Although many gun enthusiasts have tired of the “zombie” gun craze, the notion of having a couple go-to guns in times of crisis is something we can all get onboard with. So here’s the TAG Team’s choices for a sidearm and long gun they’d reach for in an end of the world, dystopian, societal collapse, zombie-apocalypse-type-situation. Give us your selections in the comments below, or give us your thoughts on our choices!
Handgun: CZ-75 (left) – For a full size double stack 9mm pistol, its ergonomics are difficult to beat. I’m also more accurate with that gun than any other pistol, which is something I value for a gun to which I’m trusting my life.
Long gun: AK-74 (below)- This was a toughie. I like both AR- and AK-style rifles, but out of my personal firearms collection, my AK-74 outperforms my AR-15 in reliability. I’d want that peace of mind in a SHTF scenario. It also doesn’t hurt that 5.45 is reasonably affordable and not too difficult to acquire, has decent range, and is light enough for me to tote a substantial amount of it.
Handgun: Glock 19 (left)
There are a bunch of light, relatively high-capacity, reliable handguns out there that would serve my purpose. However, I have more trigger time in on Glocks, so one major reason for selecting one would be my comfort level. Another reason is that their parts are somewhat interchangeable and there have been more of them produced than most other handguns. I think I’d be more likely to come across other 9mm pistols in the field, and that could prove useful in keeping the gun in working order. I’d go 9mm for weight-to-capacity ratio and for ammo supply. I’d go G34, but I’d be starting in the city, and concealment could be to my advantage. Also, I’d likely be on foot at some point and I’d want to save the weight.
Long gun: Remington 870 (below)
I’d hate to lug the weight of the 870, and in a lot of scenarios I’d choose differently. With limited knowledge, I’d want to go with a pump shotgun because of its multipurpose nature. I’d at least start out with a gun that let me fill several purposes (until I depleted my shell stash). Again, I have the most trigger time in on the 870, so I’d pick it over Mossbergs and other options. They are everywhere and I’d be likely to find multiples (for parts). In addition, I think if I could get my hands on some primers, I could find a way to reload for it more readily than many other long guns.
Handgun: Glock 17 (left)
Okay, so my mindset here would be survivability. Considering that during a zombie apocalypse there would probably be limited resources, I have to base my decisions on ammo availability, firearm reliability and function. Nine-millimeter will be all over the place to trade for, steal, or pick up. Glock has proven its reliability, and is extremely easy to take down, clean, and put back together, even in the dark. It also does not require a lot of lubrication to function.
Long gun: AK-47 variant (below)
7.62×39 may not be as readily available as .223/5.56 would be during a zombie crisis, but there will still be plenty of it around. Reliability? It’s an AK. Do I need to say more? It also needs little to no cleaning or lubrication, and is very easy to service in the field.
Handgun: Performance Center M&P R8 in .357 (left)
A high-quality revolver that holds eight rounds of .357, I think the M&P R8 would be an ideal sidearm in times of crisis because A.) You can shoot either .38 Specials (and +P) or .357s from it—helping to improve your chances of finding shootable ammo when scavenging B.) You can’t beat a revolver for reliability, and C.) It fires a round potent enough to stop both two-legged predators and larger game.
Long gun: Remington 870 (below)
No, it’s not glamorous choice, but 12 gauge ammo is easy to come by, has plenty of stopping power, and is versatile: The 870 can shoot birdshot, buckshot, or slugs, making it a great game-getter. Plus, given the popularity of the 870, replacement parts would be easier to come by than other long guns.
Handgun: Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm (left)
Until recently, I have not been a big fan of the “zombie craze”, nor did I subscribe to the dystopian theory. However, after becoming a fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead and after seeing the Hollywood blockbuster World War Z, I began to think “what if that REALLY did happen?” Even though my logical mind knows that this is scientifically and biologically impossible, I began to pick out my “zombie killing” (ZK) tools. My ZK handgun would be my trusty Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm. It’s light, easy to carry, holds a lot of rounds, it can take a beating and can go a while without cleaning.
Long gun:Bravo Company MFG (BCM) AR-15 (below)
I would have to chose my custom Bravo Company MFG (BCM) AR-15 with the 14.5″ barrel for my ZK long gun. BCM rifles are battle-proven, tough as nails, and accurate to a fault. If I needed to shoot on the move, shoot from a distance, or bash some zombie skull with my buttstock, the BCM rifle would do the job well. Equipped with SureFire 60 and 100 round magazines, I think I would be good to go. I’ve got to go. I hear someone moaning outside my window!
Handgun: Glock 17 (left)
The Glock 17 has and will remain my go-to pistol, most likely for forever. Extreme reliability with good accuracy, coupled with lightweight design and a bore axis that is unbeatable, makes the G17 my pick in the zombie apocalypse.
Long gun: AR-15 (below)
I don’t think I can really choose anything over a good old AR15. It’d be the perfect multi-purpose rifle for the task at hand. Lightweight, accurate at a reasonable distance, good ammo capacity and just plain fun to shoot. Yes, the AR15 will do.
Glocks are the AKs of the pistol world, so I’d go with the Glock 22, since the rounds are prevalent and you could probably pick up spare magazines and ammo off of zombified police officers.
Long gun: AK-101 (below)
The zombie apocalypse presents a myriad of problems to potential survivors. The first is that you may or may not have access to or time for cleaning supplies. What you need is a weapon that is rugged and can fire with little to zero maintenance or cleaning. For a long rifle, the Kalashnikov series comes to mind, but then we run into another problem: ammunition. Unless you have the time and materials to reload, ammunition will be scarce. The 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov round isn’t readily accessible in the United States, either. So, my solution is to go with a 5.56mm Kalashnikov platform, such as the AK-101. That way, you combine reliability with ammunition access.
Handgun: Springfield XDm .40 (left)
To protect myself from non-zombie threats, I’d choose my XDm 4.5″ .40 caliber. The capacity is nice (16 rounds) and it’s what I’m most comfortable shooting. I like the pistol and I like the round. It works well for me and I trust it.
Long gun: Ruger 10/22 (below)
I would choose the Ruger 10/22 for its quietness and accuracy. The round should be more than enough to head-shot and put down a zombie, plus, you can carry a ton of ammo without much effort.
Featured image courtesy of Resident Evil: Afterlife.
