ZOMBIE SURVIVAL PART I

First you must defend

YOURSELF

I was thinking of what to write about, and I thought about a book that i am reading via my loverly wife for valentines day "The Zombie Survival Guide" Max Brooks. This hypothetical subject comes up for me in discussion every so often, (due to boredom at work combined with a bunch of gung ho macho men) and back home my zombie killer accomplice Cody and I spent many a sleepless night contemplating the event of a "zombie Apocalypse".

I'm not going to go into great detail, if you want that, get the book and do some research for yourself, but I am going to point out a few things that might not have come to your mind.

For the examples of what I am going to give you are for a class 3 or 4 infestation. (worldwide)

And yes, if you havent caught on already, I AM INDEED an army NERD

First, let me dispel the idea that the bigger the guns the better off you are. You dont need to go Rambo on Zombies. M240b and m2.50 will be virtually useless for the fact that they are not mobile an ,important factor. It is too easy to get overrun and you need to be able to quickly abandon your current position. Heavy machine guns even the Army's SAW(squad automatic weapon) weighs 17 lbs without ammo. Heavy machine guns weigh at least 27 lbs+ this is not tactical. They also not only burn through ammo quicker, but with the extra firepower comes the temptation to not make shots count, therefore wasting ammo. Not cool.

A factor that a lot of people don't think about, is that zombies don't have super telekinetic power, they respond to sound and sight just as humans do. They react to the sound of us, the scuffing of our feet, the sound of us talking and They respond to each others moans.(their only form of communication, (which signals others of close dinner) What easier way to acquire prey than to go towards THE SOUND OF FRIGGING GUNFIRE!!! SERIOUSLY! This observation would show that silent weapons would show a tactical advantage towards the living dead. Compact bows for example are (after becoming fluent with it) an excellent choice to eliminate said dead. Crossbows are another nifty device in infected disposal.

I'm not saying that firearms do not have their place, but you must take into account ammo, cleaning, maintenance and upkeep, and sound. When choosing your firearm of choice, first think of ammo availability. What caliber of rounds are easily accessible? Second, the complexity of the firearm. A good thing about civilian VS. military weaponry in general is that the former are less complex, easier to maintain, and therefore, clean and upkeep, and disassemble in case of emergency to correct a malfunction in a hurry. A good example of all of these factors would be a Ruger mini 14 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Mini-14 or some sort of a .22 rifle. Though not the stopping power of a 30.06 or a .308, rounds will be relatively easily to come by (any gun outlet, military supply or even Wal Mart will Carry these rounds) but also their semi automatic capabilities and general easy to use nature will be priceless factors while fighting the living dead.

**For sidearms including pistols and shotguns use same logic as applied for the rifle. Ammo **availability and maintenance, along with tactical advantage. Dont go get a stinking Desert **Eagle, get something more practical and with less recoil. But try to go with a bigger cal. than **a .9mm. Though its easy to come by ammo, you will want more stopping power than **a .9. Good alternatives would be a .40 or a .45

You will also need to add to your inventory a weapon which requires no ammo. Now, there are many options for this. Everything from an aluminum bat to a crowbar will work, but you need to take in factors of wear and tear and usage. For example, while a Katana might get the job done, you must be skilled with this weapon, and chances are you own a replica that is not meant to be slicing through undead cartilage for days on end. Crowbars are great since they have multiple applications but who wants to tote around an 11lb bar? Try to stick to the fallowing,

Machetes- easy to maintain and sharpen and easy to transport.

My personal favorite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench_knife But make sure you get the one you use has the brass knuckle attatchment.

*Another excellent selection if you can find it. http://media.photobucket.com/image/shaolin%20spade/sirrapealot90210/78_big.jpg

* This weapon is great for decapitating at long ranges, and the longer you keep the living dead away, the more promising your future looks.

Next blog I will cover

Location of defense

Choosing Residence

Defending your Stronghold