What's better for killing zombies, rifle calibers or pistol calibers?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What's better for killing zombies, rifle calibers or pistol calibers?

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:25:04 PM EDT

Would you go with an AR in 5.56 or an MP5 in 9mm?

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:26:31 PM EDT

[#1]

I would prefer my AR. I'd say whatever you are more proficient with.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:27:18 PM EDT

[#2]

Whichever one I choose, I'd add a red dot sight and a suppressor. Those two are a must for zombie defense.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:27:33 PM EDT

[#3]

Distance is my Deciding factor.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:28:03 PM EDT

[#4]

Neither. If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function as a zombie for the remainder of the time it will be a threat to you.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:28:22 PM EDT

[#5]

Since headshots are key, 2.23 seems like the best option. Flat trajectory plus low recoil plus small round you can carry a lot of.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:30:19 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Since headshots are key, 2.23 seems like the best option. Flat trajectory plus low recoil plus small round you can carry a lot of.

+1.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:31:32 PM EDT

[#7]

rimfire

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:32:18 PM EDT

[#8]

both

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:33:35 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Neither. If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function as a zombie for the remainder of the time it will be a threat to you.

Idiot. Shots to the body do nothing.

You must destroy the brain, or spinal column.

Also, it is well known that zombie flesh is often too decomposed and thin to get reliable fragmentation of standard 5.56 rounds.

Between 9mm and 5.56, of course, the answer is 5.56. I would prefer a nice 50gr VMAX if I had my choice.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:39:53 PM EDT

[#10]

Bama-shooter....

Zombies?

Post more pics of your beautiful bride!

Sorry, you're a lucky man!

I'd go with whatever you can get the head shot with on the zombies.

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:54:51 PM EDT

[#11]

Head shots with .223/5.56 or .22

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:57:27 PM EDT

[#12]

Both is the correct answer

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:59:25 PM EDT

[#13]

"Listen up, you primitive screwheads! This is my BOOMSTICK!"

Either that or a baseball bat.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:00:17 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Bama-shooter....

Zombies?

Post more pics of your beautiful bride!

Sorry, you're a lucky man!

I'd go with whatever you can get the head shot with on the zombies.

Thank you. She mentioned wanting do some more dinner pics when we have a kid free weekend.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:02:35 PM EDT

[#15]

5.56 is good, but supersonic. Even suppressed you'll get a "crack" that will draw other zombies. 9mm subsonic in a supressed MP5. It's effective and won't draw more trouble to you. Sure, you have limited range, but zombies can't hurt you if they can't touch you. You don't need long range.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:02:43 PM EDT

[#16]

for <100 yards I'd go with a .22lr for the undead. You have to shoot them in the head anyway. You can carry several bricks and shoot all day, making it ideal for the task. You can use high velocity or subsonic.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:04:04 PM EDT

[#17]

A nice scoped 10/22 whilst perched on top of a shopping mall, a whole shitload of ammo, and a Hooters Girl to reload the magazines.

Let the bodies hit the floor.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:06:23 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function....

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:09:16 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function....

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a winner for the first idiot to run out of ammo and get eaten.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:13:10 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function....

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a winner for the first idiot to run out of ammo and get eaten.

+1

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:24:32 PM EDT

[#21]

It depends which documentary is correct.

In Resident Evil severe trauma to the brain could cause the deanimation of a zombie. At least one ~~died~~ redied from striking it's head against a wall after being forcefully kicked. In this case I think the 9mm would be adequate.

However in most of the other documentaries the brain must be destroyed, The extra KE of the 5.56 gives it a decided advantage here. Therefore the 5.56 is the way to go. Also the 5.56 as a slight advantage in weight. IMHO it is easier to handle to do it's length (more to hold on to).

For zombies I'd go with M193. While a soft point will usually be able to penetrate the skull, I want the extra insurance of FMJ to penetrate bone and destroy grey matter.

ETA: Just reread the comments about the 22lr. I have a couple of 22s and a couple bricks of ammo. But I'm not sure how much I trust a 22 to reliably penetrate the skull. Also the documentaries are often unclear as to just how much of the brain must be destroyed to deanimate a zombie. Therefore there is a risk that even a perfect head shot could leave enough of the zombie's brain intact to allow them to remain animated.

ps I really love zombie threads

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:25:44 PM EDT

[#22]

If these are classic zombies, meaning a headshot will kill them straight out, I would opt for a 10/22. Its light, simple, has a large ammo capacity, and I can carry a TON of .22 ammo. The .22 round wouldnt have any problem providing fatal headshots.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:27:52 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function....

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a winner for the first idiot to run out of ammo and get eaten.

+1

But I thought the meer sound of racking the shotgun would cause the zombies to just re-die on the spot. Did I miss something?

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:32:50 PM EDT

[#24]

This is a quote that I think says it all!

Quoted:
You guys have it all wrong!

Ammo arguments are nothing more than an exercise in mental masturbation. Whether you are trying to protect yourself from zombies or from the cast of FRIENDS.

ONLY HEAD SHOTS COUNT!

The specific load is secondary or even tertiary to shot placement and tactics. If you miss that head shot and you are stark naked in your driveway in the snow, the zombie isn't going to be repelled by the awesome sight and sound of a bunch of steel-case-commie-crap-ammo empty cases on the ground. Same goes for the box of M193 serving as nothing more than a white-trash cooler keeping your Coors Lights at drinking temperature (whatever that may be).

Get that head shot off the first time, every time! Lots of gooey bits behind the eyes and nose that will incapacitate your reanimated human so they can serve as a flower bed come spring. You will know the zombies I drop from the tell tale signs of racer934 dropping those stinking, shuffling, mumbling ~~crack heads~~ zombies because they will be face down/ass up with a rose bush growing out of their once reanimated rectums.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:39:26 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you're not using a shotgun, you won't inflict enough damage to the zombied body to destroy it's ability to function....

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a winner for the first idiot to run out of ammo and get eaten.

+1

But I thought the meer sound of racking the shotgun would cause the zombies to just re-die on the spot. Did I miss something?

Zatu - Where have you been getting your information? You are terribly misinformed. Let me recommend that you watch some of the documentaries. Shawn of the Dead is a good light hearted one. I view this as much as a gateway drug as a documentary. Dawn of the Dead 2004 is very entertaining, however the running zombies make it more of a mockumentary than a documentary.

TUMOR - Please read the advise I gave to Zatu because it applies to you as well.

TheRedHorseman and JBowles - Your zombie-fu is strong.

gus - I think you are just joking. But if you are serious you too should read the advice I gave to Zatu.

While the shotgun is a very effective weapon, it really is a poor choice in a zombie defence arm. Its heavy recoil will slow down your rate of fire. Its limited ammo capacity is means you are likely need to reload at a critical moment. Lastly the weight of it's ammo will either prevent you from carrying enough, slow you down or both. A shotgun should not be your first choice in a zombie defence arm.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:41:50 PM EDT

[#26]

Every needs to read Day to Day Armageddon aswell

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:44:30 PM EDT

[#27]

Looks like you guys havent been reading your:

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:45:58 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
Looks like you guys havent been reading your:

www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/zombie_survival_guide.jpg

good book but flawed in some regards. a suppressed semi auto rimfire would be the best possible weapon for zombies.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:48:50 PM EDT

[#29]

It depends.

Each has its own advantages. If you were clearing a building, the MP5/9mm would be my pick. The MP5 is a smaller weapon which give you an advantage in tight spaces and going around corners.

The AR/.223 holds the advantage in a more open setting. Not to mention, but the weight of the rounds between the .223 and 9mm is nearly the same.

Now, if you were holed up on a rooftop, I would prefer a 10/22 and a few bricks of .22LR.

So, it depends on what you envision your defense scenario to be. If it is undetermined, I'd have to default to the AR/.223.

You do need a reliable hi-cap backup pistol though. My personal favorite is the BHP.

J. Reno
Undead Elimination Specialist
"I make dead things deader."

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:50:29 PM EDT

[#30]

The way things have been around here for the past few weeks, I can definately tell ya that a .45 will do the job.

Swat out.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:57:14 PM EDT

[#31]

While I still stand by my "suppressed semi-auto" statement earlier, I must aslo add that with prices being what they are, there's no excuse to buy cheap C&R rifle and several thousand rounds of cheap surplus ammo in case you get stuck at home and need to spend some time clearing the neighborhood from your rooftop.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:58:14 PM EDT

[#32]

AR in 5.56

if its a pisol caliber: .45acp or 10mm

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What's better for killing zombies, rifle calibers or pistol calibers?

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