whether that's the Colt 1911 pistol, or some variety of M4gery ("Emm-forgery"), or even an old M1 Garand, we can own them. Only the M16 and cousins are semi-automatic only.

Not sure what the gun laws are in the UK, but can't you own a rifle?

Hi javelin98, I don't see how that is entering a debate in politics, just an acknowledgement of one of the differences between UK and US, two countries as similar as they are different. For me I have an acquired knowledge of guns that's much higher than most people here due to my love of history and wargames, but seems to be pretty weak when it comes down to what you guys know (and own!) COD is as near as I have got to most of the weapons you mention. And yes, I am aware of the constitution and it stating the right of any and all Americans to bear arms.

Yes with a license a person can own rifles and shot guns in the UK, but rifles tend to be more the deer hunting type (bolt actions?) ir air rifles. Apart from criminal gangs and armed police (UK police don't carry guns except in airports) fire arms are used by only farmers really. Anyone with an assault rifle or anything more offensive than a double barrel would be viewed warily I'd expect. It's the difference between Dawn of the dead (several fire-arms) and Shaun of the dead (one aged old rifle that they weren't sure worked in the first place!) where they ended up using cricket bats and broom handles to defend themselves.

Maybe this discussion should move towards, what epd be the WORST gun to have (must be a legitimate gun, not a peashooter or anything!)

AR-15 with ACOG and a 90 round drum.

Easiest firearm to make would be a Sten gun.

Worst firearm would be the S&W .500 revolver-the recoil would knock you on your ass and you'd be dinner.

As noted on another thread, UK/Europe would have more military firearms once police and armories are looted.

However, if smartzombies could use chainsaws and flamethrowers…….

My choice would be some sort of pistol caliber semi-auto carbine preferably one that can use mags from a common pistol.

Mmm, ACOG sight, love my ACOG (sigh, OK, in modern warfare only, not real life)

UK/Europe would have more guns a bit in those circumstances, however as they are not common place most people wouldn't have half a clue how to use, never mind maintain, a gun once they got their hands on them. Then there's the discipline of keeping the safety on until needed, don't raise your weapon till you need to shoot etc, things that most people need training and experience in before using them effectively, over penetration's another issue, etc etc. Counties like the US I would expect have a far higher chance of survival in 'such circumstances' than the likes of the UK I would say.

Since any penitration of a zombie brain will do it why anything more than a 22 or 9mm? Lightens the ammo weight and good for close combat. My 45ACP is for live ones.

@Ark3nubis: One of my hunting rifles is a Romanian PSL. It's basically an overgrown AK, but shoots the same ammo as a Moisin-Nagant. Quite reasonable to hunt with if I'm not running all over the woods.

My bolt-action .243 is much lighter if I'm stalking instead of hiding.

Since I have to worry about wolves, bear, and mountain lions (not to mention coyotes and wolverines), a semiauto is quite reasonable. This is ignoring the BAR MkIIs (yes, the same Browning Automatic Rifle action from WW1/WW2 fame), and no small number of ARs in use in hunting camps.

Though most people don't like the .308 for hunting where I'm from. They like their Magnums, for less worry about range estimation. Magnums tend to be bolt-action only, though I think the BAR can be found in some magnum chamberings.

Some people go silly on their 'scary black rifles', but the AR is a perfectly reasonable hunting rifle. In fact, it's awesome for dealing with prairie dogs and other varmints that make holes in pastures. Magazine is easy to reload, though ammunition gets expensive after a while. (~$0.26 per shot if you reload with quality components)

As far as the worst zombiepocalypse weapon goes, it'd have to be something that's loud, hard-recoiling, and in an unusual caliber that's hard to find. Say, a .454 Casull or .50S&W revolver.

If I was stuck in the UK, where semiautos of any kind are "scary," I'd go with the old classic: the SMLE in either .303 or the rechambered 7.62NATO version. Depends on what's more commonly available. Close second would be a Moisin-Nagant, since you can buy ammunition in sealed tins that you can show the good officer are sealed shut.

@Scorpio: reloading is really something you'd want to have experience with before the zombiepocalypse happens. .22 rimfire isn't an option to reload. 9mm or a similar straight-wall cartridge would be the simplest to reload with minimal tools, but even during a zombiepocalypse I'd make sure I had all the right tools to reload properly.

Last thing you want to have happen is to have an improperly-reloaded round break the weapon!

Another option for a good zombiepocalypse firearm that you could easily roll your own ammo for would be a lever-action in .357 or .44 Magnum. Those are probably the easiest cases to reload.

40mm Grenade Launcher, Flechette Rounds for crowd work.

For general use, I would be wary of a .22 deflecting off the skull or following it like a .38 has been known to do.

What I think you wold want is a round that penetrates well, but then loses momentum very fast, to keep down splatter.

Almost a round with an AP like point with a Sabot that stays on, until impact. the inner round like a Nail, so it hits, destroys brain, then stops for the most part in the skull.

Not sure it is made though,
Lee

Having been part of the UK military response to foot and mouth…semi-auto captured bolt pistol for close range and a .223 deer rifle for long range.

If you hold the captured bolt in a gloved hand, let them draw it to their mouth and BANG, "next…"

When "servicing targets", whether humans or zombies, I'd want to take out as many "targets" as you can at longer ranges … especially if there is a number of them … Don't want to get bit by either !

The old school would be the best school in the long run. I'd go for a bow or crossbow at a distance, and a poleaxe up close.

I'm a better shot with a bow, it's nearly silent, and the ammunition can often be recovered.

A poleaxe is sure to get the job done, and keep them out of arms reach.

I believe you will find that arrows kill in ways that won't work on zombies.
To get penetration requires much more force than you can guarantee, and you will need to choose arrowheads carefully to cause trauma to the brain.
-corollary to the above: I can't find a scientifically reputable and sufficiently extensive analysis of arrow skull penetration. All I can find is sensational journalism and various "experts" full of anecdotes and poorly designed experiments. Saying you can guarantee their occasional results every time when your life depends on it is like saying all railways do stupidly unrealistic things just because of the old model railway saying "there's a prototype for everything" or that a tale of a child surviving a 3-storey fall means jumping out a 3rd floor window into the street below is a legitimate way to leave a building.
A poleaxe is clumsy and can be grabbed.
My choice would be to not be there. A gun I would keep, preferably a handgun, but where the zombies are, I would rather not be.
For those who fell a need to choose in reality rather than a gun nuts imagination:
link
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This is how you get weapons round my way. No, I don't believe the Authorised Officer will accept "in case of zombacalypse" as a genuine reason to have a licence.

I'd be willing to bet that most of the answerers here are 'Murricans, where you can have a full-auto weapon, if you don't mind paying as much as a new car to get one (and can pass the 8-12 months waiting for Uncle ATF to approve the paperwork).

But I know that the US is a pretty serious exception to most of the world in terms of firearms ownership.

@Chironex: is "for competition purposes" an acceptable answer on the application? That .22 I want is great for the metallic-silhouette target shoots that are all over the US (and I'd assume in a few places in Aus).

Everybody know that zombie skulls are squishy, sheesh. =P

Lion: if you join an approved body such as the Sporting Shooters Association, you should be able to get away with that one, just write "Sports & Target Shooting and Recreation & Hunting", though the process is still long and complex and has much room for officials to deny. You also, I think, need to apply for authorisation to buy a new gun. Handguns are different, you need to get government authorisation to join an approved handgun club or pistol section, and it's a lot more complex.
Either way, the available weapons round here would usually be double barrel 12-gauge shotguns (both configurations), .308 high-power rifles, .22 and 9mm handguns, various calibres of revolver, .177 and .22 rimfire and air rifles, and the odd bolt-action which could be anything from 7.62 down to the old .303. It's easier to find British WW1/2 weapons than Western ones.
I may poke my nose into the gun shop tonight to see if there is anything else of interest.

Ick. I like being able to walk in and spend money (and spend more time laughing about the guy at the instant-check center not being able to look at my file, so he has to get a supervisor!).

There's certainly nothing wrong with old 'Emily', or a double-barrel shotgun, if that's what you have available. I'd argue that it would be more important to have a good supply of ammunition than anything else.

The .22 rimfires win in terms of ammunition availability and mass, though an air rifle might also be a good idea (especially if they are less-tightly controlled than firearms). Since you can recharge an air rifle from a 300bar SCUBA tank, your ammunition weight is roughly half of a conventional firearm.

Honestly, the best zombiepocalypse weapon is the one you have.

I do not see a need for an automatic weapon. I can shoot a revolver faster then an automatic. I can shoot a semi automatic rifle as fast and more accurate then most can shoot a fully automatic assault rifle. It really comes down to three things. shot placement, shot placement and shot placement.

VR
James Mattes

It really comes down to three things. shot placement, shot placement and shot placement.

Oh, I agree. I just want a semi-auto (or lever action) that can keep up with my trigger finger.

On a good day I'm running 3 shots per second out of my 9mm, and that's slow compared to some of the professional competitive shooters (who routinely run 4 AIMED shots per second with a revolver!)

Air rifle is a category A; ie. if they would let you have a single or double-barrel shotgun, you would be able to apply for one of those. (On the plus side it means it's easier to get a shotgun than I thought…)

Hey Jeremy, I would have thought a bow and arrows would be a mixed blessing. Good points for the bow; semi (depends on situation) recoverable ammo, silent kill, can make your own arrows reasonably easily. Bad points; carrying a bow could be awkward, getting it out and ready to shoot with takes longer than a modern day weapon, reload time for another arrow, then there's actually hitting a small moving target (the head) over more than a few yards away. If you got ambushed by several zeds you might not have the chance to go and get your arrows back.

I'm pretty much with you vojvoda, full auto is more scare factor against other people but ammunition expenditure is a much more important issue, semi auto all the way. I have World War Z to read (bought it as my Xmas present to myself) and I believe the 'accounts' in there state how people went from full auto, almost panic firing, developed into calm steady semiauto fire with shots directed at the head. As for worst legitimate firearm, it would have to be an air rifle.

I should probably clarify what *I* mean by air rifle.

I'm not talking about a piddly little .177 or .22cal 'pellet gun.' I'm not even talking about one of those .25cal airguns that are common in Europe. I'm talking about a .357, .45, or .50 caliber high-power air rifle. Something with about as much muzzle energy as a .45ACP. Something like a Sam Yang Big Bore, a Sam Yang Recluse, or a Sam Yang Dragon Claw, or the Benjamin Rogue. The Rogue is a bit pricey, but it's a 6-shot repeater with detachable magazines and a 20-shot air reservoir.

Those are not a Red Ryder BB gun, those are powerful enough to responsibly hunt light and medium game with. Anything up to a deer, but small hogs or coyotes are the usual targets.

I see what you mean Ark3nubis. I guess I was thinking more long term…like surviving decades. Also, I live out in the country where zeds would be few and far between, and survival over the long term would be strangely easier than city folk relying on daylight raids for canned beans. I certainly don't see myself pushing through hordes of zombies, guns ablazin', on a crowded street. A few days would take care of all the undead neighbors in a ten mile radius, leaving me in relative peace. From there it's just sniping the odd marathon zed from the roof. :)