For an explanation of kinds of firearm here. If you are looking for information about a specific model, check out the review page. This page is for the heavy steel, the machines that put out a lot of damage and need a lot of know-how and maintenance to function properly. Feel free to add to it if you find a gun that hasn't been added. The format for entries is below:

Model: This model number of this year. Tell the gun's story.

Where to find:
Who uses it and where would you find it? How are replacement parts?

Complexity:
How hard is it to maintain and use this weapon effectively?

Size and weight:
Barrel length, overall length weight in ounces and kilograms.

Action:
Is it autoloading? Single shot?

Caliber(s):
Primary chambering as well as other variations.

Magazine:
Type of magazine and capacity.

Trigger:
Trigger type and weight if available.

Controls:
Where the safeties, action releases and other controls are on the weapon, with pictures if possible.

Loading: How to load the firearm and make ready to fire.
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.

Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.

Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.

Unloading:
How to unload and make safe.

Field Stripping:
How to take down the weapon for cleaning, with pictures if possible.

Design Quirks:
Unique aspects of this gun.
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Where to find:
Who uses it and where would you find it? How are replacement parts?

Complexity:
How hard is it to maintain and use this weapon effectively?

Size and weight:
Barrel length, overall length weight in ounces and kilograms.

Action:
Is it autoloading? Single shot?

Caliber(s):
Primary chambering as well as other variations.

Magazine:
Type of magazine and capacity.

Trigger:
Trigger type and weight if available.

Controls:
Where the safeties, action releases and other controls are on the weapon, with pictures if possible.

Loading: How to load the firearm and make ready to fire.
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.

Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.

Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.

Unloading:
How to unload and make safe.

Field Stripping:
How to take down the weapon for cleaning, with pictures if possible.

Design Quirks:
Unique aspects of this gun.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Model: M79

The M79, nicknamed the "Blooper" or "Thumper", is a single-shot, break-open grenade launcher in use with almost 40 countries worldwide. It was produced in 1960 by the Springfield Armory as the very first low-pressure grenade launcher for infantry use. With the convenience of an infantry weapon, and the versatility of a squad level mortar, Vietnam proved the M79 a huge success.

However, a grenadier packing an M79 could at most, carry a pistol as a backup. He had no rifle to fight with at close range, and before the end of the war, the launcher that would become the M203 was developed. Mounted to a rifle, it allowed the grenadier to retain the same mid and close range combat capability as a rifleman, and the M79 was phased out of official service.

It is still in use with dozens of countries, and the Navy SEALS and Army Special Forces continue to use it due to its greater range than the M203 underbarrel grenade launcher that replaced it. For this same reason, it has recently seen a revival in the Middle East, for demolishing IEDs at a safe range.

Where to find:
While it was once in common use with the U.S. Army, it's now a rare weapon outside of the militaries of South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. However, it is still in use with some police forces as a riot control weapon, firing less-lethal rounds. Being a grenade launcher, it is classified as a destructive device and regulated accordingly. Any that can be purchased generally cost many thousands of dollars, not including ammo costs - every single grenade needs to be individually registered.

Complexity:
The break-open design is very simple to use, and there are few controls to learn. The most complicated part is the adjustable sight,

Size and weight:
Weight 95 ounces (2.6 kg) unloaded. Length 731mm. Barrel 355mm.

Action:
Single-shot, break-open.

Caliber(s):
40x46mm low pressure grenade and less-lethal rounds.

Magazine:
Single shot.

Trigger:
Single action.

Controls:
The M79 has oft been compared to a break-open shotgun not only because of it's aesthetic similarity, but also if it's similar operation.

The barrel locking latch is just behind the barrel, pushed to the right to release the barrel. Opening the breach both cocks the hammer and applies the safety, which sits directly behind the lever. Push forward to fire, push back for safe. An F or S is visible to indicate the current position. Closing the breech automatically snaps the latch into the closed position.

The M79 has an extractor that pushes out empty casings, but unlike a shotgun, it only partially exposes them so the shooter can reload, rather than completely ejecting them free of the breech.

There is a detent assembly in the trigger guard, which can be depressed to move the trigger guard left and right and fire while wearing gloves.

Loading:
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Needless to say, you do not want an "accidental discharge" with a grenade launcher.
2) Press the barrel locking lever all the way to the right and rotate the barrel down. This cocks the hammer and engages the safety.
3) Insert a grenade into the breech.
4) Rotate the barrel upward until it locks into the frame. The barrel latch should automatically snap to the closed position.
5) Ensure that the gun is on safe.

Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
The hammer is always cocked if the weapon is loaded, making this impossible. However, in Vietnam, it was a common practice to carry the weapon with the barrel open, to be quickly loaded, as the mechanical safety was not trusted.

Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
Lacking a magazine, this is impossible for the M79.

Unloading:
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Needless to say, you do not want an "accidental discharge" with a grenade launcher.
2) Press the barrel locking lever all the way to the right and rotate the barrel down. The safety will automatically engage.
3) Pull the extractor tang back if necessary and pull out the spent round.
4) Close the breech and pull the trigger. The hammer should snap on an empty chamber.

Field Stripping:
1) Ensure that the weapon is unloaded and safety applied.
2) Remove the retaining band screw, which passes through the rear of the front sling swivel mount, and pull the fore-end assembly away from the barrel.
3) Press the barrel locking lever to the right and rotate the barrel down until it stops. Slide the barrel off the fulcrum pin and remove it from the receiver.
4) Remove the stock screw and washers and pull the stock rearward from the receiver.

Assembly
1) Place the lock washer on the stock screw and install the stock on the receiver.
2) Place the barrel on the fulcrum pin. Hold the cocking lever up, lower the barrel, and ensure that the cocking arm slides under the cocking lever. Close the barrel.
3) Place the fore-end assembly on the barrel and secure it by replacing the retaining band screw.

Design Quirks:
Compared to a break-open shotgun on a regular basis, the M79 does have a similar design, as well as the same rugged effectiveness in combat. Despite having a short service life, like many other products of the Vietnam era, the M79 is far from uncommon on battlegrounds around the world.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Model: M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon)

The US's take on the Panzerfaust, the LAW on paper is a wasteful, low powered relic of the Vietnam war. However, it's light weight and sufficient firepower has granted a long life in the armories of over forty nations. While the original contractor, the US Army has dropped it, the US Marines have made large purchases for use in urban warfare, and it is a staple of special forces armories.

The primary advantage of the M72 is identical to that of the Panzerfaust; rather than a dedicated anti-tank team, each infantryman could carry a number of rockets, increasing the unit's flexibility on the whole. However, with advances in modern armor, the LAW is relatively ineffective in it's intended role. It is more suited to urban warfare, where light, unarmored "technicals" and entrenched infantry is the biggest concern. In this role, it excels.

Where to find:
The LAW is one of the more common designs out there. In addition to widespread imitation and use by a number of third world nations, it's unique perks have kept it strong in the armories of modern militaries.

Complexity:
Maintenance is non-existent on the user end, and usage is fairly simple as it is a disposable weapon.

Size and weight:
Weight 105 ounces (2.5 kg) completed. Collapsed length 612.5mm Extended length 825mm.

Variants tend to be somewhat larger and heavier.

Action:
Is it autoloading? Single shot?

Caliber(s):
66mm Rocket.

Magazine:
Single shot disposable launcher.

Trigger:
A single action trigger set in the top of the launcher, cocked upon open the launcher.

Controls:
There are few controls on the LAW. The end caps and sling mounts are held in place by a pin on the rear of the launcher. The front sight and rear sight are spring loaded, popping into place when launcher is extended. Directly in front of the rear sight is the trigger, and in front of that is the safety, which is pulled forward before firing. A second button in front of the safety is used to collapse the launcher.

Loading:
The weapon does not have to be loaded, but there is still a process to put the LAW into a ready-to-fire state. The launcher itself has instructions.
1) Remove the pin from the rear of the launcher and remove the end cap. This will cause the front cap and sling to fall from the launcher.
2) Firmly grasp the ends of the launcher and pull them open until it locks. The sights should pop up.
3) Shoulder the launcher and deactivate the safety by pulling it forward. Be sure to grasp the plastic part of the tube, not the barrel.
4) Being sure of the area fifty feet behind you, squeeze the trigger

Unloading:
1) Activate the safety by pushing it inwards.
2) Push the button in front of the trigger, and collapse the tube partially.
3) Fold the front, then the rear sight, continuing to collapse the tube so they are held in place.
4) Recover the front cap and place it onto the launcher, threading the sling onto the rear cap.
5) Replace the rear end cap and re-insert the safety pin.

It's quite a pain to collapse the tube. Hang on to all the components, or, better yet, only open the tube when deployment is certain. Another important note is that the round is only water tight until opened for the first time.

Field Stripping:
This does not apply to this weapon.

Design Quirks:
The LAW design is widely copied. Both Russia and China have made their own versions of the design, and several different manufactures have made the original launcher. It's a handy weapon ideally suited to today's battlefields.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Model: Carl Gustav Recoiless Rifle
A long-lived product of World War Two, the Carl Gustav is a Swedish series of recoiless rifles named after the philosopher Carl Gustav Jung. Essentially, they're a breach loading artillery piece modified to vent firing gasses through the rear of the launcher to balance recoil, like a rocket-propelled grenade. They're more than sufficient at knocking out slightly dated Cold-War tanks, as are still common, and light vehicles, as well as structures. In short, they're good for blasting the hell out of something.

It's simple, effective design has made it one of the most common launchers around the world, as a weapon in direct competition with the RPG-7. A huge variety of ammunition grants incredible flexibility, and the design has been updated several times to keep up with the tide of war. Despite these advantages, the Carl Gustav has two main problems.

For one, the weapon is incredibly heavy, as well as bulky. The original designed weighed over thirty pounds because of the all-steel construction. The M3, while almost half the weight, is still not light enough to be anything other than a dedicated anti-tank gunner weapon, or a bunker buster. In addition, for such a simple design, the Carl Gustav is quite complex to maintain and use properly.

Where to find:
The Carl Gustav is still common in the armories of nations like the USA, Canada and Britain, as well as being the primary anti-tank weapon a number of European armies. Even when it is no longer a standard issue weapon, recoiless rifles tend to be somewhat favored by special operations units.

Complexity:
Truth be told, the Carl Gustav takes a brain to shoot, and not everyone should be trusted with it. Simply loading and firing the weapon takes some excellent teamwork between gunner and assistant, with multiple safeties to handle. Maintenance, too, is difficult. The breech and gas ports base of the ammunition must be meticulously taken care of, or else the delicate recoil counterbalancing could fail and cause the launcher to jolt forward or backward with the force of the rocket. Safety precautions must be strictly adhered to as well, as the backblast of such a weapon is truly nasty.

Size and weight:
M2: Weight 576 ounces (16.35 kg) unloaded. Length 1100mm.*
M3: Weight 299 ounces (8.5 kg) unloaded. Length 1065mm.*

*The barrel is essentially the full length of the weapon as it is loaded in the rear.

The M3 uses a carbon-fiber barrel to cut weight. It's distinguishing trait is the carry handle on the top of the weapon.

Action:
Single shot breach loading

Caliber(s):
84mm shell.

The variety of ammunition is truly staggering. With standard HEAT shells, High-Explosive-Dual-Purpose (HEDP, which can even be set to air-burst), illumination flares, smoke rounds, training rounds, and even second generation rocket-assisted HEAT shells with tandem warheads to defeat reactive armor.

An interesting point is while the ammo is a cross between cannon rounds and rockets, they are considered grenades. Indeed, the Swedish name for the weapon is "Grenade-rifle."

Magazine:
Single shot breech loading.

Trigger:
A percussion mechanism with a conventional trigger in the pistol grip housing.

Controls:
The rear grip contains the trigger, as well as the manual safety and cocking lever. The entire unit is moved rearwards to unlock the breech. The breech, with the recoil balancing nozzle, is called the Venturi Nozzle. It is locked by a lever on the right side, called the "Venturi Lock," and swings to the left for loading.

The Carl Gustav generally comes with a optical sight with x2 magnification, but it may also be found with starlight sights or plain iron sights. A bipod or tripod may be found as well.

Loading:
This is a complex process that is best carried out with two people. The process for firing with a single person will be detailed as well. However, note that heat-resistant gloves are needed to handle the shells, and high-quality ear protection is absolutely mandatory.

It is important to understand that the recoiless rifle is not normally carried in a ready-to-fire state. It is not loaded until absolutely necessary.

Gunner with Assistant
1) Gunner, carrying the launcher, should activate the safety, and push the cocking lever forward. They will then call for the type of ammunition required.
2) Assistant unlocks the Venturi Nozzle using the Venturi Lock, then examines the bore for any obstruction.
3) Assistant picks up the round and inserts it, lining up the notch in the round with the top of the breech.
4) Assistant firmly locks the Venturi Nozzle into place and slaps the Venturi Lock to secure it.
5) Assistant checks the ground behind the launcher for at least thirty meters for anything that could be damaged by the backblast, or reflect it back towards the team.
6) Assistant verbally states the weapon is loaded and slaps the gunner to indicate they are ready to fire. At this point, they should either sit directly beside the gunner to avoid muzzle blast, or take cover several feet away.
7) The gunner may or may not ask for a range indication at this point. They will pull the grip rearward to lock the breech, and deactivate the safety, lining up the sights with the target.
8) Gunner gives a verbal indication he is firing and squeezes the trigger.

Gunner without assistant
1) Activate the safety, and push the cocking lever forward.
2) Brace the weapon so that the breech can be accessed. Avoid sticking the barrel in the dirt, as this can create debris in the bore. It may be better to cradle the launcher against your chest and operate the breech with the right hand.
3) Slap the Venturi lock open and pull open the Venturi Nozzle. Take a glance down the bore to check for obstructions.
4) Insert the round, lining the notch with the top of the breech. Seat it firmly.
5) Close the breech and slap the Venturi Lock closed.
6) Check the area behind the launcher for at least thirty meters for anything that could be harmed by backblast, and any object that could reflect it back towards you.
7) Shoulder the weapon and pull the grip rearward to lock the breech. Deactivate the safety.
8) Squeeze the trigger.

Unloading:

Gunner with Assistant
1) Gunner, carrying the launcher, should activate the safety. They will then call for the assistant to unload the weapon.
2) Assistant slaps the Venturi Lock and slides open the Venturi Nozzle.
3) Using a heat resistant glove, the Assistant hooks a finger into the notch in the shell rim and removes it from the breech.*
4) Assistant examines the bore to ensure it is empty. They then slide the Venturi Nozzle shut and slap the Venturi Lock.
5) Assistant verbally calls that the breech is clear.
6) Gunner pulls the grip rearward to lock the breech and deactivates the safety.
7) Gunner dry-fires to clear the weapon.

Gunner without Assistant
1) Activate the safety.
2) Brace the weapon so that the breech can be accessed. Avoid sticking the barrel in the dirt, as this can create debris in the bore. It may be better to cradle the launcher against your chest and operate the breech with the right hand.
3) Slap the Venturi lock open and pull open the Venturi Nozzle.
4) With heat-resistant glove, hook a finger into the notch in the shell rim and remove it from the breech.*
5) Visually confirm the breech is empty.
6) Slide the Venturi Nozzle closed and slap the Venturi Lock.
7) Shoulder the weapon and pull the grip rearward to lock the breech. Deactivate the safety.
8) Squeeze the trigger to clear the weapon.

*When reloading, skip directly to the loading process after this step.

Field Stripping:
The Carl Gustav is a very simple weapon, albeit high maintenance. It doesn't require regularly dissemble, but care must be made to keep the nozzle, and the bore itself, very clean.

Design Quirks:
The Carl Gustav is a high performance platform that requires a very competent crew to operate and must be maintained meticulously for it's simple action to function. Compared to a weapon like the RPG-7, or the SMAW, it's much less intuitive to use but more flexible, and potentially much more powerful. Another important difference is that the shells have a higher velocity than most rockets and a very flat trajectory, contributing to excellent accuracy.

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The Rules - What you should know before reading these pages and handling weapons.
Firearms - A basic guide to different types of firearms.
Accessories - The add-ons that may just give you an edge in that gunfight.
Ammunition - An overview of types of ammo and reloading.
Weapons reviews - A user-created database of reviews for various zombie-slaying implements.
Handguns, Rifles, Shotguns, Heavy Weaponry - A user-created guide to using and maintaining firearms you are likely to come across.