AZW's

[Tony]

Alright, so the main site talks about using .22 calibers as AZW's and for hunting, and I think it's good advice, but let's talk about the things that might not be quite so... um... underestimated.

I personally love the USAS12 shotgun, though hard to find, those things Rock! and they use regular old 2 3/4 inch shotgun shells, available everywhere (well, in the US anyways).

I think for a sidearm, it's hard to beat a good old 1911 colt .45.

And maybe a Remington 700 in .308 when you just need to reach out, and splatter a zombies brains all over the place.

What do you guys think?

[OVERKILL]

 First ever forum I've joined(yay), numbers looked kinda sparse s I thought I would join the ranks to fight the undead. My tastes in guns ted to run old fashioned, other than the 22 L.R. rifle and pistol that all American citizens should have I like to break things Down into 4 categories
1) Handgun's backup arm "that no one wants to use but no one wants to be without". Relatively weakand innaccurate but light and easy to carry.
2) Shotgun- Opinions vary from "greatest implement ever devised" to "most overrated weapon in history" (personal aside, I own no weapons, only tools), truth lies somewhere in between
3) Carbine- A short (16" to 20") barrelled rifle forwhen longer range and greater accuracy than a pistol is needed, but a light, compact arm is also desired.
4) Rifle- A firearm capable of firing full powered, high energy cartridges to engage targets at long distance.
Now that that's out of the way I'll give you my choices (be they right or wrong)
1- For my pistol I would choose a 357 magnum revolver, preference of double action over single action due to D.A.'s typically having swing out cylinders which have the ability to accept speed loaders. Cartridge choice based on both the power and availability of both the 357 Magnum cartridge and 38 Special cartridge, both of which can safely be fired from a 357 Magnum chambered gun. Also, I prefer about a 6" barrel which to some who are used to duty revolvers may seem long and may seem short to those who are familiar with revolver hunting or silhouette shooting, but I feel this gives a good balance of speed, weight, power and accuracy. My personal favorite load is the classic 158 grain JHP.
2- For a shotgun I prefer the relatively "cheap" Mossberg model 500. I like the fact that barrels are easily interchangeable so I can have smooth bore barrel of 20 inches for buckshot and rifled slugs for self defense, a 28" barrel with interchangeable choke tubes for hunting, and a 24" rifled barrel for long(for a shotgun) range deer hunting. Where I live (up yonder in em hills) you very rarely have a shot past 65 yards in the brush, so for hunting or personal defense you can't beat a good 12 gauge as far as I'm concerned. For self defense I prefer the smaller #4 copper or nickel plated buckshot, as it gives a better pattern than the #00 buck. for slugs I like the 1 ounce slug, P.D or deer. To round things out an assortment of #8 to #2 shot for everything from small birds, squirrels and rabbits to goose and duck, and a few 3inch magnums in #4 to bust a turkey or two at long range.
3-For my carbine I chose a Winchester 94 lever action also chambered in 357 Magnum, all the reasons I chose it for a sidearm also apply to the rifle and the some. I actually prefer the 30-30 but in a survival situation I'd take the 357 due to ammo commonality. In the old west it was common to find a frontiersman carrying a Winchester '73 and a Colt "Peacemaker" both chambered in 44-40 or 38-40. You've only got to carry, buy or scrounge 1 type of cartridges to feed both babies. If you think the 357 is good out of a pistol, it's an even better cartridge fired in a rifle. 125 grain cast 38 Specials will take rabbits and groundhogs with little ruined meat ad 180 grain XTP's are good dear medicine, Oh and the 158 grainers for Zombies
4- While there aren't a lot of (if any) bad choices for guns that are suitable for PDATLD (Personal Defense Against The Living Dead) I've always felt the best gun for it is the gun you're best with, mine happens to be a surplus British No. 4 Mark 1 I bought just because I got a good deal on. I thought I could sell it for a profit trade until I made the mistake of borrowing a couple of shells from my brother (he has a No.1 Mark 3*) and seeing how it shot. The only changes I made were installing an adjustable ladder sight like on the earlier issued rifles in place of the 300/600 yard flip up sights. The only problem with it is the 303 British caliber is not overly popular so I will be limeted to what ammo I have or can make.
5- as an aside, no I won't be running through the woods with all my guns and ammo in a wheelbarrow the 357 revolver and lever action are my main guns for PDATLD, the other 2 are for special circumstances. Any comments suggestions, questions or criticisms welcome

[OVERKILL]

 Gotta give respect to Tony for startin' this thread and makin' such excellant selections as well.

[Admin]

Hey Overkill,

Thanks for the great post

Numbers are a little sparse, it's a fairly new site, thanks for joining!

Glad to know that other folks are as interested in preparation for the undead as I am.

[OVERKILL]

 As I had stated earlier this is the first forum I've ever posted on or joined, I read a lot of shooting and reloading forums, but never post (one of which is probably where I found the link for this site). I noticed there was not a lot of posts and clicked on the members and saw why. I thought the place was off to a good start and could use another member. Still not sure if I'm what you'd pick, but I'm whatchya got.

[Tony]

Hey Overkill, from the posts you've already made here, I'd say you're what I'd pick too, I mean heck, I'd prefer to have someone fighting by my side that I'm not worried about blasting me in the back when we're down to the last case of beans 

And I appreciate you're willingness to share you're knowledge too!

As a matter of fact, would you mind starting a reloading and ammunition thread? I'd sure appreciate it.

 

[Rykoon]

A katana would be the best awz with a m16.Katana no reloads long reach and sparpest sword in the family.M16 a fun toy

[OVERKILL]

 I think I may have thought of another near perfect anti-zombie tool. The RED 9. The red 9 was a Mauser c96 broomhandle chambered in the 9x19 parabellum round (the kind you get if you go to a big mart store and say "gimme sum 9 milluhmeter"). Ammo is extremely cheap and available everwhere. You have something in a small package like a pistol, but with the combination shoulder stock/holster you cover carbine territory for increased accuracy. (the stock doesn't make the gun more accurate, but makes you more accurate by allowing you to hold it steadier) This was one of those "duh" moments as it has been under my nose for quite a while, it was one of the best guns in Resident Evil 4. They only have a ten round capacity but are reloaded via stripper clips (chargers) that are lighter and smaller than standard magazines, and depending on who you ask, faster to use. Recoil of the round is nonexistent with the shoulderstock attached, which makes accurate headshots easy. The 9x19 is plenty powerful enough to use on  zombies as the Resident Evil series has proven conclusively (although the 357 magnum and 50 A.E. have proven to be better). Now to find a way to afford it and a Beretta.

[Tobias]

Hey overkill, there were versions of the Mauser broomhandle that had detachable magazines, and a tiny bit of work can convert the magazines from the destroyer carbine (up to 50 rounds) to fit. The destroyer carbines might he good as well, they can be converted easily to 9x19...

[OVERKILL]

 I'd hate to rechamber the destroyer though as I have an affinity for the 9mm Largo cartridge. But with all the good things about the c96 I think it's official to be in the P.N.U.D. (Plan Nine Undead De-animators, or you can call us peanut) you'll have to have a Red9. The sad thing is I can't afford one so I can't even join my own club, maybe I can find a Spanish Astra copy of the Mauser in 9mm Largo and make a onetime exception for myself.

[Admin]

I picked up some c96's in 7.62 back when they were $69 a piece in the 90's but I sold them when they hit $250 a piece... wish I'd kept a few around... 

[OVERKILL]

 I wish you still had 'em too. I,d buy the whole lot at $250 apiece. It's hard to justify the prices when I could buy an AR-15 and an M9 for the same price.

[zombiekilla123]

SHOTGUN mother f*&%@#$s