[railfun]

The best overall weapon (in my opinion of course) is a good rifle, semi-auto if you can manage but lever and bolt action would be fine too. In the event of a class 3-4 there will be millions to billions of zombies. Ammo conservation and efficiency should be your number 3 concern following staying alive and the loyalty of whatever group you are in to the leader or system of government you have set up. And don't even pretend to believe that any person could take them out with a sword or bat. Shotgun ammunition is large and bulky, not to mention the fact that you couldn't get the all important headshot at long ranges. think about it, accuracy is what you need and a rifle has it.

[Wookiejuice]

I agree with railfun 100%... I would think a rifle would be the best bet. Especially if it has a scope one it. You've got the range and accuracy with a rifle. However... what would you use up close/melee? I would use a katana. I believe I've mentioned this in another thread (?), but that would be my choice of up close and personal weapon. Yes, you have to keep it sharpened, but you should be able to do more damage to a zombie with an edged weapon, rather than a blunt/bashing weapon, ie a bat. You hit a zombie in the head with a sword, you're more than likely putting that Z out of commision. With a bat, you'd probably knock it down, but to kill it, you'd have to continue bashing in it's skull, until it's head is bloody pulp. Too much time and focus for one zombie for my liking.

[railfun]

actually I designed a bat (for my friend because he was making a club to keep in his truck for self-defense) it used the principles of *insert person whose name i can't remember here*'s bat which had a dimpled surface which cut air resistance in half. And a hollowed, half liquid filled core to add extra force. The water or other liquid would be at the base and when swung it would go towards the end and add weight and force to the swing. This might be an effective melee weapon, but the best kind of weapon for close-up fights is a pistol, preferably one that uses the same ammo as your rifle.

[Wookiejuice]

NICE!!! I love it! By the sounds of it, your custom made bat would probably knock an undead's head clean off it's undead shoulders!! That would be a great melee weapon. I like the idea of using a hand gun for close quarters, except for the fact that you'll eventually have to reload the dang thing. I'd hate to be in the middle of battle, only to have to stop and reload. Could have deadly consequences. Plus, I don't know a sniff about guns really at all.... is there a type of hand gun the uses the same ammo as a rifle?

[railfun]

you don't have to destroy it's brain if you can snap its spinal cord and its a plus if you break the jaw. But honestly with a handgun with a ten round clip the average gun owner, who actually goes shooting once in a while, can get eight kills per reload (keep in mind it would be a stressful environment) It would take a lot less time and energy to fire ten times and reload than to bash or cut open 8 heads, plus it allows another 5 meters at least between you and the target. Yes there are rifles and handguns that use the same ammo, the rifles that do that are pretty rare but not unheard of once you get past the 22cal.

[unholypoo]

A 22 pistol would be great for close in fighting. It can hold a lot of ammo, you can carry a lot of ammo, and you can share with your rifle. Plus the mafia uses 22 pistols for executions because its quiet, and it goes through one side of the brain case without leaving the other, rattling the brains around and doing as much damage as a 45.

[railfun]

That and other things, like the fact that you can carry 6 .22 rounds for the same price, weight, and (actually less) space as a .45. Even if you can't bust open the head and kill it in one shot you can follow it up with another and still be far more efficient in every aspect.

[Everlast]

thats if the 22 even penetrates the skull
there's a chance if stuck at an angle the bullet will actually bounce of, or deflect, instead of entering the brain cavity.

if your in that close to zombies, i would use a caliber that would destroy the brain, no doubt, one shot. so 9mm or bigger.

[railfun]

very true, 9mm. is another good caliber as well. It has the punch and there are rifles and handguns that can use the same ammunition in the 9mm size. but you can't carry as many rounds which is an important factor. I'd say 9mm. if you are in an urban or otherwise very restricted range environment 9mm. Everywhere else, like the mountains or plains (where you should be after day 2-3 if you aren't already) then 22

[Everlast]

my setup....

[railfun]

nice, is that a double drum clip in the gun already? how many rounds does it hold?

[Everlast]

yes, its a beta c magazine, holds 100 rounds

[railfun]

nice, how fast can you put the 100 rounds back in after you've spent a full clip though? That's the one thing that worries me about a handgun, you're pretty much limited to how many clips you have because it takes to long to refill them in that kind of environment.

[Everlast]

well unless youre using a belt-feed gun, you're alway limited by the magazines

in the above picture i can easily carry, could carry more, 250 5.56 rounds in 5 30 round mags and the beta c 100 round mag and 28 round of 45 cal in 4 mags, more if i swapped it for my 9mm (4 mags x 10/15 rounds).

if i really jam in mags, i can fit 3 more 30 rounds in the top chest part (2 in each pocket will fit) and 4 or 5 in the belt pocket thats meant to store the beta c. so that would be another 200+ 5.56 rounds.

[railfun]

that's enough for a week of raiding or wandering in anything but a million plus city. If you are in a fixed location, as I plan to be 99% of the time, then you are only limited by how much ammo you have and can create. Imagine this though, sitting in a tower with a cooler of soda (no ice, no beer. river water to cool it) In a lazy boy in the shade. A bipod set up in front of you connected to a 30'06 with a 4x scope (you don't have to hit them 300 yds away). Did that just make your day?