Foo - Zombie Apocalypse Armament thread

In the "Zombie Ammuntion" thread, I waxed on about what my perfect zombie gun would be; a week ago, I thought it would be a box-magazine-fed, slide-action .30 Carbine. But that was before I SAW THE LIGHT. And the LIGHT did shine upon my face, and the DARKNESS was lifted, and the LIGHT was in the form of this (http://www.57center.com/).

http://www.57center.com/uploaded/images/Product%20images/upper%20assemblies/16%20Standard%2057%20Flash%20Catalog%20w%20title%20and%20copyright.jpg500x400.jpg?e=1
Available as a bare upper receiver, all the rail-space a fella could want for mounting lights and sights and pointy stabby things, American-made and actually affordable. Chambered for the 5.7x28mm cartridge, which betters the .22WMR by a good margin-- it's essentially a modern .22 Hornet. 50-round magazines are standard, and best of all, it has ammunition and magazine commonality with a very good sidearm, the FN P-90.

So here we have a package that packs light, shoots reliable -the AR-57 is a straight blowback design-, is quite accurate, has plenty of punch out to reasonable range, and with full mags in your rifle and both sidearms (you really need two) you've got 90 rounds available before you need to change a magazine. The only fly in the ointment is that ammo is a little on the spendy side, but I've got to believe after the Zombie Apocalypse, money isn't going to matter much.

I'm still going to want a good shortsword for when things get real down and dirty-- and did you know that using an adjustable cup from a bottom bracket, you can screw two freewheels together to make something that very closely resembles a flail head?

For that matter, I can't believe I'm the only one who's ever hefted a drive-side crank and thought, "Hmmmmm..." Although I'd want to bolt it to a hatchet handle, and use a steel ring for strength. This might just be the best use for leftover cottered cranks, come to think of it!

Just try to find 5.7x28 ammo in the ruins of your local Walmart after the apocalypse, though. I put my faith in .22, .223, 12 gauge, 9 mm and .38/.357, all of which I should be able to scavenge easily.

Yeah, but what's the stopping power of that 5.7x28?

Well, the first question is, are you mobile or not? If you're holed up somewhere, you can have more at your disposal. You'll want something that can fire at range and something that can work up close. You also need to consider follow up shot acquisition.

A magazine fed shotgun is by far the most ideal close range weapon. Tube fed shotguns take far too long to load. The downfall of the magazine feed is the added weight of the magazines on the person.

As a back up gun (and it pains me to say this given my love for revolvers) you'll want a semi-auto pistol to aid in a rapid reload. For stopping power + size + bang for your buck, I say go with .40 S&W. They are one of 3 calibers with very readily available ammunition, the other two being .45acp and 9x19mm. .45 limits your capacity and can be a bit harder on follow up shots. 9mm is a hole puncher. I don't trust it for stopping ability. The .40 is a nice middle ground.

A long range gun is really up to your tastes. As long as it has the power to get there, go for it.

One might also consider an intermediate range, semi-auto rifle. Something like an M1A would be ideal there.


If you're mobile, you have to be more selective. I say a shotgun and two pistols.

Personally, if it comes to the Zombie Apocalypse I'm joining them.

Two reasons: If you can't beat them, join them.

And having been married over twenty years I'm most of the way there now.

Yeah, but what's the stopping power of that 5.7x28?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_Five-seven
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_5.7%C3%9728mm

Somewhat debatable. The round was originally developed as a PDW for NATO, and they were striving for light-weight, magazine capacity, reduced recoil and the ability to penetrate soft body armor. On the upside, the FN Five-Seven was used on the later seasons of Battlestar Galactica, so it would be just the ticket for a Cylon invasion.

Best place to be during a zombie apocolypse is on the move, chances of finding a set place thats going to keep you warm, dry, fed, and safe for any decent amount of time are practically slim to none. and anyone whos anyone knows the best weapons to have are a healthy toned body covered in tight clothes and shortly cropped hair, a shovel or machete can come in handt too. I'm still working on the first weapon. ;o) My choices have changed and have been tuned down to the items pictured below. The Glocks a weapon I wouldn't use unless I knew for a fact that I was able to get out and far away!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/worldwarzweapons001.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/worldwarzweapons002.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/worldwarzweapons003.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/worldwarzweapons004.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/worldwarzweapons005.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/worldwarzweapons007.jpg

Stopping power? Pinpoint accuracy is my stopping power. With recoil as light as that, I can, I'm sure, get thirty aimed shots per minute. Remember, the only killing shot is a head shot.

I grant you ammo might be a problem, but RCBS has reloading dies available, and I am already well-stocked with powder and primers. And I must admit, there's something mighty comforting about a Saiga-20. 20-ga. 3" mag throws an ounce and an eighth of size BB shot, which does a fine job of shredding whatever it hits, plus it's a little lighter for greater ammo load.

My plan is to bug out to a local mall with a supermarket attached, strip the nearby Home Depot of all its fencing material, and just make a Zack-free zone that's a mile on a side. So Zed is going to have to climb the fence, and then pick his way through the lanes the parking lot provides. This killing ground is going to be well-covered by me and my henchmen, with whatever intermediate-range sniper rifle (e.g., "Deer rifle") they happen to have. The AR-57 is to be a primary weapon for scavenging sorties. Mobility is fine, but you've got to have a place to lay your head at night.

Gonna have to find a way to make a jacket out of Kevlar of Vectran, or find some chain mail toot sweet, though.

Stopping power? Pinpoint accuracy is my stopping power. With recoil as light as that, I can, I'm sure, get thirty aimed shots per minute. Remember, the only killing shot is a head shot.

I grant you ammo might be a problem, but RCBS has reloading dies available, and I am already well-stocked with powder and primers. And I must admit, there's something mighty comforting about a Saiga-20. 20-ga. 3" mag throws an ounce and an eighth of size BB shot, which does a fine job of shredding whatever it hits, plus it's a little lighter for greater ammo load.

Gonna have to find a way to make a jacket out of Kevlar of Vectran, or find some chain mail toot sweet, though.

Do you have millions of rounds of ammo? and enough food to last for years? If not you'll be dead within a few short months.

I'm hoping the Zombie Apocalypse is delayed until the 31st century, at which point I'll just pick up an affordable scout 'Mech like a 20-ton Firemoth. Throw on a flamer*, a Clan medium-pulse laser and some heatsinks, and there ya go. Bring it, zombies!


*fortunately, the flamers used on BattleMechs aren't ammunition-based. They vent superheated gas from the fusion reactor.

Stopping power? Pinpoint accuracy is my stopping power. With recoil as light as that, I can, I'm sure, get thirty aimed shots per minute. Remember, the only killing shot is a head shot.

I grant you ammo might be a problem, but RCBS has reloading dies available, and I am already well-stocked with powder and primers. And I must admit, there's something mighty comforting about a Saiga-20. 20-ga. 3" mag throws an ounce and an eighth of size BB shot, which does a fine job of shredding whatever it hits, plus it's a little lighter for greater ammo load.

My plan is to bug out to a local mall with a supermarket attached, strip the nearby Home Depot of all its fencing material, and just make a Zack-free zone that's a mile on a side. So Zed is going to have to climb the fence, and then pick his way through the lanes the parking lot provides. This killing ground is going to be well-covered by me and my henchmen, with whatever intermediate-range sniper rifle (e.g., "Deer rifle") they happen to have. The AR-57 is to be a primary weapon for scavenging sorties. Mobility is fine, but you've got to have a place to lay your head at night.

Gonna have to find a way to make a jacket out of Kevlar of Vectran, or find some chain mail toot sweet, though.


I like this armed compound idea. Where can I apply to be one of your henchmen? I'm very skilled in reinforced concrete construction. All the Ruben(TM) structures built back in the island are still standing after numerous Caribbean Hurricane hits. We can divide the mall in numerous sections and have different fallback positions. Plus, after I'm done with the mall, it will have a nice Spanish Fortification look, very pretty.

We also gonna need some bullet casting equipment in different calibers and somebody with a strong stomach to recover used lead out the downed zombie's heads.

Shoot, we can recover slightly used gold out of their teeth. Let's not be stingy here.

I ain't going nowhere near no zombie mouth!

My plan is to bug out to a local mall with a supermarket attached...

It was nice knowing you.

To survive the zombie apocalypse you have to understand a few things about zombies.

They have a shelf life of about 4 years which is how long it takes the zombie to decay to a point where it is no longer combat effective and their lifespan is often shortened considerably by their lack of any self protective behaviours.

After about a month a new zombie becomes blind and will rely on it's sense of smell and hearing to acquire targets and a group of people holed up in a mall will be like leaving a carcass out for a flock of vultures and I guarantee you that no matter how well fortified you are, the zombies will find a way in.

They always find a way in and you will run out of bullets.

The solution is to hit the road in a reinforced RV or bus that will have enough room to carry a few months worth of supplies at a time and will allow you to restock when it suits you and moving to less populated areas will reduce the number of roaming zombies and increase the odds that you will find safer sources of provisions.

You will find me and mine rolling out in the boonies in my reinforced Greyhound bus that will be stocked with months worth of food, plenty of ammo, and as much single malt as I can scavenge.

I ain't going nowhere near no zombie mouth!

Better than the zombie mouth going for you.

Shoot, we can recover slightly used gold out of their teeth. Let's not be stingy here.

A dead zombie still poses a significant infection risk and unless the brain has been sufficiently damaged the head will continue to attack even if it not connected to a body... it would be best to incinerate the remains and then sift the ashes for lead and gold.

Do you have millions of rounds of ammo? and enough food to last for years? If not you'll be dead within a few short months.

I think you can ride on my bus as you seem to understand the problem of holing up... be advised that if you get a scratch from a zombie I will cap your ass without giving it a second thought and will expect the same from you.

It was nice knowing you.

To survive the zombie apocalypse you have to understand a few things about zombies.

They have a shelf life of about 4 years which is how long it takes the zombie to decay to a point where it is no longer combat effective and their lifespan is often shortened considerably by their lack of any self protective behaviours.

After about a month a new zombie becomes blind and will rely on it's sense of smell and hearing to acquire targets and a group of people holed up in a mall will be like leaving a carcass out for a flock of vultures and I guarantee you that no matter how well fortified you are, the zombies will find a way in.

They always find a way in and you will run out of bullets.

The solution is to hit the road in a reinforced RV or bus that will have enough room to carry a few months worth of supplies at a time and will allow you to restock when it suits you and moving to less populated areas will reduce the number of roaming zombies and increase the odds that you will find safer sources of provisions.

You will find me and mine rolling out in the boonies in my reinforced Greyhound bus that will be stocked with months worth of food, plenty of ammo, and as much single malt as I can scavenge.


Thats what I'm talkin' 'bout! but don't forget to strap some bicycles up on that vehicle, never know when you might find yourself stuck on an unpassible road with no where else to go!

So where are you going to find ample amounts of retrievable diesel for the Zombie Roadtrip Bus?

Speaking of vehicles, I fully expect that there will be abandoned heavy trucks lying about for the taking. Something with a mechanically-injected Diesel will be the ticket here, as biofuels will undoubtedly become the norm instead of the variant as time wears on. I highly recommend a dump truck, preferably a Mack or one of the Caterpillar-powered Peterbilts. A municipal plow truck hauling a tank trailer full of diesel will be, perhaps, the ultimate convoy leader. Ya gotta clear the path somehow and every minute you're down at Zed's level, you're exposed. Though I'd always hold out hope of finding one of those ADA Vulcan guns on a M113 APC.

Since NFA rules no longer will apply, Im sticking with my initial choice of sortie weapon: subsonic ammo is available, and with a good silencer (an hour's work for a competent machinist) the loudest thing on that will be the hammer falling and the bolt cycling. Eventually, though, Society will run out of the tailor-mades and eventually even the fixin's. But as long as there is charcoal and saltpeter and sulfur, and rocks in the ground, you can keep a flintlock blunderbuss running. Though if it comes down to that, I'll be wearing garbage-can armor and swinging a Claymore.

I like the idea of staying mobile, but I'm kind of chubby and lazy and I like my creature comforts. Maybe the best fortress would be one of those Supermax prisons out in the Dakotas, where can see them coming for miles and miles around. Preferably a women's white-collar-crime prison, so when they make the movie it can run late at night on Cinemax.

So where are you going to find ample amounts of retrievable diesel for the Zombie Roadtrip Bus?

Not to mention, the roads will most likely be impassable due to wrecked and abandoned vehicles.

No worries, Captain. As long as the women's prison has AA batteries, they have no need of you.

AAs? Speak for yourself! 100% USDA Grade A D-cell is standard issue with The Blight Unit.

Thats what I'm talkin' 'bout! but don't forget to strap some bicycles up on that vehicle, never know when you might find yourself stuck on an unpassible road with no where else to go!

Hell yes... a bicycle would serve as an excellent recon vehicle as it requires no fuel and is relatively quiet.

Like the MCI type of bus due to the large cargo capacity below the raised passenger compartment which gives a better vantage point and brings you up off the ground level.

I think you can ride on my bus as you seem to understand the problem of holing up... be advised that if you get a scratch from a zombie I will cap your ass without giving it a second thought and will expect the same from you.


Hell yeah! and yes, I will not hesitate to blow your brians out if you were to get bit, scratched, or otherwise molested by a walker!

AAs? Speak for yourself! 100% USDA Grade A D-cell is standard issue with The Blight Unit.

They can't hear you in the women's prison over the sound of the vibrating devices driven by the AA cells.

And I have often thought that a MTB would be the perfect vehicle for the zombie apocalypse. I think that low-profile and stealth is the way to go.

Gents, I humbly submit myself, my armory, and my reloading equipment to whoever has the best survival plans.
I like the bus idea - battery powered pump to snitch gas from all the 18 wheelers.
I reload for 27 calibers, cast lead for most of them, and oh ya - got my own machete ! and the tomahawk from Wally World, can't forget that !

Battery powered siphon... good idea.

I've participated in a Zombie survival design competition. Someday I'll be able to divulge the details of the design, but I can assure you that staying in one place is perfectly feasible...

Water cannons ftw.

I like the idea of staying mobile, but I'm kind of chubby and lazy and I like my creature comforts. Maybe the best fortress would be one of those Supermax prisons out in the Dakotas, where can see them coming for miles and miles around. Preferably a women's white-collar-crime prison, so when they make the movie it can run late at night on Cinemax.

Now that sounds like a plan. Where do I sign on?

I've participated in a Zombie survival design competition. Someday I'll be able to divulge the details of the design, but I can assure you that staying in one place is perfectly feasible...

Water cannons ftw.

Ill admit, maybe you know something I don't know. BUT! I feel you would have to be a ghost to hold up in one place for a decent amount of time. If a single zombie sees or hears you in or around your "home," just one time, your done as it will send out a howling moan that will attract the dead from miles around, and we both know that they will soon show up in the millions with a never ending persistance that no other creature in our world holds! Have you ever read where a zombie saw a ground hog go into its borrow and that zombie gave of a howling moan and started digging for the little guy? a few months later theres thousands digging for that little ground hog in the bottom of what appeared to be a huge impact crater!? Yeah, you go ahead and use them there water cannons, I'll stay on the move with my "motley crew". :thumb:

Battery powered siphon... good idea.

And a solar recharger wouldn't hurt either. For that matter, how about a hybrid-power bus that can go a few miles on electrical power. If you can't get your hands on a BattleMech, I mean.

I can see that the walking dead tv series is a big hit here. :p

And a solar recharger wouldn't hurt either. For that matter, how about a hybrid-power bus that can go a few miles on electrical power. If you can't get your hands on a BattleMech, I mean.

Hows about a good old fashion hand powered siphon and a few single speed bikes? That way you don't need batteries and when the fuel runs out (which will eventually happen) you'll have at least two items that will still come in very handy and need no fuel. ;)

I can see that the walking dead tv series is a big hit here. :p

There was a time when I had a HUGE zombie phobia! thats why I try to think of ways to survive if such a thing were to happen. (chances are it will never happen, but ya never know!) If I heard there was a new movie out or a show or just heard they were playing a re-run about zombies I would have the worse nightmares! Sounds funny but it was not funny at all! So about 4 years ago I decided to face my fears and started watching every zombie movie I could find and its helped tons! I am now a huge fan of The Walking Dead! Go figure!

Hydro power and water cannons. I can't say more but you might be able to put it together. Just think about how water jets are used to cut titanium....

Hydro power and water cannons. I can't say more but you might be able to put it together. Just think about how water jets are used to cut titanium....

Ill stick with my plan. :thumb:

http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/T2JDHandheldMinigun-9.jpg


Guaranteed to send any zombie back to the grave

Hmmmmm.... Sortie rifle's got a new name on it! Turns out Remington makes a .223 pump! Built on the model 870 20-gauge action, takes AR magazines, this has AWESOME ZOMBIE GUN all over it.

http://www.mesatactical.com/images/102.jpg
I don't think the problem is with staying put. I think the problem is staying put in the wrong place with insufficient planning and resources. Keeping on the move *is* an option, but man, when you run out of fuel in the middle of downtown Whereverville... that's a bad day.

That AR-870 thing is just not right. Not right at all.

Mini-14 with a 2-7x Redfield on top is my primary zombie gun. Winchester defender pump if they breech the walls. And if all else fails, Ruger GP100 with hand loaded fire belching end-of-days rounds.

Bah. Ranch rifle is okay, I guess, but only 12-14 shots for "When they breach the walls?" It's been nice knowing you. Save that last shot for yourself so I don't have to kill you again, later.

http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/T2JDHandheldMinigun-9.jpg

Guaranteed to send any zombie back to the grave

We better pack one of those in the bus too...

Is it too early in the thread to start an AK-47 vs AR-15 fight? Those are usually similar to the campy vs shimano fights.

Is it too early in the thread to start an AK-47 vs AR-15 fight? Those are usually similar to the campy vs shimano fights.

That one is easily settled in this context. Everyone knows a headshot is required. The AK isn't the machine for that.

That said, I don't want an AR either.

Hmmmmm.... Sortie rifle's got a new name on it! Turns out Remington makes a .223 pump! Built on the model 870 20-gauge action, takes AR magazines, this has AWESOME ZOMBIE GUN all over it.

http://www.mesatactical.com/images/102.jpg
I don't think the problem is with staying put. I think the problem is staying put in the wrong place with insufficient planning and resources. Keeping on the move *is* an option, but man, when you run out of fuel in the middle of downtown Whereverville... that's a bad day.

I wouldn't be useing a motor vehicle myself, a nice quite SS bike, backpack and trailer, thats all. If its winter we stay put till spring as zombies do freeze. We should be able to move around relatively safely to gather suplies when needed. When spring shows it head we roll out trying our best to keep away form big cities and towns as much as poss as the Zs will be defrosting! We stay on the move till we reach a nice quite tropical region, then we find a nice quite little house out in the middle of a swamp or similiar area (Zs rot a lot faster in warm wet areas) and set up camp. We stay there living quitely till we have to move. Which hopefully will not happen.

That one is easily settled in this context. Everyone knows a headshot is required. The AK isn't the machine for that.

That said, I don't want an AR either.

I'd like a G36K with the heavier MG36 barrel.

On the other hand, I'd never want an L85

You guys and your semi-autos. I bet you think full-auto is cool, too.

"You guys and your semi-autos. I bet you think full-auto is cool, too"

Only if belt fed !!

And that 870/AR is just wrong !

You guys and your semi-autos. I bet you think full-auto is cool, too.

waste of bullets.

unless we are talking about an M2