Picking your caliber for when the zombies show up...

[ZachOmega]

We have surely debated the pros and cons of different calibers for some time now. However, here are some of my thoughts on the matter with regard to zombie slaying. This is primarily about pistol calibers.

Firstly, knock down power means nothing. Without a head shot, you are just wasting ammo. This rules out a lot of advantages that larger calibers (.45 ACP?) have against living targets and brings with it additional disadvantages such as; heavier ammunition, more recoil, less magazine capacity.

Secondly, when the zombie crisis first rears its ugly head, undoubtedly riot police and/or the military will be dispatched. With this comes an added problem. They are not training for zombies. They train for human targets. They also may not initially be so keen on firing on "unarmed" targets (such as zombie women and children). Eventually they will become overpowered and bitten. However, they may not end up consumed as they have additional protective clothing. This will result in zombie riot police or zombie military personnel. They will have protective shields and helmets. To defeat this, a smaller caliber that has a lot of speed may be more effective. Calibers such as 7.62x25 Tokarev, .357 Sig, and FN5.7x28 come to mind. These are all calibers known for the penetration through armor.

Thirdly, the recent ammo shortage had also brought up another point; Availability. A close friend of mine told me he picked most of his weapon calibers based on NATO choices saying that if NATO uses it, it is common and most likely available. What he failed to realize is that most weapons sold in the US are sold in NATO calibers and therefore calibers like 9mm and .308 virtually disappeared during the initial surge in ammo purchasing. However, odd and less popular calibers seemed to be fairly available during this. I recall seeing a lot of .243 and .270 rifle ammo and .357 Sig and even .40 S&W pretty regularly. Surplus calibers seemed to show no real signs of shortage or major cost increase.

Fourthly, some weapons (particularly revolvers) have versatility in what they can shoot. .357 magnum chambered weapons can shoot .38 special or .38 +p and .44 magnum can shoot .44 Special. And .460 S&W can shoot .454 Casull and 45 Long Colt. Some pistols also offer interchangeable barrels which can open up more caliber options. Most noteworthy is weapons chambered in .40 S&W can often be converted to shoot .357 Sig.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts I have had in recent months on the selection of calibers.

-Zach

[goofin]

ill stick with my 45acp. i know if im on the run most places have the ammo for it

[RAVEN_5.56]

I'd have to pick the 5.56/.223 and 7.62x51 ...Both SMOKING Hot rounds!!! Being an LEO I've seen the devistation of both. The 7.62x51 as a sniper round can drop a Zed at a long distance if need be to protect any perimeter. The 5.56/.223 can do the job as well ...especially FMJ . Take Good Care and Be Safe Always.


-RAVEN-5.56-

[Tater]

I chose my calibers several years ago... .45ACP and .308WIN.
If those two can't solve your problems, you're f@cked.
I don't expect the dead to ever walk the earth... well maybe at Obama rallies, but other than that I think your fellow man will be your biggest problem. That's what history has shown so far.
So, no, I'm not going to sell off my FAL's, my .45 UZI, or my 1911 to buy a .22longrifle because that's all I need to kill Zed's from my roof top. That's just my opinion though.

[Asmodeus6]

It's a tough sell for me and .223 vs 7.62x39.

What I will probably do is bug out with both, and as much as we can carry of each. (As many full mags as I can pack of each and roll out)

I expect those riot police and the military to die enough that I can recover select fire weapons. Those are obviously going to be M16's and variants. Maybe some HK stuff.

At which point I will simply re-equip off of what is available and be thankful I still have P-mags in my pack. Same goes for nearly everything else. I don't plan on being stuck with anything. If I can pick it up, I can put it down. Those are my only rules concerning calibers.

Be an opportunist... and get F/A ASAP.

[YukonDon]

(10-12-2009 02:17 AM)Asmodeus6 Wrote:  It's a tough sell for me and .223 vs 7.62x39.

What I will probably do is bug out with both, and as much as we can carry of each. (As many full mags as I can pack of each and roll out)

I expect those riot police and the military to die enough that I can recover select fire weapons. Those are obviously going to be M16's and variants. Maybe some HK stuff.

At which point I will simply re-equip off of what is available and be thankful I still have P-mags in my pack. Same goes for nearly everything else. I don't plan on being stuck with anything. If I can pick it up, I can put it down. Those are my only rules concerning calibers.

Be an opportunist... and get F/A ASAP.

I agree with the "pick up" idea. I'll bug out with my M4 and AK. If you look at the world, the two most used calibers are 5.56 and 7.62...so it will depend on who is coming to "zombify" us.....

[1911shooter]

My main choices are as follows,
1. 5.56mm for the AR's ( which there is 5 of, one for each member of the family.)
2. 7.62mm for the bolt action ( there are 2 of these for keeping them at bay.)
3. 9mm for the pistols ( my three boys are all equiped with H&K USP's )
4. .45ACP for me and the Wife. ( 1911's which we both will be carrying 2 of per person. )
5. 12gauge shotguns. ( 2 Benneli M4's, a Benneli Super 90, and 2 870's. )

I think for calibers this will cover each and every situation i can think of, and these will be the calibers laying around when i need more.

[Asmodeus6]

^^^
Want to adopt another child in their late 20's?

Not even joking! You have such wonderful toys...

[CommonHighrise]

(10-11-2009 09:17 PM)Tater Wrote:  I don't expect the dead to ever walk the earth...

Uhm...why are you here then?

(10-12-2009 08:11 AM)YukonDon Wrote:  If you look at the world, the two most used calibers are 5.56 and 7.62...so it will depend on who is coming to "zombify" us...

Zombies. Zombies come to zombify us.

Please guys, keep the scope of 'zombie' clear. It is not used here as a slang term for anything other than what George Romero depicted in his documentaries, and Max Brooks wrote two books about.

[YllwFvr]

"Please guys, keep the scope of 'zombie' clear. It is not used here as a slang term for anything other than what George Romero depicted in his documentaries, and Max Brooks wrote two books about."

TWO books? Two?! I didn't know!
Of course Max did it as a joke. He did think about it in a "in his shoes" way and I admit some of it is rather clever. I wouldnt treat the survival guide as a field manual however.

I will argue that zombie as slang is very important. It gives me a reason to laugh at my boss who often shuffles about and moans (swear to god!) and seems very zombie like lol.

Seriously though if it hit the fan either with zombies or not, and I mean real bad, I think you'd have people resorting to cannibalism shortly unless a local government set up some kind of rationing. Those could be thought of as zombies or eaters unless we had real undead at the same time. I guarantee you it wouldn't be just zeds we'd have to watch for. A little hardship and depravity will bring out the human jackals to feast on the carnage.

Since you have my opinion on Mr Brooks I'll just say the George romero is practically the father of modern zombies and as such he is a god. Or at least a legend.

And I think he would totally dig this website.

[Amended by Mod]