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This section covers ranged weapons that civilians have (relatively) easy access to, listing them in by type of weapon. The following points apply to all ranged weapons.

1. Consider what your weapon will be used for. Are you picking an close-range defensive weapon, or will you be picking off Zeds from the safety of a rooftop? Will your weapon accompany you cross-country, or will you operate it within a fairly static environment?
   
2. Consider the maintenance requirements of your chosen weapon. What tolerance does it have for rough environments and/or frequent, continuous use? If it needs regular cleaning, will you have adequate supplies to last? Is your weapon a mechanical workhorse, or will certain parts require replacement frequently? A good supply of spare parts can mean the difference between being able to use your ammo and trying to defend yourself with a crowbar.
   
3. Train to use your chosen weapon. Do not expect to pick up an AR-15 and blow away a crowd of Zeds by yourself, as you will more likely end up dropping the magazine out by accident. You don't need to be an amazing gunfighter, but you do need to know the basic features of your choice and be able to wield it effectively without thinking. A few hours a week spent shooting will go a long way.
4. Pick a weapon with plentiful ammunition that is widely available. You do not want to be scrambling around in a gun shop looking for .480 Ruger cartridges that were most likely bought out soon after Z-day. The ubiquitous .22 LR is a great example, as is .45 ACP, 9mm, .38 Special and most bolt-action rifle ammunition.

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Handguns are your weapons of last resort, your last ballistic defense against the walking dead. Always remember, however, that your last line of defense is not necessarily the best one. One of the central parts of any firearm is the magazine. Always keep several in good working order and a sufficient amount of spare parts. Check the fit and locking on revolvers between the cylinder and barrel. A flashlight mounted on a pistol is more useful then a laser, and night sights are a good option as well. The laser may seem more helpful, but let me give you this example: hold a pistol loaded with an empty magazine, and have a flashlight in your non-firing hand. Now try reloading with said setup, while still retaining the light and the pistol. Pistols are also more useful for room-clearing than many long arms, and the competition models are surprisingly durable. A good rule is, if you are not familiar with firearms, take a revolver of some kind, as they are simpler and need less maintenance.
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Bond Arms .410 Bore Derringer:
This handy little tool is ideal in the event your position is being overrun by skin jobs, or a buddy has been bitten.
Manufactured by Bond Arms, Granbury, TX. It is single action, and fairly simple to operate. Perfect for when you've been bitten, give your main weapon to a friend, then put one round through your head. Or keep it on you at all times just in case you run out of ammo with everything else. This particular derringer is heavier than most of it's type, possibly due to the trigger guard. Many other brands make such pistols, in a multitude of calibers, they operate similarly and are of similar size.
Caliber: .410 bore shot shell and .45 Colt
Capacity: 2 shells.
Action: Single Action
Weight: 20 oz.
Barrel Length: 3 Inches
Overall Length: 5 Inches

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Charter Arms .357 Magnum Snub-Nose:
The Charter Arms .357 Magnum snub-nose revolver sets the bar for concealable man-stopping protection. The six round chamber of this gun is loaded with the .357 Magnum round, notorious for the kinetic energy transferred into the target. Even in wild game, this round is known to cause hydrostatic shock in minutes. The drawback is the designs extreme muzzle flash. The recoil on this firearm is surprisingly moderate when the strength of the round is considered.

Although this is an effective weapon of choice for many law enforcement agencies, this gun is unsuitable for any significant encounter with undead foes. Even when trained and equipped with a speed-loader, a semi-automatic pistol will take precedent over this revolver. This weapon is a good choice for brief encounters where a kill must be ensured.

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North American Arms .380 Guardian:
This is an extremely reliable and effective self defense weapon, and has the capacity to be effective in a prolong combat with infected adversaries. This compact, 8-round semi-automatic handgun fires the .380 APC round, sacrificing stopping power for accuracy, precisely what is required in an epidemic situation.

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Commonly known as hand cannons, revolvers have been around for several hundred years. They are comparatively primitive in design, but capable of delivery extremely devastating hits. Previously, hand-cannons could only be used by the strongest soldiers but contemporary versions have been reshaped to fit the tolerances of contemporary warriors. The main benefit from its large ammunition is its piercing capability, which can defeat body armor or knock an assailant off-balance. Also, even if hit in a non-vital area, limbs can still be severed and heads literally exploded due to the immense power of the rounds fired. Drawbacks include low shot count (commonly six or less before reloading) and the ferocious recoil from the high-powered rounds being fired, which can knock you on your ass or even break your wrist or shoulder. Remember though, at close range, the excessive impact of the rounds may spray infected blood on you.


Medusa Model 47 Revolver:
This handgun is the survivor's delight.
There are many things that make this weapon great. Things like match grade parts, parts manufactured from airframe/space frame grade steel and last but certainly not least the ability to shoot over ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR DIFFERENT ROUNDS, twenty five of which are very prevalent in the USA. It will shoot anything in the 9mm/.38/.357/5.5mm range except .357 SIG (a .40 bullet tapered to .357), some of the most talked-about ammo types for Zed heads. If you click on the picture to the left, it is linked to the Popular Mechanics page that will allay all of your fears and explain how it works. The biggest problem I have found so far is it's price: currently listed at $900 which puts it well out of most people's range for a back-up gun. So don't go throwing your carbines and shotguns away for this puppy, as they are probably are two to three times cheaper. Just remember to hold on to this thing if you end up out of ammo. It might just save your life down the road.ICE info here
Caliber: Can chamber, fire, and extract almost any cartridges in the .38/9mm/.357 ammunition range (Except .357 Sig)
Capacity: 6 Rounds (Cylinder)
Action:Double Action
Weight: 2.38 lbs (1.08 kg)
Barrel Length:2.5 inch (6.4 cm), 3 inches (7.6 cm), 4 inch (10.2 cm), 5 inch (12.7 cm), or 6 inch (15.2 cm)
Overall Length: Varies by ammo type.
5.55MM Revolver:
A weapon rumored to have been fabricated in Britain in the early ‘90’s, using a replica of a Colt Model 1860 Navy revolver frame.
Caliber: 5.56MM/.223 caliber (NATO Standard)
Capacity: 6 rounds.
(This claim has fueled speculation as to the maker’s veracity; It is believed by some it was actually only 5 rounds, as 6 would have taken more space than is apparently available).
Reload: Single fire wing gate.
Action: Single or Dual.
Weight: About 18 oz.
Barrel Length: 6 to 8 inches.
Overall Length: 10 to 12 inches.
Construction: A .357 revolver’s internal components, an AR-15 barrel, and a custom built cylinder. Purportedly, the revolver was dual action, but required a single-action style wing gate for loading as the 5.56MM cartridge was too powerful for more modern revolver designs.
As firearms are strictly illegal in Britain, the maker has wisely not stepped forward to promote their design. However, this has forced us to accept the maker’s claims at face value, which can not be verified.
Taurus Arms "Judge" Shotgun Revolver:
This gun can fire .410 shot shells, and .45 colt ammo*, making it more flexible then your average wheelgun.. There are two basic variants, one with a 3 inch barrel, and one with a 6.5 inch barrel.

Caliber: .410 bore shot-shell and .45 Colt*
Capacity: 5 Rounds
Action: Double Action
Weight: 29 ounces and 32 ounces
Barrel Length: 3 and 6.5 inches
Overall Length: 7.5 and 9.5 inches

This is emphasized by the 5-round ammo capacity.
It also features rubber grip, so it can conform to any hand. useful as a backup weapon, i.e. when all your other guns are out of ammo. Being a modern revolver, the Taurus can be shoot double action or single action on the fly. It has more than enough firepower to take care of any skin job.
*note that this is .45 long colt, not the much more common .45 ACP pistol rounds, they will not fit as they have no rims.
Desert Eagle:

Calibers:	.357 Magnum, .41 Magnum (obsolete), .44 Magnum, .440 Cor-bon, .50 AE
Action:	Single Action
Overall Length:	10.75in (273.1mm) (6in barrel) 14.75in (374.7mm) (10in barrel)
Barrel Length:	6in (152.4mm) 10in (254.0mm)
Weight:	1,998.6g (4.4lb)
Magazine Capacity:	9 rounds (.357) 8 rounds (.41 and .44) 7 rounds (.440 Cor-bon and .50AE)

This pistol comes in a wide variety calibers, from .44 Magnum to .50 Action Express. Changing calibers is only a matter of switching slides and magazines. Where the Eagle falls short is ammo capacity. While a .50 round could potentially sever a limb or blow a head off, a shooter will only get seven shots. For best results, go for the .357 caliber with an extended magazine. This gun is also very expensive, setting you back about $1100 for a basic matte black finish, 6 inch model. Some other facts are that the Desert Eagle can use a 10 inch barrel, and all models can accept scopes or red-dot sights on a rail on top of the barrel.

M1911 and variants:
Arguably the best combat pistol in existence, the 1911 is an extremely popular and reliable pistol. Currently, there are over 15 well known companies that manufacture variants of 1911, such as Colt, the original manufacturer (although quality has declined as of late),Smith & Wesson, SIG Sauer/Sigarms, Kimber, Springfield Armory, and Armalite to name a few. Each of these companies has anywhere between 5 to 50 different makes and models of the 1911, giving you hundreds, if not thousands of options. Most variants will work just about the same, based off of the same basic design. The controls for the most part are standard among 1911s: a short, single action trigger, grip safety and manual safety (sometimes ambi), manual slidestopused for dissembly, steel frame and single stack 7 or 8 round magazines. It's usually just a difference in how customized it is. Because of all these variants, it's nearly impossible to list every scrap of information on this model. The original was adopted by the U.S. military in 1911 (guess how it got it's name), being modified after WW1 into the M1911A1 and stayed in service until 1985, and is still in use by several special forces teams, in addition to being popular with numerous police departments. Its slim design is comfortable to almost all shooters, and thicker grips can be added for larger hands. 1911s can be anything from plain, reliable carry pistols to high-capacity, optical-sighted race guns to double-action 9mm compact pistols.There are even variations in .22 long rifle and .50! Traditionally, 1911s are single stack, steel framed pistols in 45 ACP. The large slug can do heavy damage even with non-expanding rounds, but can be tamed with practice. .45 ACP is also one of the most common pistol rounds in the United States. The slim magazines hold 7-8 rounds (8 in modern magazines) and can be stainless steel, matte black, and come in extended varieties as well. Some manufacturers offer double-stack 1911s, but they are very bulky for most and the mags don't fit well in regular mag pouches. Often used for competition, they are usually some variation of .38/9mm, and can hold +20 rounds in some calibers. Some constant aspects across any 1911s are the simplicity and insane reliability. A quality, and even not very good quality 1911 will survive things you probably wouldn't, and keep shooting, assuming it has good magazines. They can be very accurate, even with the large 45 ACP, contrary to some myths. There is a huge 1911 parts market, and many law-enforcement agencies use them, making it easier salvage parts and maintain a 1911. One of the only problems is the low magazine capacity, but mags can usually fit into half the space of a double stack magazine, roughly evening out in capacity. (most pouches can fit 2 1911 mags to a single double stack pouch.) The 1911 is one of the oldest, most common, and dependable sidearms in a zombie crisis.
Original Standard Colt M1911 Specs
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action: Single Action
Overall Length: 8.25 in
Barrel Length:

• 5.03 in, Government model
• 4.25 in, Commander model
• 3.5 in, Officer's ACP model

Weight: 2.437 lb
Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds
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Kel-Tec PLR-16:

Type:	Semi-automatic.
Weight:	51 oz unloaded.
Length:	18.5 inches.
Barrel Length:	9.2 inches.
Cartridge:	.223/5.56×45MM NATO.
Action:	Gas operated.
Muzzle Velocity:	2,600 ft/s
Effective Range:	400 meters
Feed System:	10, 20 or 30 round box STANAG magazine.
Sights:	Open iron sights, but can mount optics on picatinny rail above the upper reciever.

This offering from Kel-Tec Industries of Florida is a gas-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered in .223 Remington first offered in 2006. George Kellgren, formerly of the Intratec and Grendel firearms companies was the principal designer.
The PLR (Pistol, Long Range) has been designed for recreational plinking, informal target shooting, hunting small game, and even varmint or predator hunting at moderate ranges. Velocity is reduced from the short barrel of the PLR as compared to a rifle, losing roughly 600 feet per second muzzle velocity with standard 55 grain ball ammunition.
The PLR-16 combines the multi-lug rotating bolt design and breech-locking system found on the AR-15/M-16 with a gas piston system similar to that found on the M-1 Garand, M-14, and Kalashnikov. This system requires less maintenance than the direct gas impingement system of the AR-15 platform. The PLR-16's frame is constructed of reinforced polymer, making the pistol both durable and light-weight, and incorporates an M-1913 style Picatinny rail molded to the top of the receiver to accept various optics. A separately supplied polymer forend with a Picatinny rail upon which to mount lights or laser sights is available.
And yes, it IS a LEGAL PISTOL.









IMI Jericho 941/Baby Eagle:
The Baby Eagle/Jericho 941 is a double action/single Action, semi-automatic pistol developed by Israel Weapon Industries and introduced to the market in 1990 as the Jericho 941. It was also imported by O. F. Mossberg & Sons and named the Uzi Eagle, and is currently imported by Magnum Research, Inc., and named Baby Eagle. The original Jericho 941 was based on the well-respected CZ-75 pistol designed and produced by Česká zbrojovka (CZ) of the Czech Republic and built using parts supplied by the Italian arms house Tanfoglio, which had been making their own CZ-75 clones. Using a well-tested design allowed IMI to avoid the teething problems most new pistol designs experience, and subcontracting much of the basic fabrication work to Tanfoglio allowed IMI to quickly and economically put into production: a pistol that would have enough Israeli content to satisfy government contract requirements. The single most significant innovation attempted by IMI was offering a new, much "hotter" cartridge, the .41 Action Express (see below) to go along with the Jericho 941. The ballistics difference between 9MM and .41 AE is generally considered similar to the difference between .38 Special and .357 Magnum in the USA - the .41 AE was perceived as a "magnum autoloader round." Unfortunately the .41 AE was even less successful in gaining traction in the marketplace than the 10 mm, and was soon discontinued. Experience with heavily loaded rounds gave IMI a considerable lead, however, in chambering for the soon-to-be successful .40 S&W and also allowed the Jericho to "up-chamber" to the very popular .45 ACP. Shooters praise the accuracy of the Jericho/Baby Eagle, its reliability, and its pricing. It is generally considered to be a very slim design, for a large caliber pistol with a double-stack magazine, with "natural" pointing due to grip angle. If you can acquire one, the ergonomics and accuracy will make it an excellent sidearm, as well as being chambered in easy to find 9mm parabellum.
Be sure to stock up on magazines and spare parts however, Jericho mags are not among the more common ones, especially when the SHTF.

Caliber:

• 9x19mm
  
• .40 S&W
• .41 Action Express
• .45 ACP

Action: Short Recoil
Overall Length:

• 8.1 in; Standard
• 7.2 in; Semi-compact
• 7.2 in; Compact

Barrel Length:

• 4.4 in; Standard
• 3.5 in; Semi-compact
• 3.5 in; Compact

Weight:

• 1092 g; Standard
  

• 1060 g (steel frame); Semi-compact
• 830 g (polymer frame); Semi-compact
  
• 961 g (steel frame); Compact
  
• 734 g (polymer frame); Compact

Magazine Capacity:

• 15 (9mm) or 12 (.40) rounds; Standard

• 15 (9mm), 12 (.40),10 (.45) rounds; Semi-compact
• 10 rounds (9mm or .40); Compact

FN Five-seveN:
The Five-seveN is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FNH). Its name is derived from the unique ammunition it uses. FN created the new 5.7x28mm cartridge for its FN P90 personal defense weapon to meet NATO requirements released in 2000. Subsequently, FN released the Five-seveN, a sidearm of the same caliber for agencies that adopted the P90.
The 5-7 fires high-velocity, lightweight armor piercing rounds. It has a capacity of 20 staggered rounds in the magazine, and there are variants in both single and double action. The AP tip 5.7mm rounds are known for tumbling, similarly to the full size 5.56mm rounds. This, combined with its armor piecring capabilities, gives it an edge over other sidearms in combat. Against zombies, however, the advantages aren't so great.
First, the armor piercing ammunition makes little difference in zed killing, as head shots with even regular rounds will suffice. Some may argue that this allows you to use a handgun at greater range, but handguns were not designed for long range shooting, and at the distance an average round becomes ineffective, running is a better option. Second, armor piercing ammo is illegal for civilians to own, negating the AP advantage against hostile humans and zombies with armor (military and police killed with their body armor on). Third, 5.7mm ammo is not common ammo, which means you'll have to rely on stocked ammo instead of scavenging. On the other hand, 5.7mm ammo kicks lighter then 9mm para, allowing accurate and sustained fire. And ammo is smaller then most, making it easier to carry a large amount of ammo.
Accessories: All models of the Five-seveN can also be mounted with a laser aiming module (LAM) or a tactical flashlight on the accessory rail. There are various companies that make these devices for various firearms.
A threaded barrel is available for mounting a suppressor. Again, various manufacturers provide their models and variations of suppressors.
FN produces night sights for the DAO and Tactical models. These sights do not fit the IOM and USG models without gun smithing. Trijicon is slated to produce tritium night sights for the IOM and USG models, but they are not available yet. There are also other companies that produce sights for various pistols that may or may not require gun smithing.
A magazine extension for the Five-seveN is available that will extend 1.75 inches below the weapon. It allows the Five-seveN to hold ten extra rounds, for a total of thirty.

Caliber: 5.7x28mm
Action: Delayed blowback
Overall length: 8.19in
Barrel length: 4.80in
Weight:

• 1.36lb; USG
• 1.30lb; IOM

Magazine capacity:10 or 20-round detachable box magazine



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Glock 17:
The Glock 17, named such because it was the 17th patent owned by Glock, is one of, if not the most used pistol throughout the world. Interesting features to point out are; the polymer frame, providing high quality durability (stronger than steel) along with easy cleaning (plastic means no rust) and reduced recoil when compared to metal frames (the plastic bends to absorb recoil); the patented safe action trigger safety, this will not shoot unless you specifically pull the trigger; and the polygonal rifling, more accurate and longer lasting than standard 'hill and valley' barrels, although you can't fire unjacketed bullets because the lead will rub off and plug the barrel. Top that off with a walloping seventeen 9mm rounds and the knowledge that even if you drop it in sewage, you can just pick it up and shake the rubbish out of it and still have it fire flawlessly. The short trigger pull is also very much liked by 1911 enthusiasts. All in all, this is a remarkable gun, through and through.

Caliber: 9x19mm
Action: Short recoil operated, locked breech, tilting barrel
Overall length: 7.32
Barrel length: 4.49
Weight: 1.4
Magazine capacity:

• 17; Standard
• 10, 19, 33; Optional

Springfield XD/HS 2000:
Here is a happy medium and it comes to us in the form of the Springfield XD .45 ACP. It is hard hitting, accurate, compact and relatively light. It also sports an integral rail for mounting extras like lights and lasers. With an impressive thirteen round magazine, it packs firepower while allowing comfortable shooting. It is also cheaper than it's HK USP brother. Be aware of the fact that its magazines are not a common as others, so this is a prep weapon you stock up for. Yet considering the XD 45 combines the superior handling of the 1911 and the ammo capacity of the Glock 21 (not to mention a much lower retail price than either), the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. For the professional zombie hunter, or even the novice caught up in Z-day, a XD is a worthy investment.


Caliber:

• 9x19mm
  

• .357 SIG

• .40 S&W
• .45 GAP
• .45 ACP

Action: Short Recoil
Overall Length:

• 6.25 in; XD Sub-compact
• 7.08 in; HS2000 / XD 4"
• 7.99 in; XD Tactical

Barrel Length:

• 2.99 in; XD Sub-compact
• 4.01 in; HS2000 / XD 4"
• 5.0 in; XD Tactical

Weight:

• 1.3 lbs; XD Sub-compact
• 1.4 lbs; HS2000 / XD 4"
• 2 lbs; XD Tactical

Magazine Capacity:

• 10 (9mm) or 9 (.40) rounds; XD Sub-compact
• 16 (9mm), 12 (.357 SIG or .40 S&W), 9 (.45 GAP) or 13 (.45 ACP) rounds; HS2000 / XD 4"
• 16 (9mm), 12 (.357 SIG or .40 S&W), 9 (.45 GAP) or 13 (.45 ACP) rounds; XD Tactical

Beretta 92 Series:
A.50 Desert Eagle can sever limbs yet only has a seven round capacity, but a simple 9mm pistol like the Beretta 92FS (M9 to those in the US Military) carries 15 rounds that will easily kill a zombie. One thing to beware of is, if you have an early production Beretta, constant +P or +P+ ammo may cause wear on the slide and locking block. Some people find the Beretta variants uncomfortable due to the width and the trigger pull, which can hamper aiming. There are variants in .40 S&W, the 96 series, and variations with different safety and trigger setups.

Caliber: 9x19mm
Action: Short Recoil
Overall length: 8.54
Barrel length: 4.92
Weight: 2.1 lbs
Magazine capacity:15 rounds

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A bow can be a useful weapon if the user is trained. They can be accurate and silent, but can also be difficult in the hands of someone who doesn't know what they're doing. My advice learn how to shoot a bow. A crossbow is easier to use, but requires strength to load. A crossbow if fitted with a scope or red dot sight can make a silent sniper weapon if a silencer is not available for your rifle. Do not use a cross bow if dealing with a group of zombies as the load time would only put one in danger. A bow would handle better in a crowd of the undead but is still advised against. Used best for the single zombie,or to ignite things from a distance. It is possible to make explosive arrows, although it is often not a good option. Cabelas has a good variety, but they may not always be cheap.

Caliber: Arrows
Action: Single Shot
Overall Length: Variable by manufacture.
Barrel Length: Not Applicable.
Weight: Variable by manufacture.
Capacity: One Arrow/optional side mounted quiver





However, this weapon can be a godsend in underwater sweeps, as conventional firearms are completely useless for river and lake hunting. A spear gun provides the Zed hunter with a underwater ranged weapon. Use only if you have experience.

Maximum Reported Muzzle Velocity: 35Ø feet per second.
Maximum Reported Range: 25Ø feet (83 yards).

Alternative Uses: Creating distractions (breaking glass, etc, around the skin job drawing their attention away from you), as a sedative/tranquilizer delivery system, disabling attacks (injuring the skin job so they can’t pursue you), etc. The limits of the weap’s abilities are limited only by your innovation and intelligence, and more the latter than the former.
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Sub-machineguns are long arms that fire pistol-sized rounds, typically used in CQB environments, and as such are typically not suitable for killing skin jobs.
Carbines are short-barreled long-arms, some having barrles shorter than some long-barreled pistols, and usually have better range.They should not be confused with pistols that fire rifle-sized rounds (commonly referred to as “assault pistols”, but technically still pistols).
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Kel-Tec SUB2000 Carbine:
The Kel-tec SUB2000 carbine is a compact and simple weapon providing accurate semi-automatic fire out to 100-150 meters while accepting standard pistol ammunition in 9mm or .40 S&W. Its minimal recoil and simple operation make it a good LEGAL choice to go with. It also folds up to about 16" for easy storage! It accepts magazine clips from Glock17,19, SIG-Sauer P226, Beretta 92 or S&W 59/659/5906 magazines in 9mm caliber and has the same frames in .40 and .45 Please not that you need the specific frame for the specific magazine, a Sig frame can't accept Glock mags, ect.




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.357 Caliber Uzi Sub-Machinegun:








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Types Of Long Arms: There are 4 main types of long arms: Broken-Breech, Pump-Action, Lever-Action, and Gas-Operated. There are several less-common types, including bolt action and muzzle-loader.
Broken-Breech:	Pump-Action:
The M-79 Grenade Launcher is an interesting example of a broken-breach configuration.	A Winchester Model-1912 pump-action shotgun.
“Broken Breech” guns literally “break” in two at the breech, allowing a round to be inserted into the weapon.	“Pump Action” guns use a slide mechanism, usually located under the barrel, to eject the spent shell and insert the fresh shell.
Lever-Action:	Gas-Operated:
A Winchester Model-1887 lever-action shotgun.	A SPAS-12 gas-operated shotgun.
“Lever Action” guns have a lever, usually part of the trigger guard assembly, which is forced down and forward to reload the gun. Of the 4 major varieties of action presented her, the lever-action is the only one exclusive to long arms; It was only used on one pistol, the 184Ø’s era Vulcan, which never went into mass production.	“Gas Operated” firearms bleed off a small amount of gas from the discharge for the firearm to force the bolt back, ejecting a spent shell casing and re-loading a fresh round.

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.22 Rifle:
These types of rifles are lighter then most civilian bolt-actions and carbines, making for better mobility and less fatigue. When people think of a .22 most assume that the .22 long rifle is the only round available and dismiss it as under powered. That can be a costly mistake when trying to pick a light weight weapon for travel. Some rounds that most people forget about when talking about .22s are .22 short, .22 magnum, .22 hornet, and the .220 swift.
(Even the .223/5.56MM generally classified under the .22 family, as they are just .22 cal on steriods.) All of these are lightweight and capable of accuracy and penetration out to 100 yards for rim-fires and 500+ yards for center-fires if you know what you're doing. These weapons can be found in many different configurations, from cheaply made bolt actions to high priced match guns. Rim-fire ammunition can be found almost anywhere for around $8 for 500 rounds. Center-fire rounds will run quite a bit more and will make much more noise than the rim-fires. It takes between 16-160 ft/lbs to penetrate a human skull depending on the point of impact. The above listed rounds, including the .22 long rifle, provide between 119 and 1000+ ft/lbs of energy at 100 yards. Once skull penetration is achieved, a .22 round tends to bounce around inside the skull, obliterating the brain and in most cases providing a one-shot kill. The problem with .22 Long Rifle is,that to achieve the ricochet head shot, it has to be at a very specific range, and that you're pretty much screwed if you go against anything besides a zombie, such as any type of large animal. .22LR conversions meant to cut down on ammo costs for practice are also available for many pistols.
AR-15:
Designed by Eugene Stoner, the AR-15 is the most versatile and customizable rifles in the market. Though its military brother, the M16, often gets a bad rap in terms of reliability, the advances made since Viet Nam can not be overstated. No longer are troops issued a rifle they are told they do not have to clean, nor is cheap, corrosive ammunition fired through them. The barrels have been chromed and a forward assist has been added, greatly increasing reliability. However, the gas system utilized by the AR-15 series requires diligent maintenance that takes time a few mintes to complete. Once cleaning the weapon becomes second nature, and the zero has been set properly, the AR-15 is a deadly accurate Zack eraser. A word of caution however; most AR-15's are chambered for the .223 round. Provided you stock up on ammunition, this becomes redundant, but should one attempt to chamber a military 5.56mm round through a .223 chamber, you will risk overpressure which can destroy the action of your gun. If possible, pick up an AR-15 that is chambered for the 5.56mm, such as Smith&Wesson's M&P 15 rifles. This will allow you to fire both .223 ammunition, and possibly scavenge from overrun military positions. The above model is a M4 carbine, with 16 inch barrel and 20 round magazine. The 16 inch model cannot accept bayonets, but military M4's with 14 inch barrels (16 is minimum for civilians), and M16s with 20 inch barrels can.

There is a continuing misconception about the AR-15 Series (of which the M-16, M-4, and many others are descendants) that they are unreliable; This myth was thoroughly debunked several times, including by a member of this very site. When asked how often his M-16 jammed in the dust and the shooting and all that crap that supposedly will kill a 16 in a clean room, Hell_Razor answered:

The only time I've seen an AR type weapon jam to where it became inoperable was when I was putting Wolf ammo through my M&P 15. The only other times I've had to do something was when we were playing with blanks and blank adapters in basic and ait. Reason behind that is that by plugging the barrel, every last bit of carbon makes its way back to the chamber and fouls it up much sooner than live rounds. As for sand in Iraq, well it was kind of a bitch to clean, but the weapon never jammed on me.

Another member went on to clarify the Wolf ammo is a poor-quality ammo, so a word of advice is to avoid it whenever possible (regardless the caliber).
Another myth of the AR-Series it the stock; Supposedly, the fact that it’s made of plastic will break it. People who repeat this rumor are doing so with the intention of getting others killed, and should NEVER be listened to. (This rumor is true for Airsoft look-alikes, but not the real thing.)


Caliber: .223 Remington or 5.56x45 NATO
Action: Direct impingement / Rotating bolt
Overall length: N/A
Barrel length:

• 20 in; Standard
  
• 16 in
  
• 14.5 in
  

Weight: 5.5 - 8.5lb
Magazine capacity: N/A

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Depending on make and model, the shotgun can be a blessing or a curse. There are countless ammo types. Everything from buckshot (which sprays many smaller pellets when fired, and comes in a variety of loads), to slug (single round), to flamethrowers which can literally shoot napalm, or sometimes white phosphorus (which doesn't wear down the barrel as much), flares and even explosive rounds. There are several types of shotgun: automatic (no action to work for chambering the next round), manually operated (pump lever or bolt action) and breach loaders (this is where the chambers swing away from the firing assembly, "breaking" the shotgun in half). A shotgun is a very versatile weapon if you know what you can do with it. The pump action is probably the most common shotgun, but it is not as intuitive as some weapons. Don't take the weapon apart unless you know what you're doing.

The break open shotgun is perhaps the most simple and reliable firearm still in production today. There's over/under and side-by-side styles, in addition to single barrel models. It combines reliability with firepower, there being very few moving parts. The downside: you only have one or two shots, and you'll have to reload often. A part of this is that you have to unload empties and load fresh rounds to reload, where tube mag shotguns can be topped off at any time. If you break the latch, the gun won't work and you're screwed, or it will work and you'll have it blow up on you-so don't try one handed closing or other tricks too much. The break action shotgun also tends to be a long weapon, making it less than ideal for travel. These are typically the weapons you see in the movies sawed off to pistol size. Some models also come with a rifle barrel and a shotgun barrel combo, typically over and under.

Unless you really need a trainer shotgun, pump-action shotguns are a good choice. Recoil-compensating stocks and pads can greatly assist in shooting, and some are reported to cut felt recoil by almost half. In general, most shotguns are similar, with small differences in location of controls and sometimes loading/ejection. Semi-auto shotguns typically kick softer and have more competitive features, such as larger magazines, muzzle brakes and ghost sights. Automatic shotguns are very difficult to find, even in the military. They are hard to maintain, and typically don't have enough controllability to be practical. Pump-action and lever-action shotguns tend to need less maintenance and are more plain. Some shotguns come with 2-shot magazine blockers, although those are almost always removable. 12 and 20 gauge are both common in the US, 12 being the larger shell.

Some general information:
-Remington 870s seem to have a break in period where the fore grip jams every now and then.
-Mossbergs are somewhat easier to load, as the shell latch stays open while loading.
-the Benelli and Franci (SPAS series) shotguns can shoot either semi-auto or pump action
-Most military shotguns have heat shields and bayonet mounts.
-Military semi-auto shotguns are tuned to handle many types of ammo, but this is not necessarily true for civilian models.
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Other Ranged Weaps

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Rodenator was originally intended for killing rodents; However, the exact same principles apply to skinjobs.

Agricultural Flamethrowers:
Though not as cool as military flamethrowers, agricultural flamethrowers can prove to be insurmountably useful in the actual kill phase, after a skin job has been crippled (by breaking the spine, most likely) by pointing the weapon at the skull of the skin job and firing. The heat will cause the brains to cook, which quickly causes them to expand, cracking the skull open and spraying the brains out (and everywhere, so be sure to wear a suit that is proofed against bodily fluids). However, this is very clearly a domination and devastation weapon, NOT an escape and survival weapon. It is completely unsuited to survival, and should be discarded or not even touched to begin with during the initial phases of the outbreak, unless used for setting massive multi=structure fires to stall the skin jobs and, hopefully, to set them alight while you’re running away (eventually killing them in about 3 to 6 days). However, with as little as three days rest, recovery, and rebuilding, you can be ready to take on every lasts dirty damned skinjob packing one of these in a five to six man fire team (no pun intended).
Fire As A Weapon:
Fire is one of mankind’s oldest tools- And therefore one of mankind’s oldest weaps. However, fire has also been described as a living creature, with a mind of it’s own. And with good cause- Once you turn the fire demon loose, it tends to do whatever the Hell it likes.
Fire should only be used under a few, specific, circumstances:
1. Against Dead Skin Jobs: Piles of dead skin jobs can be disposed of with relative ease and rather quickly. However, an alternative to fire is wood chippers (where the dead skin jobs can then be used as fertilizer for your rose gardens).
2. Against Crippled Skin Jobs: Crippled skin jobs can not run away. They will burn to death right there, cursing you in their undeath and begging you to bash their brains in. Don’t bother, they’ll be dead soon enough.
3. Against Trapped Skin Jobs: If they can’t run away, they can’t spread the fire beyond there. Ensure the trapping mechanism, however, isn’t flammable.
4. When Collateral Damage Is A Non-Issue: Against ‘wild’ skin jobs, one real and legitimate danger of fire is spreading. You set the skin job on fire, they run off and the fire spreads to a building- The building then catches on fire. With nothing to stop the fire from spreading, the whole building not only burns to the ground, but may well spread to another building, and another, and another.
SPECIAL NOTE: Just because you don’t care about collateral damage does not mean others will not. The collateral damage you cause may destroy other things, which someone else may have wanted to explore for possible salvage. Before starting such a campaign, thoroughly ensure there is no standing interest in this target. Additionally, special attention should be made to ensure that the fire does not spread beyond the city where this all out skin job Armageddon took place, especially in areas surrounded by woods or grain fields (including prairie grasses).
Fire, as a weap, has many pros- And just as many cons. It should be used judiciously and with due care and caution to what potential ramifications can ensue.

Ammo
Not every situation nessesarily requires standard ammo; There will be times when a less-than-leathal option is ideal.
Taser XREP:	Rubber Projectiles:
This Taser XREP can deliver a wireless electric shock from over 1ØØ feet away, and from the looks of it, you don’t want to be on its receiving end. Its Neuro-Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) is the same disabling effect delivered by wired Taser weapons. Loaded into an ordinary 12-gauge shotgun, it’s designed into a 14-gram package small enough to fit into a gun barrel, yet it can travel at 3ØØ feet per second. As the self-contained XREP wireless Taser round exits the shotgun barrel, three fins pop out to stabilize it as it flies through the air. Its four electrodes on the front each have a barb that can penetrate clothing and embed itself into the body of its victim. It will continue shocking its victim for 2Ø seconds, giving the officers enough time to apprehend the suspect. Field testing for this scary weapon begins this fall, but it probably won’t go into widespread use until a year later. (Original article by Charlie WHITE.)	Rubber bullets are rubber or rubber-coated projectiles fired from firearms. They are usually non-lethal, unless fired at short range, but are often heavy enough to pierce skin. Rubber, plastic, wax, and wooden bullets are often used in riot control and to disperse protests. Rubber bullets may also be used for short range target practice.
Tranquilizer Dart:	Dum-Dums:
Tranquilliser darts are non-lethal darts filled with tranquilliser that, when injected, make the target fall to sleep. Tranquilliser guns have a long history of being used to capture wildlife without injury. Most tranquilliser darts are fired from a .410 gge shotgun, but they can be can also be shot by crossbow or breath-powered blowgun. On impact with the animal, the inertial momentum of a ball bearing at the rear of the dart injects the dose of barbiturate or other drug into the animal, causing torpor and prostration within minutes. Because of the power of the drugs the handlers then have to move quickly to secure the animal for transport, monitor its vital signs, protect its eyes and ears, and then inject antidotes when needed. Many large animals are acutely sensitive to stress and can easily die without careful treatment; In order to counter stress in targeted animals the gun is quiet, and there is often a valve on the gun to control the dart velocity.	“Dum-dums” (sometimes called “expanding bullets”, a name applied after the fact of development and therefore NOT the proper name) were developed by the British at the Dum-Dum Arsenal near Calcutta, India, around 1890 from standard .303 jacketed rounds for the “Express” rifle. They work by having an exposed lead core, which expands on impact up to 3× the original size. A common civilian trick to obtaining Dum-Dums is to take a hacksaw and cut an “X” shaped pattern on the tip. NOTE: Dum-Dums are beyond illegal in civilian use; Possession of even ONE Dum-Dum can carry up to a life without possibility of parole sentence in some area, EVEN WHEN THE ROUND HAS NOT BEEN DISCHARGED. Certain exceptions apply to Law Enforcement personnel, but even this is rare. In warfare, possession of one Dum-Dum is a crime under the Hague Convention of 1899 (Declaration III), and can get the warrior killed then and there. Against skin jobs, however, these rules will not apply; Any competent authority that DOES take the time to bother to wonder will have either have more pressing concerns to deal with at the moment, or will only inquire during a slow moment in order to find out if you still have the hacksaw.

Further Information:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=kickedintheballs2000&p=r