Hey peeps, this is Smiling Wolf - I was an admin of the Last Stand Wiki and I also love PMG; I used it all the time and when I found this place, I thought I'd drop by and contribute some of my creations!
Being an overall zombie fan, I've been thinking about what kind of cool weaponry I would like to scavenge if ZSHTF should happen, and that it would give me a good excuse to use PMG as it was intended - to be a close-to-real-world weapon builder. So here are some of my choices for either my backpack or my underground shelter!
Feel free to add your personal opinions and suggestions for the arsenal in the comments.
Note: I am not a gun owner; the stuff written here is purely conjecture and made in the interest of good fun, and though I might not cover all points, my opinions are all derived from good research. I also do not take responsibility for any reader's real-life gun-related decisions - wise or unwise - that may result from reading this article.
Basic Canadian Firearms Laws[]
Us poor canucks will be forced to deal with the aftermath of these laws in the zombie apocalypse. They have also determined what I've put on the list.
Note: these laws are subject to change according to current politics, but the recommendations will generally be the same if rule of law becomes absent.
- Center-fire and rim-fire handguns can hold 10 rounds max in the magazine. Must have a barrel-length no less than 105mm (~4.13 inches) to be allowable for commercial sale.
- Center-fire rifles can hold 5 rounds max, but "pistol" mags that can hold more are allowed in any mag-fed designs.
- Shotguns and rim-fire rifles have no capacity limit (unless it's fed by a box magazine).
- Certain guns are banned due to cosmetic features or "just because". (AKs, FALs, G3s, Galils, etc.)
Disclaimer: Certain magazines pinned to 5 rounds (for rifles) or 10 rounds (for semi-auto pistols) can be unpinned to full capacity. Very illegal under current Rule of Law, so DO NOT TRY.
Recommended Calibers (North American Apocalypse)[]
These are the most common and effective firearm calibers that are most likely to be available after a North American zombie apocalypse, which have also determined which guns I've put on this list. The theme should be pretty obvious! Calibers that I won't mention are considered too uncommon or exotic to be practical (in my opinion).
9x19mm Parabellum: A highly common and very versatile pistol cartridge used in countless handguns and SMGs around the world, striking a perfect balance between size, lethality, and overall ballistic performance among its peers. Developed by the Germans in 1902.
.45 ACP: A heavy American pistol cartridge developed in 1905 by John Moses Browning, which was eventually used to chamber his famous M1911 handgun. Its purported stopping power, in contrast to the 9mm Para, continues to be a subject of passionate debate among gun enthusiasts. Also used in many other pistols, and a handful of SMGs.
.223 Remington / 5.56x45mm NATO: Small, low-mass, high-velocity rifle cartridges designed for the American AR-15, which then became the M16 assault rifle. The .223 was developed first, and then evolved into the 5.56mm - an improved projectile that is currently the standard assault rifle and LMG cartridge of most first-world armies. The .223 continues to see use in many commercial rifles, and is no less potent. 5.56mm firearms can also chamber the .223 round, but not the reverse (unless it is a ".223 Wylde" chambering).
.308 Winchester / 7.62x51mm NATO: A shortened .30-06 round developed by the United States after WW2, first marketed as a commercial cartridge before being modified and adopted as the standard rifle and machine gun round for most NATO-aligned armies during the Cold War. Even with the eventual standardization of 5.56mm assault rifles, the 7.62mm NATO still serves in many machine guns, precision rifles, battle rifles, and commercial firearms. Both .308 and 7.62 firearms can chamber each other's respective cartridges interchangeably.
7.62x39mm M43: A short intermediate rifle round developed by the communist U.S.S.R. during late WW2. First used in the SKS carbine, it went on to be the cartridge for the infamous AK-47 assault rifle. Due to the proliferation of the AK, and multiple other military and recreational firearms chambered for this potent bullet, surplus and commercial stocks of this ammo are now widespread across the globe.
Other mentions:
.22 Long Rifle: A small and inexpensive American rimfire cartridge designed in the late 19th century, sold in bulk around the world for use in many pistols and recreational rifles. Not ideal for combatting bandits, but its deadliness against zombies and small game should not be overlooked.
.380 ACP: A small American pistol round introduced in 1908. It is used in a few SMG designs, but is mainly loaded into numerous compact pistols intended for personal defense - the most famous being the Walther PPK. The comparable 9mm Para is a superior cartridge overall, but the .380 is lighter to carry, generates less recoil, and is the most common of the least ubiquitous pistol calibers.
.357 Magnum / .38 Special: Common and popular revolver cartridges designed in the early 20th century, reknowned for delivering great stopping power. These rounds were also used in various rifles, and a small handful of niche semi-auto pistols. .357 firearms can also chamber the .38 round, but not the reverse.
.40 Smith & Wesson: A high-velocity handgun cartridge mainly adopted by law enforcement, which is basically a shortened 10mm Auto round. A stout caliber in semi-auto pistols, it was long-touted as a compromise between the more powerful 10mm and the softer-shooting 9mm Para. Unfortunately, it is being gradually phased out of service due to the "snappier" recoil and higher cost over 9mm, the added stress it exerts on its handguns, and the overall advancements of modern 9mm bullets. Regardless, this round remains in circulation due to those continuing to appreciate its unique ballistic qualities.
10mm Auto: A very powerful pistol round designed in 1983, which was then considered for use by the FBI in the aftermath of an infamous shootout. Agency tests found that the cartridge generated too much recoil for standard adoption - which then led to the development of the .40 S&W round, which has also fallen out of favour! As a result, this expensive niche cartridge has been experiencing a comeback with civilian shooters, certain law enforcement agencies, and some military units, many of whom abide by the fierce stopping power the 10mm provides for self-defense, hunting, and wilderness survival. 10mm guns can also feed and shoot the .40 S&W round.
FN SCAR Mk. 17 / 17S[]
SCAR 17S (top) and SCAR Mk. 17 CQC (bottom)
Of all the modern military small arms that are available today, the SCAR-H (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle - Heavy version) would be my top choice of tacti-cool survival rifle; should I live in a "perfect" world and the undead apocalypse were to ever occur while I'm in North America.
Yes, I know it's a Modern Warfare rifle, but my reasons for desiring it are real, as are the reasons why I'm not going to be getting one any time soon.
Setup[]
I don't expect to have all the "gizmos" on board when I pry one of these out of the cold dead hands of an Operator, but I can hope to have at least a few basic accessories: such as a scope/reflex sight of some kind (with the longest battery life if possible), a weapon light, and a foregrip. Any barrel length will be fine, though the "CQC" version would be the one I would choose to wield into every battle and mission.
So, I will have to admit that these setups right above are a little... well, "optimistic", but since we're dealing with the realm of science-fiction-horror I'm willing to partake in certain liberties.
Both of the first two dream guns have an extended handguard installed to give me more room to grip, and therefore help me control and manipulate the rifle better. It'll also get my hand out of the way of that pesky charging handle (which we'll cover later), and allow me more space to put on accessories, not to mention give the gun a more snug and streamline look.
The first setup would be my ultimate all-around workhorse, with a comfortable AFG and that sweet-looking ELCAN SpectreDR with the variable zoom - a sight I'd probably want for all my tacti-cool rifles. The laser device on the front is mainly just to look cool, though it does have an infrared light and laser that may help me shoot better with NVGs... but the cool points definitely come first. The next setup would be my "watchtower" rifle, a hunting rifle, or a SPR to help me scout out dangerous locations and/or snipe at Zed and other enemies, yet still be something slick that I can shoulder quickly and shoot on the fly.
There's also been recent developments on third-party lower receivers; designed to take very ubiquitous SR-25 pattern magazines, which will solve one of this rifle's most major gripes that will be mentioned later. Certainly rare and expensive (and requires an expert gun-smith to put together), but it would be an item any survivor will appreciate on their post-ZSHTF SCAR-H.
Advantages[]
High Versatility / Modularity / Ergonomics / Handling
My main reason for choosing this SCAR model is that unlike older battle rifles (such as the G3, FAL and M14), the SCAR-H was built to be a highly versatile platform right out of the box: there are an assortment of detachable barrel lengths available, has picatinny rails for mounting all sorts of accessories, and a good amount of aftermarket support. It also has a versatile adjustable/folding stock, allowing the rifle to be adjusted for personal comfort. Combined with its slick AR-15 style ergonomics, light-weight handling, lower recoil and ambi-controls, the weapon stands alone in the battle rifle category; resulting in a nimble package that can be used either outside and indoors, that's accurate and can hit hard at any range, provides great firepower, and can be kitted up any way you'd want.
Common Ammo
This SCAR model fires both the 7.62mm NATO cartridge used by most western militaries, and the popular .308 (Winchester or otherwise) round used in countless hunting rifles, which means abandoned military bases and outposts don't have to be my sole sources for replenishment.
High Reliability
The SCAR series is reputed to be a very reliable weapon system: it has proven its mettle in combat, thorough military testing, competitions and shooting classes, and in all sorts of environments with thousands of rounds fired, and the general consensus is that the platform just keeps on chugging. This can be attributed to the design of the piston operating system - which closely resembles that of the AK - and the design of the weapon itself, which is well-sealed from the elements.
Simplicity
Field-stripping and maintenance is a breeze: its basic components can be taken down with almost no tools, and there are very few parts that require looking over when you have them all spread out. Even simpler is the manual of arms, thanks to the reciprocating charging handle, which novices will find intuitive and provide a no-brainer experience that is - again - almost similar to an AK.
Ease of Storage
When the stock is folded, it makes for a compact package that's easy to stow in your backpack, vehicle, or lockup. You'd probably not want to fire the weapon with this stock folded, but it is otherwise a great feature to have when you're on the move and encounter environments where you don't want a long rifle getting in the way.
Disadvantages[]
The Charging Handle
The knob on the charging handle reciprocates; anyone unfortunate enough to place their thumb behind this charging handle will painfully learn why they shouldn't. And given how high the channel is on the receiver, pulling on it may also cause your hand to slam painfully into the mounting hardware of certain optics. Aftermarket solutions, orienting your doodads appropriately, and/or switching over the knob will help, but you'll still have to deal with a moving piece of metal/polymer that might snag on you or the environment.
Newer models of the SCAR now have a non-reciprocating handle... so why didn't they implement this design in the first place?! It boggles the mind...
Heavy Trigger
Seasoned users of the platform have stated that the standard trigger is gritty to pull and a little heavy, which affects the performance of the weapon for those who aren't used to it. High-dollar aftermarket trigger upgrades had been made to rectify this, but for a gun that's already exotic and high-dollar, one expects high-dollar performance out of the box!
The Shoulder Stock
The stock that comes standard with the SCAR is reported to be rickety and known to break in certain places - the reason being that it's mostly made of hollow plastic. Some aftermarket solutions have been made to solve this problem, but it remains a major issue when you consider the following:
Scarce Parts/Accessories
The SCAR series uses a lot of proprietary parts that are manufactured in Belgium and a single plant somewhere in the U.S. (as of present day), which are sent to wherever SOF guys use these guns. This means that repairs or parts replacement will be impossible should any aspect of your SCAR ever break; unless you happen to live near the factories, people, or military installations in question.
Scarce Magazines
Biggest turnoff of the SCAR-H by far is that magazines are very scarce: they're proprietary and always in short supply (especially to civilians), and it is likely that the military is hoarding most of what's available. Aftermarket magazines have recently appeared, but will likely be just as rare post-outbreak. FAL mags can be converted to fit into the rifle, but this process requires a lot of work. In all likelihood, be prepared to end up with a high-end single shot rifle.
Optics Breakage
The SCAR-H has also garnered a reputation for wearing out and breaking optics. This is caused by the unique recoil impulse of the heavy bolt carrier, which vibrates the gun in such a way that - over time - it rattles the insides of whatever scope or optic that is mounted onto it. For survivors who are not trigger happy (and thus live longest) this problem is unlikely to occur. Various high-quality optics have since been specifically designed to withstand such abuse, so keep an eye out.
Rarity
The military/police version is expensive and issued exclusively to SWAT teams and elite Special Forces guys, and the civilian-legal 17S model is no different; the ~$3000 price tag alone is enough to scare away demand and keep their numbers low on the shelves, and thus the wasteland. The fact that it's also banned in Canada doesn't help.
Conclusion[]
The SCAR-H being such a well-conceived, versatile and heavy-hitting tacti-cool rifle with unique looks, it's a shame that it's so exclusive to those with deep wallets, elite shoulder patches, and those who live just too darn south! Otherwise - with a modded lower receiver - this would be the coolest gun I'd want to carry against the Zed hordes. But unless DELTA force decides to join my survivor team or they happen to perish in front of my house, I'm not going to bother scouring the continent for one of these unicorns.
Not Recommended: really nice, but way too exotic.
Colt Canada C7A2[]
C7A2's in their most common setups
As a resident of that big friendly nation up north, the C7A2 is my most feasible choice of tacti-cool survival rifle. It is a slight upgrade of a M16 clone (the C7A1) with features that long preceded what you boys and girls in the U.S. eventually copied: such as a stiff cold-hammer forged barrel; a flat-top rail receiver w/ removable carrying handle; picatinny/weaver mounting points and ambi-controls. This model is currently the CDND's standard-issue assault rifle.
Setup[]
The typical setup for most Canadian soldiers is just a bulky rubber ELCAN C79 scope (exact model not shown) mounted onto the receiver to replace the detachable carrying handle, but I'm willing to work with this setup if that's all I can find. I've also seen other variations with a drop-in rail beneath the handguard for a folding VFG, and EOTechs w/ or w/o backup sights in place of the ELCAN, which I've tried to simulate here as well. Then there's the tiny sections of pic-rails below the triangular front sight - the "TRI-AD" - where I would most likely attach some kind of tactical light.
The basis for my ideal configs is to simply replace the plastic handguard with a RIS/UIS type: preferably something that's light weight, free-floats the barrel for increased accuracy, and provides a top monolithic rail for added rigidity - as well as give me tonnes more mounting options for accessories. With a long scope, bipod and match semi-auto trigger, the rifle would then be great as a DMR (first) so I can pick-off multiple Zed quickly and accurately at any range. My primary go-to-war setup (second) would likely have a versatile EOTECH/flip-magnifier combo. The final (third) solution would be to just Magpul the crap out of it - all for that trendy high-speed low-drag feel.
Advantages[]
Availability
It's the standard rifle of the Canadian military, so it's highly likely that the firepower will come to you. If not, there might be an Army Reserve regiment somewhere near your area, dozens of which are in our country operating close to the cities. This means (fortunately for us) that wherever there's a base full of weekend soldiers, there's likely a ready cache of military weaponry close by waiting to be liberated. Factor in the typical scenario of martial law, and a vast horde of Zed turning it to shnitz, the odds of picking up a C7 amongst the gore or elsewhere increase ten-fold. A semi-auto version of this weapon was also made commercially available to civilians for a limited time, and will be just as good of an alternative.
Versatility
The C7A2 can go semi and full-auto, sports a long barrel for accurate shooting at long range, and can be maneuvered in tighter spaces when the buttstock is collapsed. No frills, no spills, it's a pretty basic yet flexible rifle built for the common infantryman - and Canuck survivors by extension!
Ergonomics / Handling
The M16 manual of arms can be a little daunting for a greenhorn, but it remains one of the fastest and slickest platforms to load and bring into action - the benchmark by which many modern assault rifles have been based upon. The C7A2's adjustable buttstock enhances user comfort to personal preference, and the ambi-controls - the mag-release, selector lever and charging handle - adds to the rifle's flexibility by accommodating both left and right-handers, as well as anyone who has to switch shoulders in a fight.
Excellent Modularity
The standard TRI-AD below the front sight lets you mount lights and lasers, and sights and scopes can be mounted onto the flat receiver, together allowing for some adequate modularity (and at low government cost!). Otherwise, the platform itself is infinitely customizable, thanks to many years of countless aftermarket parts and accessories that have been made to be easily slapped/swapped on board. Survivors lucky enough to find these mods can therefore tinker on their C7 setups to their heart's content!
Reliability
The platform's reliability is surprisingly underrated: many of the issues touted from the Vietnam era were mostly due to poor ammo and training, and recent tests have shown modern AR-15s are capable of chugging through thousands of rounds with little cleaning. They can even chug again after bathing in dirt, sand, snow, or mud! This is due to the gas operation blowing any obstructing crud off the bolt carrier and ejection port, and the rifle's sealed design which keep the internals protected from the environment - further helped by the ejection port's hinged dust cover. The M16-length rifles are also said to shoot the most reliably of all the variants - being what the .223/5.56 round was originally designed for.
Parts Availability/Commonality
AR-15/M16 rifles are widely touted for their parts commonality. Thanks largely to the U.S. gun industry, OEM and third-party components for this platform have become quite abundant here in North America. When the hordes hit the street and every uniform and invested gun owner is forced to come out with their arsenals, you're bound to find whatever you'll need to fix or outfit your C7. It helps that the upper and lower receivers can often be swapped interchangeably between weapon systems - changing the rifle entirely to whatever your needs require.
Common Magazines
Like all M16/AR-15s, the C7A2 accepts STANAG pattern magazines, which you can expect to find in abundance from LE and the military, and from a wide variety of aftermarket manufacturers. Having plenty of spare mags means you can afford to dump the ones that break or wear out, and that your C7 will always be in the fight for years to come.
Common Ammo
If western militaries really did try to do their jobs against the hordes, then 5.56mm NATO stashes should be abundant for the picking - if they haven't been picked over already. The former presence of police forces may also add to this cartridge's ubiquity. Civilian .223 should also work fine, though the mil-spec rifling may cause varying accuracy with these lighter bullets.
Disadvantages[]
Maintenance
Despite its reliability, the nature of the C7's operating system - called "direct-gas impingement", used in a majority of M16/AR-15s - means regular maintenance must be observed. To describe in brief, the weapon works by having the hot gasses of a discharged round being blown back into the breech via a narrow tube above the barrel, which cycles the action for subsequent shots. This design helps reduce the weapon's overall weight and complexity, but it also creates a lot of powder residue and gunk that settles in many areas inside the receiver. The C7 is by no means an attention whore, but if it is grossly neglected and not well-lubed (almost like a hot girlfriend ;) ), the excess fouling could eventually cause the weapon to malfunction.
Length / Ergonomic Tradeoffs
The light adjustable stock combined with the long barrel makes for a front-heavy rifle. The barrel also poses some problems in CQB when you consider the typical nature of your undead/infected enemy: mindless, aggressive, and will want to engage you teeth-to-hand, therefore this rifle may not be the slickest of options when exploring those dark creepy corridors. Then there's the forward "TRI-AD" rail: placed very far forward, it makes the controls of any lights or lasers (especially those without a remote switch) quite difficult to reach - not to mention make the rifle more front-heavy.
Limited Rail Space
Out of the box, you don't get much rail space to play with, so your accessory choices are quite limited until you can find some mall-ninja furniture to swap in. Not something most survivors will be concerned about, but having more convenient spots to mount your essential hardware may give you an edge when you most need it.
"Spray-and-Pray" Temptation
These rifles are issued with semi/full-auto select-fire, so if there's a panicky novice in your tribe, rocking-and-rolling may be a huge danger for your precious ammo and yourselves. If this option can't be swapped out, drill and train your survivors accordingly, or simply make sure that your C7-equipped survivor has a cool head.
Conclusion[]
It's not the most innovative, nor the sleekest, nor the most "tacti-cool" of rifle designs, but if survivors learn how to do some basic maintenance, the C7A2 will serve as an excellent addition to one's post-apocalyptic arsenal: a highly-versatile long gun that can be adapted to any ghoul/bandit-slaying task in the Canuck wasteland, and beyond!
Very Highly Recommended.
Colt Canada C8A3[]
C8A3's in typical setups
Here we have the C8A3 carbine, also known as the SFW (Special Forces Weapon); it packs many of the same features of its bigger brother, the C7A2, but in a shorter package. This choice might seem a little redundant, but I like it; our boys on the ground love it; Norweigan, Dutch, Dane and Brit SF guys overseas love it... so why shouldn't you love it? Eh?!
Setup[]
Like the C7A2, the setup options out of the box are pretty basic: flat receiver for mounting sights, short "TRI-AD" pic-rails below the front sight for lights/lasers, bulky ELCAN scope (again, exact model not depicted) and plastic BUIS coming in as standard. Not much deviation to be seen here.
Should I have the tools, the first thing I would do is get rid of that ugly-looking "Simon Sleeve" at the front of the barrel. After that, installing an extended aftermarket forearm would make this a really handy patrol rifle; the extra real-estate provides more gripping room for improved muzzle and recoil control. The alternative would be just to have a simple carbine-length RIS/UIS forearm, though I'd still look for a top monolithic rail for that extra bit of rigidity and accuracy.
Advantages[]
"Improved" M4A1
The C8A3 holds some slight advantages over the out-of-the-box M4: the barrel is cold-hammer forged and has a thicker, less anorexic profile for higher accuracy and toughness; the snout-like Simon sleeve at the barrel's front serves as a stronger mounting point for a M203 grenade launcher or Canadian bayonet (should you need them); then there's the factory-integrated ambi-controls, and the TRI-AD rails for a little extra modularity.
Versatility
The thick 16-inch barrel makes the carbine adaptable for both CQB and distance shooting, and while not perfect in either respect it does give the survivor good flexibility for a relatively short firearm. With the plethora of accessories that can be slapped on board, you can maximize the weapon's utility in either respect.
Ergonomics
Features an adjustable buttstock for a personalized length-of-pull, and slick AR-15 controls with ambi-enhancements, which can make any right/left-handed apoca-clown a smooth operator.
Excellent Modularity
Rails on the receiver and on the forward TRI-AD allow for some basic accessorizing, but its AR-15 platform otherwise allows for an infinite array of aftermarket bling; this includes all SOPMOD accessories like the American M4, which is how this carbine is often seen outfitted with Canadian soldiers and various European paramilitary/special forces units.
Reliability
Well-sealed design, not many complex parts, with the modern gas impingement effectively blowing any crap off the ejection port and bolt carrier. It's not impenetrable, and not as forgiving as an AK, but the platform is still durable and capable of chugging through most field conditions.
Parts Availability/Commonality
Being of the M16/AR-15 family, critical components, upper/lower receivers, stocks, etc. can easily be replaced or swapped from the many similar guns that can be cannibalized, and from the large quantity of parts that may be available post-ZSHTF. With a good stash of spares and some occasional cleaning, this weapon will last for a very long while.
Common Magazines
The rifle accepts all STANAG pattern G.I. and aftermarket magazines, which you'll have no trouble finding here in North America or other NATO-friendly deadzones.
Common Ammo
5.56mm NATO is the standard cartridge of most Western militaries, so it will be worth your while to grab whatever rounds you can from abandoned armories, blockades and anywhere else our men and women in uniform once tried to protect us. Civilian .223 can also shoot through it, but performance may vary with the mil-spec barrel.
Compactness / Handling / Storage
At little more than two-and-a-half feet in length with the stock fully collapsed, the weapon is handy to carry and shoulder, and is easy to stow away. Its overall compactness also makes it a perfect fit for survivors with shorter arms and/or statures, who will generally have trouble wielding longer-barrelled weaponry.
Disadvantages[]
Maintenance
Covered before on the C7A2 - it uses the same direct-gas impingement design, which blows gunk and other fouling into the receiver, which if badly neglected can cause this weapon to choke up when you'll least want it to. Thorough check-ups (and a decent amount of lubrication ;) ) are a must.
Uncommon Availability
Aside from old Canadian combat footage from Afghanistan, this gun hasn't really been seen anywhere else. The Canadian navy does deploy this weapon for ship personnel and special boarding teams, but the C7 is still the king here on land, so expect troops fighting off the hordes in the streets to be wielding more of these rifles instead. A semi-auto version of the C8A3 was also made commercially available to civilians, but only for a limited time, so finding one of these guns could be just as difficult.
Weird Barrel Design
If you can not find the proprietary bayonet or grenade launcher mount to make use of it, the barrel's odd Simon sleeve serves no purpose other than to add unnecessary weight to the front-end of the carbine. Fortunately it is easy to remove, otherwise you'll just have to bear with its presence.
"Spray-and-Pray" Temptation
This weapon has the same select-fire capability of its longer brother, so find some way to swap it out, or make sure to issue this weapon to a disciplined/well-trained tribe member.
Conclusion[]
The C8A3 is a rather odd duckling, and its bigger brother gets way more public exposure. But if you can find one and keep it maintained, you'll have a well-packaged military/tacti-cool carbine that will be a potent and versatile tool against any undead or bandit threat.
Highly Recommended: if you're living in beloved Canada.
AK-47 / AKM / AK-103[]
AK-103 (top) and AK-47 (bottom)
For obvious reasons, I guess it was inevitable that I'd introduce the iconic AK-47 series onto this long list: the Soviet Union's most infamous export, which has shed more blood than any other firearm in the history of mankind.
Most of you would probably choose an AK as your primary rifle (justifiably so!), but one should also look into why it should probably remain the stuff of pipe dreams.
Setup[]
A typical AK has wood/plastic furniture and no rails, but that does not make the weapon any less desirable. Frankly I'm not a fan of the odd and outdated Soviet/Russian-made optical bracket attachments that the state factories offer (which aren't exactly common anyway), so if given a choice I don't think I'll ever put these on my gun.
Thankfully, modern modular accessories do exist for the system and their variety is growing steadily. One of my basic preferences would be to replace the stock forearm with a short RIS/UIS design; put on a small lightweight red dot and some kind of foregrip, and it's ready to rock. On the first setup I also have some magazines taped "jungle style", but only to keep around base for emergencies. There is otherwise a large variety of SOPMODed and custom AKs out there that I would definitely want for my soviet-zombie cache.
Advantages[]
Excellent Reliability / Durability
Its most legendary attribute: run it over with a truck, drag it through all kinds of crap, neglect it in some hole for months, launch it into space and then have it come back so you can pass it on to your children! It's not invincible nor maintenance-free, but you can count on it being battle ready when you pick it up again.
Versatility
In its intended form, it is a select-fire rifle that can engage close to medium range man-sized targets with decent accuracy, and can even be pushed out to long range with enough skill. It fires a short yet powerful cartridge that can penetrate most barriers, and the gun is sturdy enough to be used as a deadly bludgeon in CQB. A solid weapon system overall that can fulfill many roles, short of being a precision rifle.
Simplicity
The rifle's controls consist of only a few tactile levers and a trigger; less perplexing than fiddling with fancy buttons, so even the dimmest ape can work the setup easily. Field-stripping is a breeze and there are very few moving parts to clean; no special tools are required to do either. These attributes are purported to be why one can be completely trained in this rifle within hours while other guns would require at least a week, rightfully earning the AK its moniker as "The People's Gun".
Very High Ubiquity
AKs (specifically "AKM" variations) are absolutely everywhere: millions of these guns have been manufactured over decades - good guys and bad guys use it, dozens of countries manufacture and/or deploy it. The arms market - legal and black - is so overwhelmed by AK variants that in some places you can reportedly "buy one for the price of a chicken". With even the factories overrun, any country prior to the apocalypse that had loose gun restrictions and/or an AK-equipped force are going to have these rifles in abundance... one (or several) of which could become yours!
Common Ammo
Plenty of AKs means plenty of people making ammunition to feed through them. Surplus 7.62x39mm ammo is cheap and stockpiled around the world, and is used in other collectible and civilian-legal firearms, so stock up what you can.
Common Magazines
AKM mags are very tough, and countless of these have piled up over generations of reliable service. Their many aftermarket descendants have also added to their already large numbers: from hard metals to modern plastics and polymers, there are now many flavors of spring boxes to help keep your AK in the fight.
Parts Availability/Commonality
The AK-47/AKM design has been copied the world over, so if you got some parts that need replacing, certain components made for another AK from country V, W, or X might fit in your AK from country Y (although some gun-smithing may be required on your part).
Disadvantages[]
Weight
These are not light puppies: they're mostly made of steel (including most of its magazines) and shoot a fairly heavy bullet, so you better be in shape or you're bound to do some heaving.
Varying Availability (1st world)
Your local/national gun laws will dictate how easy it will be to see and obtain an AK; as it stands, many Western countries don't use AKs and have largely banned the weapon from being sold to the public. That doesn't stop illegal AKs from slipping into said countries, but would-be-apocaclowns living in the 1st world will still have a harder time acquiring one of these fine rifles. For me, however, the U.S. is close by, so it remains possible that some may find their way up here. There are also the Finnish "Valmet" models of AK rifles that have survived the Canuck ban; while they're still shootable, their numbers are small, and they have now become rare and expensive collector's items.
Varying Age / Quality
With millions of AKs out there to be found, there is certain to be a lot of lemons among them. Many might be hand-me-downs that are old and overused; many might be broken or bent and look like they've been jury-rigged in somebody's garage; or maybe a bunch of them are just crappily-made. A survivor in the right/wrong part of the world will no doubt have their "pick of the litter", but they'll likely have to sort through all the other runts first before they can get to it.
Awkward Ergonomics
The AK's lever-type control scheme is pretty crude by modern standards, and requires some reaching around and a little more sweat to work quickly under fire. Inserting magazines can be particularly distressing, as they require a specific "rocking" technique that survivors can easily fumble if their hands get shaky. The standard factory pistol grip is also very small and narrow, which can be trouble for many average and large-sized hands.
The Charging Handle
The charging handle reciprocates with every shot fired, which means having a piece of metal sticking out that moves back and forth and can possibly snag on anything that gets in its way. It is the AK's biggest liability, so always be aware of its presence when firing this weapon.
Handguard Overheat
The AK's piston system is notorious for causing the forearm of this rifle to get very hot after extensive shooting. Gloves are recommended if you don't want your dainty digits to become chicken tendies.
Limited Modularity
A stock AK with plain furniture is what you're likely to scrounge in most places, especially here in post-apocalyptic Canada. As a largely banned/restricted platform throughout the world, the many third-party accouterments that have been made will not be readily available outside the U.S., and more extensive customization requires gun-smithing skill. Some models might have the left-side optical bracket installed, but that forces you to use proprietary Russian/Soviet mounts and scopes that could be just as impossible to find.
Poor Sight Design
The typical iron sights of an AK are considered serviceable, but not ideal; the short radius and coarse picture makes it difficult to acquire targets accurately, notably at longer ranges. A well-built rifle with good aftermarket sights or optics can otherwise be decently accurate, but if you can't find or install them, this drawback is something you'll just have to bear with.
"Spray-and-Pray" Temptation
The standard military-issued rifles were intended to be used in full-auto from the outset, and given that this mode is the first notch on the selector, there is a risk that some timid novice (or completely-immersed CODtard) is liable to waste precious ammo and/or inadvertantly mow down their companions. If it's not a civilian-legal model, always make sure your mates push that selector all the way down.
Conclusion[]
This is one of the first guns I've ever had the pleasure to shoot, and it is certainly one of the most dependable and rugged small arms you can have to defend against marauding bandits and the undead hordes. Unfortunately I (and I assume most of the PMGers here) live in the developed world, where the AK is seen as anathema. On the other hand, America and its bloated gun culture is close by, and there are some AK-type rifles circulating up here in limited numbers. Nonetheless, the AK is every apoca-clown's very obvious first choice; so if you don't have one, you're going to have a really, really hard time getting one.
Not Recommended: if you're in Canada!
Very Highly Recommended: if you can get one at all!
CZ 858 / CSA vz. 58[]
Disclaimer: The above images were created by Altegore. Please give him all the credit for the very fine (and obviously painstaking) work!
Long ago in a far away land, a small nation on the edge of the Soviet Union - called "Czechoslovakia" - was surrounded by normie comrades equipping their armies with AK-47s... so they decided to go totally hipster.
Thus, the vz. 58 was born. Based off the SKS in many ways, this ugly bastard child saw service in wars stretching from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, to all the way in Southeast Asia. When the Czech military started ditching these guns, various companies (namely CZ (Česká zbrojovka), and the more recent CSA) went on to tailor their new and surplus rifles to the civilian marketplace. In Canada, a country where almost anything Kalashnikov has been banned, this exotic Czech rifle went on to firmly establish itself as our communist igloo-defense weapon of choice.
So how will it fair when the zombie apocalypse comes? Well, we'll just see...
Setup[]
Replace that tree stump or coat-hanger with an AR-15 butt stock, then swap out the wooden handguard with a RIS/UIS forearm so I can forward-mount a low-profile red dot, a foregrip, and a tac light. Other niceties would be an ergonomic rubber/polymer pistol grip, a bolt-release button, and an ambi mag latch to top off my ZSHTF/WROL tacti-cool VZ.
Advantages[]
Availability
Canadians went "gaga" when this rifle first came out, and it fast became a popular item among shooters wanting to get as close as possible to the AK experience - a privilege the VZ held for many years (at least up until recently). Many have since been sold into the hands of many Canuck survivalists, and it is also available in the U.S. - including iterations chambered for the .223/5.56 cartridge. We've also started to manufacture some of these rifles in-country!
Common Ammo
Surplus and fresh 7.62x39mm ammo is widely available and used in many other com-bloc firearms, so rest assured: your homely Czech beauty will never go hungry!
Common Magazines (Canada)
Keeping that communist ammo flowing through your VZ also isn't an issue: factory and aftermarket magazines are aplenty, due to the unique circumstances that allowed this gun to proliferate here in the snowy north. Should extra mags be unavailable, just keep the one mag you do have inserted, and you can load the weapon from the top by hand or with SKS stripper clips.
Versatility / Handling
The rifle's nimbleness, light weight, smooth action, near-flat recoil impulse, and last-shot bolt-hold-open feature makes it stand out against Russia's beloved AK - providing survivors a slicker, better balanced, and highly accurate soviet fighting rifle to bring to whatever wasteland battle they will encounter. With the 18.6-inch barreled variants common to Canada, they can also sling that 7.62x39mm round a little farther than the factory design intended.
Reliability / Durability
Whether it's through the deserts and mountains of Iraq and Afghanistan, through the sub-Saharan bush of Africa, under the suffocating canopy of the Vietnam jungle, or amidst the ruined cold streets of Northern Ireland, this combat rifle has more than proven its reliability and hardiness through planet Earth's violent hotspots. Expect no less when you find yourself clutching one of these close in the cold, Canadian, post-apocalyptic future.
Simplicity
A few more steps are required for this process, but like its very distant Russian step-cousin, the weapon is very easy to strip down and maintain. By soviet doctrine, the manual of arms is also quite simple: a trigger, a lever, a switch, and a knob that slides - making this rifle just as palatable to the dimmest of apes.
Modularity (Canada)
Thanks (probably) to us maple-sucking northies, third-party support for this exotic weapon has been very accommodating; everything from custom buttstocks, custom rail dust covers, to RIS handguards, muzzle devices, etc., have been made to cater to the tastes of every kind of mall-ninja apoca-clown.
Common Parts/Accessories (Canada)
Should you need to repair or modify your VZ, it won't be a problem either! Once again you can thank the many enthusiasts who bought these rifles, helping to support a cottage industry dedicated to making lots of parts and assorted bling to keep these Czech uglies chugging - possibly for your future grandchildren to inherit!
Disadvantages[]
The Receiver / Ejection Port
Whenever the bolt carrier pulls back, the rifle's receiver is left widely exposed - begging to invite whatever crap you don't want to gunk up your magazine and the gun's inner workings. It does make certain malfunctions a little easier to clear, but if you have to crawl away from a ghoul, and your VZ just happened to take a mud or dirt bath in the escape, this is certainly not a design that can overcome it.
The Charging Handle
The knob reciprocates with every shot fired; if it's not kept clear, it can snag on things in your environment or on your gear, so always be aware of it.
Awkward Ergonomics
The selector/safety switch is small and stuck on the right side, and needs to be swept backward for the gun to fire, requiring some odd methods to be quickly manipulated. The magazine needs to be "rocked" in like with the AK, which is a feat requiring the most steady of hands when the danger escalates. The pistol grip can be quite small for anyone with medium or large hands. Then there's the coat-hanger buttstock on some models, which isn't very comfortable to rest your cheek on, but this part can easily be modified or replaced.
Length (Canada)
The 18.6-inch barrels make Canuck VZs a little nose-heavy, and rather cumbersome in any cramped quarters - especially if it's donning a fixed buttstock. Fortunately, standard and short-barreled versions are also available here, and are certainly what I would prefer to have in a cramped and creepy zed-filled dungeon.
Weird Magazines
They're bulky, have sharp edges, and are oddly-shaped along the spine; as a result, they can snag in your pockets, your mag pouches, your gear and clothing, and (with the metal ones) may cut your skin if you're not careful. Gloves are a must, and any VZ-equipped survivor will be well-advised to accommodate for these weird mags in their loadout.
Handguard Overheat
This rifle's short-stroke piston system also makes the forearm of this rifle quite hot after extensive shooting. Again, gloves (and perhaps a foregrip) are a must.
Conclusion[]
The vz. 58 has left a lasting impression on Canada's civilian gun culture as one of the very few Cold War firearms we can legally own. If circumstances had been different, the AK could have easily supplanted this odd Czech design. While it may not have the iconic sexiness of its Russian counterpart, this fine combat rifle is here to stay, and should be regarded as an essential part of any Canadian survivor's post-apocalyptic arsenal.
Highly Recommended: if you live in beloved Canada.
IWI Tavor[]
IWI Tavor (TAR-21) - IDF standard-issue
As I find myself living in a place where tacti-cool weaponry is frowned upon as "evil killing machines", the civilian-legal models of the Israeli Tavor strangely circumvent the obtuse "restricted firearm" laws being imposed here in Canadastan. The yanks down south have recently begun producing them in-continent, but these rifles were being sold to us kinder folks up north long before that happened. As such, with its growing notoriety and continuing evolution, it has been bumped up to one of my top choices of ZSHTF/WROL survival rifle.
Setup[]
The new "SAR" rifles coming out of the U.S.A. would definitely top my wishlist: they feature full-length picatinny rails, as opposed to the standard IDF guns that largely use fixed mounts and proprietary optics that can not be swapped out in the field (though I'll settle with these if they're what's available). No preference in barrel-length, but the laws here in Canada mean that I'll probably be stuck with a long 18.5-inch DMR snout.
Advantages[]
High Versatility / Ergonomics / Handling
The futuristic bullpup design is well-contoured and excellently-balanced for maneuverability (even when held with just one hand), and being a short weapon that doesn't sacrifice barrel length allows the Tavor to be an effective tool for both CQB and at further distances. The controls are arguably some of the best of the bullpup class; the charging handle and selector lever are well-oriented and easy to manipulate, and the ambidextrous mag-well controls make reloads very fast - providing a distinct edge over competing designs. It helps that it's really cool to look at too, eh? (Your tastes may vary.)
Reliability / Durability
Constant tensions in the modern day Holy Land has had the Tavor frequently battle-tested; soldiers there have praised its resilience during trials and in the field - carrying it through sand, mud, water, and similar dirty environments with reportedly few issues. Some internet videos have demonstrated this trait, and have also shown the rifle (at least the civilian versions) working after being frozen or dumped in snow - perfect for post-apocalyptic Canuck conditions, eh?
Modularity
The amount of receiver pic-rails will vary per model, but all allow all sorts of sights and optical devices to be mounted onto the gun. A standard offset rail strip above the forearm can likewise allow you to install all kinds of lights, lasers, and (as competitors and tacti-cool dudes now love to do) backup sights/optics. Conversion kits for 9mm - along with an increasing array of third-party mods - are also available, and the weapon can be configured for left-handed users by swapping in an appropriate left-hand bolt, and switching over the charging handle and selector as you desire.
Common Ammo
Accepts all 5.56 and .223 cartridges without hiccups, despite being chambered specifically for the former. The 1-in-7 inch barrel twist, however, may cause varying accuracy with the lighter-weight civilian ammo.
Common Magazines
The weapon accepts all permutations of the STANAG M16 magazine design; anything from standard G.I. to trendy Magpul can be fed into the gun with no problems.
Simplicity
Israeli designers referenced the AK platform (surprise surprise) when making the Tavor, and internally their resemblance is quite close: namely in the minimal amount of internal parts, and how they can be removed and cleaned simply without special tools. Add the big, intuitive and well-placed ambi controls and it's a gun that greenhorns can take to like a fish to water.
Compactness / Ease of Carry
The Tavor's excellent balance, ergonomics, and short overall length makes this one of the most comfortable rifles one can ever carry - especially for you shorties out there. Survivors will find this handy bullpup very easy to point inside cramped vehicles and around tight corners, and it is a cinch to stash in your lockups or backpacks should you need a portable long gun where space is limited.
Disadvantages[]
Right-Hand Ejection
Left-handers forced to make due with the default setup may find the prospect of hot brass and gas flying past their lips most unappealing, and while the Tavor's ejection port design does somewhat mitigate this issue, it remains a huge turn-off for those who cherish their precious kissers highly.
The Magazine Catch
This control is quite exposed and is located just behind the shooter's firing hand, possibly allowing for situations where it can be accidentally bumped - turning this rifle into a single-shot weapon when you don't want it to.
Heavy Trigger
Reviews of the Tavor's trigger say that it is stiff and heavy. Concluding opinions seem divided, however: some hate it, some say you can work around it. Aftermarket trigger packs can easily be swapped in, but this is best done as a pre-outbreak investment.
Proprietary Optic (IDF)
What you see is what you get: a stock IDF rifle uses a proprietary "Meprolight" optic that is attached to a special mount that's fixed to the barrel - neither of which can be removed or changed without specialized tools. If that optic ever decides to bust, tough luck to you. Luckily, the modular flat-top variants are much more common for us civvie types.
Uncommon Availability
These rifles command a premium price on the Canuck civilian market, and there is no official Canuck service that has adopted this design. Outside of gun stores and private arsenals, a Tavor in the wasteland could be as elusive as the Cheshire cat. The weapon and its many variants is otherwise seeing worldwide deployment in over twenty countries, but chiefly as an exclusive paramilitary/special forces weapon.
Uncommon Parts/Accessories
Hobbyists in the past who were lucky enough to own a Tavor used to have to order their extra or replacement doodads directly from Israel, and it's doubtful that there will be any post-ZSHTF postal service that can accommodate you. Proliferation of this gun via the U.S. has increased supplies, but the rifle's exotic niche status is unlikely to wane, so future survivors should pamper their Tavors closely.
Conclusion[]
I really wish this gun is not as expensive and uncommon as it is now, but (IMHO) it is the most sexy, versatile, and proven tacti-cool rifle one can legally own in my country without excess red tape - which explains why it is greatly coveted in our civilian gun-loving community. I can only hope its recent introduction to the US market will make them a little more accessible in the coming years: for when/if the dead do decide to walk the earth, I would definitely want a kitted-out Tavor mounted over my fireplace... or at least my radiator.
Recommended: but dependent on location/laws.
M1A series[]
M1As - standard version above, match version below
The vintage battle rifle for the every-man, the M1A, is as deadly as apple pie is American. Although it's semi-auto only, it's functionally not much different from the original M14. Sporting some old-school looks, ample long-range firepower, and a battle-tested lineage, let's see how "tacti-cool" this Cold War dinosaur really is.
Setup[]
The default rifles typically have no pic-rails, but they do come in different lengths and custom brands, and aftermarket parts are available for the platform:
If I have to sling up one of these boom sticks for the long haul, the shorter-barreled "SOCOM" or "Scout" models would be my pick for their easier handling. With a full-length M1A, I'd supe it up into some kind of DMR for watchtower or sniping duties. And of course, having played too much MGS4/MW2 in the past, dropping the gun into a tacti-cool - though chunky - EBR chassis seems like a good idea as well, but from the numbers I've been reading and just by looking at it, this setup just seems to make the rifle heavier and clunkier... but it looks cool, at least.
Advantages[]
Availability
With an old aesthetic that helps it avoid "assault weapon" bans, and thus becoming one of the only .308/7.62 battle rifles we can legally purchase, it's understandably a popular item for many Canuck shooting enthusiasts. Expect at least a few examples (from a variety of manufacturers) stocking some shelves and armories across our great white north!
Versatility
The M1A is an accurate and hard-hitting semi-auto weapon, inheriting much of its capabilities from the M1 Garand (made by a Canadian, btw!) while enjoying all the benefits of a detachable and much larger magazine. As a survivor you can use it to hunt, protect your base camp, and use it to rapidly blow away nasty bandits or zed at any range. When things get up close and personal, you can probably clobber someone with it too.
Common Ammo
The .308 cartridge is fed into a lot of hunting rifles around the world, while the 7.62mm NATO is put into just as many machine guns and battle rifles. Both these rounds should work in the M1A/M14, which doubles the chances of your magazines being topped off.
Common Magazines
Magazines are widely available for this classic rifle; everything from puny 5-rounders to pinned 20-rounders, the latter of which you can easily modify back to full-capacity when rule of law goes to ZSHTF. (Please read this disclaimer!)
Reliability / Durability
Like its WW2 predecessor, the M14 is built like a tank: heavily-machined steel parts, a robust operating mechanism, and overall sturdy construction allows the weapon to continue chugging through lots of wear, dragging, and tear (though there are caveats, which will be covered later). The M1As should be no different.
Parts/Accessories Availability (North America)
As a popular and ubiquitous rifle platform, spare parts and bling are abound in North America: you can install special scopes and mounts, fancy mall-ninja stocks, to match triggers, extra pic-rail sections, muzzle devices, and many other doodads to outfit your American long gun.
Disadvantages[]
Awkward Ergonomics
The rifle is long and bulky, the breech area has many sharp edges that can snag on gear and clothing, the traditional stock is a little unwieldy for offhand shooting, and the shoulder stock itself does not line up with the bore, so recoil will pull the gun upward - making quick follow-up shots a little more difficult. Mounted scopes and red dots will ride very high on the weapon, requiring a cheek riser to be installed for a proper eye relief. Like the AK, loading the rifle uses the same "rocking" method that is easy to fumble under stress. Finally, there's the clunky control setup - particularly the sharp, awfully-placed safety in the trigger guard - that can hamper your tacti-coolness when seconds count.
Weight and Size
Fully-loaded, a survivor will be looking at porting over 12 pounds of lengthy steel and wood/fiberglass; add to this the weight of the extra steel magazines, the heavy ammo, and any attachments, and you'll have a warhorse that will be a pain to haul across a Zed-infested landscape or into a desperate fight. Shorter-barreled variants will offer less hassle, but only slightly so.
Maintenance / Complexity
Under harsh (possibly post-apocalyptic) conditions, the weapon can be a PITA to maintain: the old design has complex moving parts, and many exposed nooks and openings that can allow mud, dirt, sand, etc. to enter the mechanics and jam the gun. Field-stripping the rifle is a clunky affair, and may even affect its accuracy - depending on how the action is bedded in the stock. Cleaning the weapon can also require many specialized tools to be done properly. Keeping the M1A out of the muck and dirt will thus be essential, and will certainly be sweat-inducing!
The Charging Handle / Operating Rod
This part reciprocates and thus can snag on stuff, and the open channel it slides through is vulnerable to any kind of obstruction (which can include your fingertips if you're not careful); not to mention that it also serves as a large entryway for all kinds crap that will likewise jam the gun. Keep this part of the gun clean, and stay out of its way.
Parts/Accessories Incompatibility (Canada)
A unique problem for M1As in Canada is that parts and accessories do not always fit on every individual rifle; this is due to many of the rifles circulating here being made in China and Taiwan, with varying levels of finish. Therefore, some hand-fitting may be required by survivors to do any kind of repairs or modding.
Conclusion[]
The M1A is certainly an old beast to wield, and some of its qualities may be a little oversold (particularly by Americans...), but it is still the most functional and accessible option for Canuck survivors seeking a long-range .308/7.62 semi-auto rifle for their hunting and zombie-slaying needs. At least for those able to lug the darn thing around...
Recommended: if you've eaten your spinach everyday.
AR-10 / SR-25 series[]
Examples of an AR-10B (top) and a SR-25 type DMR (bottom)
The AR-10 pattern of battle rifles predates what eventually became the AR-15, and later the M16. The Knight's Armament Company's SR-25 design is a modern subset that has established the popular standard for this platform. From military sniper variants to the many commercial models being sold to civilians, they're still going strong... but are they tough enough to withstand the rigors of the zombie apocalypse?
Setup[]
Very much like its .223/5.56 descendants, this platform comes in countless configurations, so I can't say I have any personal preference aside from the basics: an optic mounted on top, and that the rifle just works reliably! If I have to be even more picky, I would seek out the mid-length carbines for their versatility and handling.
Advantages[]
Availability
Potential survivors in North America will be spoiled for choice: various companies continue to produce large assortments of hunting, competition, military-style, and sporting versions of this rifle for the LE/commercial market, and various NATO-friendly militaries (including that of the U.S.) still deploy a number of the old and latest SR-25 iterations for their snipers.
Common Magazines
SR-25 mags come in large quantities and are made by numerous third-party brands - including the highly prolific PMAG line. Many AR-10 rifles have also been adapted to take these mags.
Common Ammo
Barrel food is more than plentiful: .308 Win and 7.62x51mm NATO are widely used, and are so similar in make and measurement that both civilian and military firearms eat them up equally well.
Versatility / Handling
Most commercial and military models are meant for long range work, but the semi-auto firepower is a big help in closer fixes, and there are also carbine versions that you can more readily use in cramped conditions. With either type, you'll get an accurate hard-hitter that's among the lightest and most nimble battle rifle designs currently available.
Ergonomics
AR-15 style controls and ergos make handling and manipulation slick and fast. Shooters who are already used to this platform will thus find this design and its manual of arms quite familiar, making cross-training much easier.
Modularity
Many designs now come with flat-top rails and RIS/UIS forearms right out of the box. Certain AR-15 components and every bit of aftermarket bling can also be used on many of these guns: giving apoca-clown tinkerers even more options for mounting their favorite hardware, while easing up on logistics should something need repair or replacement.
Disadvantages[]
Maintenance (direct-impingement)
Direct impingement guns blow heat and crud into the receiver, which complicates cleaning and wears out parts faster. Most commercial .308 ARs use this system, which doesn't help the platform's most troubling issues:
Poor/Varying Reliability
There are (very expensive) exceptions, but the platform's reliability can be rather spotty - notably with the highly common direct-impingement models. Most of these rifles require a lot of fine-tuning to work at all, are picky about certain brands of ammo (this includes some of the piston guns), and are typically sensitive to the elements and any kind of hard use. Quality has continued to improve over the years, but survivors will typically find that the vast majority of these rifles are designed for recreation, not combat.
Proprietary Parts
No two .308 ARs are ever the same; the platform's notorious reputation for questionable performance has each company doing their own version(s) of the rifle to see who can top the market. Therefore, different barrels and bolts won't match, upper and lower receivers won't mate, gas systems won't fit, aftermarket mods only work with certain models/brands... it's just a huge mess. You can get lucky, but in all likelihood you're better off sticking with one rifle and using it until it breaks.
Magazine Specific
Early AR-10 rifles use a proprietary magazine based off the one used in the M14/M1A. The majority of recent .308 ARs use the more common SR-25 OEM/aftermarket mags, but some guns have been shown to have picky reliability among these as well! Sort out your mags to the appropriate weaponry, and do some praying.
Conclusion[]
These guns offer a very mixed bag, so if the model I find is not of a highly-reputable and tested brand (whether it be Knight's Armament Company, Wilson Combat, LMT, etc.), it's probably going to end up in my reserve pile. Most of these rifles should otherwise shoot as designed, but I would be skeptical about relying on them should SHTF post-ZSHTF. And so should you.
Recommended: because they're available - grab one when you can.
Not Recommended: as a primary rifle, unless it's all you have.
FN FAL[]
The Belgian Fusil Automatique Léger was largely the main battle rifle carried by NATO forces during the Cold War: it has gone toe-to-toe with AK-wielding communists, fascists, and fanatics in numerous conflicts and continues to see service to this day in various hands across the globe. Formerly the standard-issue shoulder arm of Canada (known then as the "C1/C1A1"), the "Right Arm of the Free World" deserves a mention for any survivor's zombocalypse armory.
Setup[]
As you might've guessed, this rifle isn't available in PMG yet, but if you've gotten this far you'll know what I want: tacti-cool pic-rails! In the urban jungle I would totally go for the short-barrelled OSW with a sexy extended magazine. With a standard-length FAL, a DMR setup - like the one shown in the Shot Show video above - will be perfect for my post-apocalyptic needs.
Advantages[]
High Ubiquity
The advent of lighter assault rifles have allowed millions of decommissioned FALs to be stockpiled by almost a hundred countries - chiefly developing ones. It's the third most prolific military long arm currently in existence (behind the AK and AR-15/M16), and production has continued under license in several countries - including the nearby United States!
Reliability / Durability
Jungles, deserts, cold and hot climates; the FAL has operated in all these harsh battlefield environments and chugged onward, thanks to a robust and adjustable gas system that helps cycle the rifle under any conditions, a sturdy steel construction, and the minimal amount of moving internal parts. Israeli FALs did encounter hiccups with fine Egyptian sand, but this appears to have been an isolated case and has been rectified in later models.
Versatility
This rifle can knock down baddies and delicious game accurately and hard at any distance, and has enough heft to batter said baddies good when you gotta get close and personal. It is also well-suited for defensive postures or supporting your companions at long range, while configs with shorter barrels should be just as versatile yet allow for some smoother maneuvering in CQB.
Simplicity
Take down of the FAL is stupid easy and requires no tools, resulting in only a handful of components for a survivor to pamper. The manual of arms is rather straight-forward, with every control quite large and made to be quick and easy to reach, which leads us into...
Ergonomics
This is probably the most ergonomic of the old-school battle rifle designs: it's well-balanced, has a pistol grip for a more natural purchase of the hand, the charging handle is located close for quick off-hand manipulation, the bolt locks back on the last round fired, and there's a conveniently-placed bolt release to slam it back home again after reloading. Top it off with a thin metal flap over the mag well to help guide the mag in, and you have a very slick package that effectively beats out its Cold War contemporaries.
Common Ammo
Military 7.62mm NATO or civilian .308 Winchester; both should run fine through the rifle, so pick either one when you have to top off your mags.
Common Magazines
FAL magazines have found their way everywhere, even up here in the cold north, having also been incorporated into a number of commercial rifle designs (notably Kel-Tec's RFB). Therefore, finding at least a handful for your own post-apocalyptic FAL is quite possible. But this advantage is both a boon and a curse, as we'll discover later...
Parts Commonality / Availability
Parts and parts kits for FAL rifles are interchangeable, and it has become a common practice (at least in the U.S.) to build a FAL using a hodgepodge of components from around the world. Extending your FAL's service life post-outbreak is thus possible, though stockpiling of these accoutrements pre-outbreak may be best.
Disadvantages[]
Varying Availabilty / Quality
Almost all the developed nations that once used the FAL have traded it for much lighter plasticy fare, and have strict gun laws to ban them from being privately owned; with the exception of some licensed collectors within, Canada happens to be one of these nations. The rifle otherwise appears mostly as a hobby/collector's item in the U.S. - one of the only countries still producing it. Unless the current laws change or you're in the 3rd-world, finding one of these rifles in top condition is going to be very tough.
Weight and Size
Machined from heavy-duty steel, FALs of any configuration are hefty boom sticks in a full loadout. The standard full-length variants will particularly make any kind of tacti-coolness in tight quarters prohibitive, and be a boon for any grabby undead ghoul.
Magazine Compatibility
Depending on how your particular FAL was made (whether it is an "inch" or "metric" pattern rifle), it may be picky regarding the steel magazines it will accept: some may fit, others may need some handiwork to make it so. Certain aftermarket mags have been made to solve this crippling issue, but if you can't find these, you'll probably have to get your tools out or do some praying.
Limited Modularity
The vast majority of FALs you'll find won't feature picatinny rails, and aftermarket mods (which seem to come exclusively from one company: DSA) aren't that widespread for such a largely outmoded platform. Nations currently equipped with this weapon are not likely to have these accoutrements, so don't hold your breath on ever seeing them around post-ZSHTF.
The Charging Handle
On certain models the handle sticks out like a sore thumb; its placement on the receiver brings it higher into your gear and clothing where it can snag or jab uncomfortably, and if impacted enough the bolt may be pulled out of battery. Typically lacking a forward-assist feature, the handle may need to be racked again to re-seat the bolt; making noise when you don't want to, and could result in a fresh round being lost that you may not be able to recover.
The Gas Dial (Complexity)
The adjustable gas dial near the front end of the rifle's piston has multiple settings that the shooter must use to tune the gun to environmental conditions and the ammo it is being fed. For typical survivors without instruction, fumbling with or being unaware of this feature could cause trouble (possibly life-threatening) down the road: from erratic reliability to causing unnecessary wear-and-tear on the weapon.
Uncontrollable Full-Auto
As expected with most .308 battle rifles, the recoil imparted by the heavy cartridge in full-auto is just too violent for a weapon of this relatively light configuration. Select-fire already has no point in a resource-strapped post-ZSHTF world, so some armies (and all commercial manufacturers) were wise to abandon this option on many of their FALs.
Conclusion[]
Despite being highly prohibited, a number of FALs still do exist up here in Canada among a few select hands. Coupled with the fact that the U.S. is so close by, and being among the top licensed producers/importers of this very ubiquitous rifle (with a bloated gun culture supporting it), one can hope to scratch the post-apocalyptic ruins long enough to become a proud owner of their very own Belgian Cold War delight - a shoulder arm that has reigned long and proud in its exclusive class.
Recommended: but highly dependent on model, and location.
H&K MP5[]
MP5A5's, as "tacti-cool" as you can get them.
It's hard to forget the German MP5 from the countless days and nights I've spent shooting evil terrorists in Counterstrike, so for that and more tangible reasons it rightly deserves a spot on my list of desirables.
Setup[]
Since the MP5 has no picatinny rails integrated, setup will be determined by the particular gun you discover and whatever LE or military guy slapped on board prior to you finding it. Regardless, I can settle with having just a factory gun, which is excellent anyway. The next best thing would be to have one with a flashlight-forearm combo and maybe a reflex sight installed - a typical config used by many S.W.A.T. and ERT guys. Beyond that, I would like to get a hand on one of the aftermarket RIS/UIS forearms that have been advertised recently (simulated above) to free up my bling options.
My ideal preference? I'd go for a simple pistol carbine setup with a safe/semi trigger group, like the MP5 SF (first); to avoid the temptation of spray-and-pray, and make it a perfect "minuteman" weapon to hand to more dependent survivors for base defense, or as an effective alternative for those not comfortable with using larger rifles. The other would be to have an "SD" variant with the same config (second) for quietly snuffing Zed or other bad guys in the field. I'm not big on the MP5K (third), but when things get really tight I'll kit it out appropriately for close-quarter fights.
Advantages[]
Common Ammo
The MP5 chambers the 9mm Parabellum round; a well-rounded bullet that has become the most popular pistol and submachine gun cartridge around the globe. Expect to find it in abundance even in countries with strict gun laws. It also helps that its ammo is shared by many other pistol-caliber firearms; pairing the MP5 with any of them will result in economizing your load out, while saving you a lot of grief when you have to search for spare rounds in the wastes.
Availability
Certain military units, major law enforcement departments and government agencies deploy the MP5 in some shape or manner: ERTs, S.W.A.T., or similar paramilitary functions are likely to have these SMGs out and firing at Zed when things get messy, so you may be able to pluck one from amidst the gore of the city streets.
Reliability
One of the main reasons why this gun is used by units like the SAS and Navy SEALS: with its precision-made and robust firing mechanism (scaled down from the G3 rifle), the weapon can rock-and-roll through a lot of rounds while being toted through all kinds of environments - a quality that no other SMG (and few assault rifles) has been able to match. Unfortunately, there will be caveats, which we'll mention later...
Versatility
At close to medium range, the MP5 excels above all other SMGs: from rapidly clearing rooms in CQB, to slinging distant and accurate 9mm fire at the heads of bandits or zed. When a rifle is not around and a handgun is not adequate for the task at hand, this weapon can be a viable substitute.
Compactness / Handling
Light weight and compact, this SMG is very handy to point and sling up - whether it's on patrol or on the road. With a folding or collapsible stock you can maximize portability, and with the latter you can adjust the length of pull to your personal comfort.
Modularity / Parts Commonality
The platform has served for more than fifty years, and over that time a decent variety of proprietary and third-party accessories have been offered to modify the weapon. Raid the appropriate armories and you'll find detachable pic-rails, forearms, suppressors, different length barrels and shoulder stocks - just to name a few.
Disadvantages[]
Limited Stopping Power
Stopping power is not a factor when dealing with the walking dead, but against hostile bandits, a single 9x19mm round isn't going to stop someone in its tracks. Not instantly, anyway. Through the MP5, the 9mm's effect is compounded by accurate shot placement and/or tightly-controlled bursts, though the latter is not ideal if ammo is scarce. Hollow-point and similar bullet types may eliminate this issue altogether.
Limited Range
An expert marksman with the right ammo can push the MP5 pretty far, but it can not compare to a rifle in any way; the weapon's short barrel and small pistol cartridge were never intended to reach out and be effective at distance.
Maintenance
As reliable as the MP5 is to shoot, the tight tolerances of its roller-delayed blowback mechanism do not stand up well to dirty, sandy, or maritime conditions, where small particulate matter can easily infiltrate the gun and cause malfunctions - which is largely what led to the development of the (failed) UMP project. The wasteland is unforgiving, so survivors will be well-advised to keep this weapon clean and out of the muck and grit as much as possible.
Reloading
This weapon isn't the easiest to reload: the bolt does not lock back after firing the last round, so a survivor must lock the charging handle back, pull out the empty mag, insert the fresh mag into a curved and very narrow mag well, and then release or slap down the charging handle to lock the bolt forward. This lengthy technique is absolutely necessary, for when the bolt is closed, it is very difficult to insert a full magazine into the weapon without significant muscle to shove it in. You can also replace the magazine and simply rack the charging handle like an AK, but muscle is still required to jam that full mag in under a closed bolt.
Overall, the reload process is much slower compared to more modern small arms, and in situations where split-seconds count, survivors will need significant training and sweat to be a true "operator" with this German SMG.
"Spray-and-Pray" Temptation
Most MP5s you are going to find will come with some variation of the Safe/Semi/Burst/Auto trigger group, so in dire circumstances the temptation to spray the gun recklessly on some bandits or an undead mob is irresistible. Until everyone can be trained to avoid becoming John McClane, I would advocate giving this weapon to the more cool-headed of your tribe.
Uncommon Parts/Accessories
As a largely exclusive police/military niche weapon, spare parts and accessories aren't exactly going to be spilling from the shelves. Getting to the armories first will be essential, or you're out of luck.
Conclusion[]
Counterstriking experiences aside, the MP5 in my mind appears to be one of the most efficient and effective firearms available for the common 9mm Para cartridge, and something that anyone can pick up and comfortably shoot - in semi-auto, anyway. This is a classic (and seemingly timeless) tacti-cool weapon that can prove to be a slick and lethal ghoul/bandit-stopper in the right hands.
Highly Recommended.
Benelli M4 Super 90[]
Racking the pump on your pump-action shotgun wearing you out? Then you should consider the Benelli M4 for your post-ZSHTF collection. Having helped militaries and police departments knock down doors - and the bad guys behind them - in North America and places abroad, this deadly Italian boom stick will no doubt earn a special place in your heart and on your rack.
Note: This is the only attractive shotgun PMG offers, but most of what's written here will apply to what I find in most well-built tube-fed designs of any type.
Setup[]
Plain out of the box, the gun should be perfectly fine, but I'm not opposed to having a red dot on the receiver rails to speed up my point-and-click technique.
Advantages[]
Common Ammo
Shotgun shells come in many varieties and are used in firearms the world over; predominantly by police, avid recreationists, and those who are mindful of home defense. As such, they are pretty abundant and should be easy to scavenge for your Benelli, regardless of your location.
Versatility / Firepower / Handling
When you quickly need to douse your undead and bandit foes (or that tasty deer in the woods) with a barrage of lead, this is one of the best tools for the job; its adjustable buttstock provides ergonomic comfort for the user, and its semi-automatic operation means that as long as there are rounds in the tube, sheer devastation will be unleashed with every pull of the trigger. Along with standard slug and shot rounds, there is an assortment of specialized military and non-lethal munitions that survivors can use at their discretion.
Stopping Power
Not many things can survive a thick slug or a load of double-odd buck to the head or body, which is why shotguns are typically standard equipment in zombie apocalypse arsenals.
Simplicity
Like most tube-fed shotguns, the Super 90 has everything you need on board: reloading is pretty straight-forward - no need to worry about detachable magazines that you may break or lose. It comes with large tactile controls, and the weapon is easy to strip down and clean - with very few parts to look over when laid out.
Modularity
From red dots to scopes, the receiver rail is adequate for mounting whatever you need to aim the gun better, and it comes in either a fixed or adjustable buttstock that you can easily switch out. Aftermarket stocks, light/laser brackets and forearms can also give survivors some added tacti-coolness.
Reliability / Durability
From the mean streets of LA to the harsh sands of Iraq and Afghanistan, this Benelli is a rugged and combat-proven design. You can reportedly blow through thousands of shells before you can even try to break the gun, so survivors shouldn't have to worry too much about this weapon's longevity.
Disadvantages[]
Limited Range
With standard shot cartridges, this weapon probably won't deliver any significant effect at long range. Slugs may improve performance, but a rifle is undoubtedly a much better tool for those kinds of distances.
Limited Capacity
The tube holds only 5 to 7 rounds (for civilians and military/LE respectively); considering the gun's fast rate-of-fire, that's not a lot of ammo to have when confronted with large enemy numbers. An aftermarket tube extension can add a few more to the pipe, but it only slightly delays the inevitable process of...
Reloading
Reloading the tubular magazine can be a slow and terrifying ordeal; each round must be shucked in one at a time, and when surrounded by ghouls, bloodthirsty bandits, or Bambi's vengeful pals, it'll be easy to fumble those precious rounds into the dirt if you can't staunch the fear surging up your gullet.
Feeding Issues
Be mindful of the ammo you feed into this shotgun; while it is capable of firing-off any shells you put into it, certain types may not exert enough pressure to cycle the action or could cycle it just enough to cause a malfunction. Some sporting and most non-lethal rounds will be suspect for these issues, so make sure to consolidate your loads before you head out on your missions.
The Charging Handle
It sticks out and reciprocates, and thus it can snag on stuff if you're not wary, so give the right side some clearance when firing this weapon.
Availability Unknown (Canada)
This shotgun is rather pricey for the common civilian, so I'm not certain if there will be many of these filling up shelves or racks (with available spare parts) for survivors to find. Scouring those military or police caches will be essential, but I would keep expectations low.
Conclusion[]
Shotguns pack a lot of heat, and you probably can't do much better than a Benelli M4 Super 90 (or similar design) for a practical and devastating semi-auto street-cannon, which will certainly give you an edge over your wasteland foes when the fighting gets up close.
Recommended: but dependent on location.
Glock 17 / 19[]
Standard Glock 17
When you see "zombies", and then think "handgun", like me you'll most likely say "Glock"; and it'll probably mean the Glock 17 or 19, the most prominent Glock variants in the world, which have become iconic in almost every action movie, shooter game, and kid's drawing to date. Lots of hype (and equal amounts of hate) has surrounded these Austrian exports ever since they came out decades ago, but given its revolutionary design, pop-culture status and ongoing service record (and the fact that a Glock is the first handgun I've ever fired), there's no shame in giving in and getting one of these for yourself!
Plain ol' Glock 19s, "Akimbo"
Setup[]
Like most handguns, you shouldn't need much in way of accessories; my preference would be to have at least a detachable light so I can light up and blow away zombies or bandits in the pitch dark. After that, it would be ideal to have a detachable sound suppressor and a threaded barrel to attach it to, and maybe some better sights. A .22 LR conversion kit would also expand the Glock's value as a low-cost trainer and general-purpose pest-popper, and (if time and the available tools permit) I'd stipple the grip to give me a more textured surface to hold onto should my hands get "slippery".
Advantages[]
Common Ammo
Both models fire the highly ubiquitous 9mm Parabellum round; a popular cartridge for many modern handguns and SMGs. Be they in gun stores, police or military lockers, or off some poor schmuck going ripe, spare rounds for the 9mm Glocks are out there to be found.
Simplicity
The Glock is a boring no-frills design that is easy to field strip and maintain, with no external safeties or hammers needing to be manipulated before the gun can fire: simply rack a live round into the chamber, and it's ready to go. To prevent any accidental discharges, passive safeties are built into the trigger, frame and slide to keep the firing pin blocked, even when the gun is dropped hard. The end product is a handgun that is not only very quick on the draw, but is very well-behaved too!
High Reliability / Durability
Coined the "AK of handguns", Glocks have received glowing reviews for their reliability: built to withstand abuse through thousands of rounds while being dragged through all kinds of harsh conditions. Evidence to the contrary has been documented, but these lemons have become quite rare - particularly with the 9mm models.
High Availability
Glocks are everywhere: millions of them have been produced and circulated, and with everyone from soldiers, beat cops to lowly gangbangers using them on almost every continent, it'll be hard not to find one of these plastic wonders lying around somewhere.
Large / Common Magazines
One of the biggest selling points of the Glock 17 has always been its magazine capacity, which set the standard for today's 9mm handguns: 17 rounds, all of which fits snug and slim into the grip. The Glock 19 holds only 15, but can accept the larger mags as well. Glock's worldwide proliferation keeps these mags abundant, and there are factory/aftermarket mags that can go as high as 33 rounds, which can make any lucky Glock-toting survivor a force to be reckoned with!
Versatility / Compactness / Handling
The Glock design's accuracy, slim profile, short overall length, and awesome firepower for the light weight makes it a very handy and potent package; whether it be as a trusty sidearm, a concealable backup gun, or something to help take the fight to an oncoming horde or some nasty bandits.
Parts Availability/Commonality
Glocks have served for a very long time, so accessories, spare parts and aftermarket mods are plentiful. Magazines and barrels from standard and longer-barreled Glocks can also be swapped into most smaller models of the same caliber (but not the reverse), and many parts can be swapped or cannibalized between guns if needed. With so much stuff lying around to keep it going, a Glock might long outlive the survivor owning it!
Disadvantages[]
Volatility
Consistent training: a definite must for potential Glock wielders, for in the hands of idiots it is deadly to everyone near it, as the light trigger pull and lack of a manual safety makes it easier for one to unwittingly bust a cap into themselves, into their friends, or worse: ring the dinner bell for a nearby horde.
Limited Stopping Power
The full-jacket 9mm Para bullet is pretty small and under-powered overall, so marksmanship is essential. Hollow-point or similar ammo will increase effectiveness, otherwise you may need to fire off a bunch of these to effectively halt a determined bad guy.
Awkward Ergonomics
Detractors mainly harp about the pistol's weird grip angle and its blocky feel (hence the "Block" nickname), the former requiring you to cant your wrist down in order to properly align the sights, which to some can feel unnatural. Your experience may vary.
Poor Sight Design
The factory sights get a lot of flak for the badly conceived "ball-in-a-cup" sighting picture, and that they are typically made of plastic. Hopefully you'll be able to switch them out, or you'll just have to live with them and pray they don't bust.
The Trigger Guard
When winter comes, you need warm clothing - which includes gloves. The Glock trigger guard design is pretty narrow and thus isn't very accommodating for most of us canucks who need to keep our fingers toasty.
Short Range
A given disadvantage for many handguns; the pistol ammo it fires and the short barrel limits the Glock's effectiveness to close distances. It's the kind of range that you don't want to be in with against undead, but it is the only way to be effective with this type of weapon.
Learning Curve
Unlike rifles and similar firearms, handguns generally require more technical proficiency to wield. The Glock is no exception. Without a buttstock for bracing, proper posture and fundamentals are highly key to being accurate with these weapons, and any slight offset will be unforgiving - even at a few yards; especially if you're trying to hit the bobbing craniums of approaching ghouls.
Conclusion[]
The Glock is not perfect and is now losing some ground to fresh competition, but it continues to be a trusty companion for countless many around the world, providing dependable firepower in a tough little package that is guaranteed to find a home in the waistband or holster of any wasteland survivor.
Very Highly Recommended.
M1911 series (.45 ACP)[]
An M1911, custom dual-toned
Handsome, elegant... mythical. These are just some of the qualities that you'll get with John Moses Browning's M1911 - America's sidearm against tyranny for a better part of a century. This hefty but slim hand-cannon is among the world's first modern pistol designs, yet it continues to kick butt to this day in some form or another.
Will it help survivors of the apocalypse kick some undead and bandit butt too? Well, let's take a look...
Setup[]
Beyond an accessory rail, a tac-light, a threaded barrel and a good suppressor, most well-built 1911s shouldn't need much else... aside from maybe an extended magazine: because seven rounds just aren't enough! Any one of these guns made with a lighter-weight alloy will be preferable, and a .22 LR conversion kit will definitely help with target practice while saving on the precious ammo.
Advantages[]
Availability
Private owners, police officers, certain military units, competitive shooters... the list goes on, and as such so does this famous American handgun. North American gun stores are rife with 1911s of every permutation and manufacturer, and people just keep buying them! Which means you might just be able to get one too - either by shelving out your hard-earned dollars pre-outbreak, or by doing some good scrounging in the aftermath.
Excellent Ergonomics
It's reported to be one of the most ergonomic handguns ever made: it's relatively thin and fits very well in the hand, its controls are easy to manipulate, it points naturally, and it has an incomparably crisp trigger design for smooth and accurate shooting (on the good models anyway). These qualities are why many professional and civilian owners abide by this weapon, and why there is such a passionate culture dedicated towards it - great testaments to a design that's now over a century old, and counting!
Common Ammo
With a popular pistol comes plenty of ammunition for those willing to empty their wallets to feed it. .45 ACP is also used in many other firearms, so there should be plenty of boxes lying loose out in the wasteland.
Common Magazines
With a popular pistol comes plenty of OEM/aftermarket mags to keep that ammunition flowing through it! And you will need plenty of these, as we'll discuss later.
Naturally Subsonic Ammo
Most sound suppressors require specially-made subsonic ammo in order to turn that "bang" into a "pfff", but the heavy .45 ACP round is already so. A 1911 with a threaded barrel and suppressor will thus be ideal for any potential wasteland ninja needing to snuff a foe without a fuss.
Safety Features
The design features two safeties: the thumb switch safety and the grip safety, with the single-action hammer counting as an unofficial third when it's decocked. The grip safety is key in that it allows for the weapon to be carried "cocked-and-locked" (hammer back, thumb safety engaged), while preventing any accidental discharges by mandating that the user has a proper grip for the gun to fire. These controls, in concert, are thus very exceptional at keeping the pistol idiot-proof until it is truly needed.
Stopping Power
Bullets aren't magical, but the .45 ACP cartridge ranks among the most powerful of the practical semi-auto pistol calibers, boasting enough lead and kinetic energy to drop a bad guy quickly. This won't matter much against an undead ghoul, and marksmanship will always be important, but if you want more "punch" against some crazed bandit coming for you or your family, this round going through your 1911 just might do it for you.
Compactness / Handling
This pistol is a trim and firm fit in the hand, is small enough for easy storage, and short enough to let survivors be nimble with it in close quarters, as well as any other situation where a sidearm with a heavy cartridge is what's needed to get the job done.
Parts/Accessories Availability
America's incestuous love for the 1911 has saturated the continent with factory/third-party bling that survivors can easily scavenge: from special grips, to all kinds of match-grade components, holsters and extended mags, to lights and lasers (if your model has a rail), survivors have many ways to pimp and coddle this beloved gat.
Disadvantages[]
Weight
The design was made during a period when fancy plastics didn't exist, so out of either tradition, necessity or just plain stubbornness, nearly all available 1911s are still built entirely of metal: many weighing twice more than modern designs. This heftiness makes firing the .45 ACP more pleasant, but it also results in a boat anchor on your hip, and makes this next drawback much more noticeable:
Small Magazines
Seven/Eight rounds is all you'll get out of a standard magazine. Higher cap mags are available, but are still relatively small compared to what's being offered by lighter modern handguns. Against a sizable group of enemies, your reload technique is gonna get a lot of practice.
Varying Reliability / Durability
Unfortunately, not all 1911s are made equal: this old design was made to be individually hand-fitted by specialized craftsmen, making the quality models quite expensive and therefore much less common. Many companies will skimp on such workmanship - resulting in everything from crappy magazines, to cheap components, to shoddy fit and finish that will hamper the gun's performance. Most survivors are likely to encounter these awful lemons and not realize it until it's too late.
Maintenance / Complexity
This handgun is reliable... if you treat it like a spoiled brat. Its construction is as complex as a Swiss watch and any amount of grit, debris, or fouling that gets stuck in the many tight workings has been known to jam the gun up. Field stripping is clumsier than other current handguns (and may even require tools), and many models out of the box require an expert gun-smith to be fixed, tuned, modified, or polished for it to run perfectly - if at all.
Safety "Deathtraps"
The myriad of safety features can complicate your life when you're in a bad fix; fumble your grip or forget to flick the other controls, and you'll be a deer in headlights. Nothing that a lot of good training and muscle memory won't solve, but for most average joes/josephines it is possible that fumbling with these controls will turn deadly when those split seconds count.
The Trigger Guard
It gets really cold up here in Canada, and the typical 1911 trigger guard is way too narrow for even average-sized gloved digits.
Short Range
Having a short barrel, a heavy bullet, and a single-digit mag cap, your 1911 is best used up close, especially when up against shambling ghouls. Make every shot count.
Learning Curve
Without a buttstock for bracing, the skillsets that are required in aiming and firing any pistol are much more demanding than a rifle; with the 1911 you can expect no less. Mastery of your posture and technique will determine your lethality - and thus your survivability - against potential wasteland foes.
Conclusion[]
As fine-shooting and as sweet-to-carry this design may be, most modern pistols have outclassed it, and there are other aspects of the apocalypse that I would rather focus on than having to go pamper a firearm that's as finicky as this one. But being the most common platform for the .45 ACP, resulting in the large quantities that have kept it relevant, does make these single-stack gats worth keeping - if you can find them.
Recommended: because they're plentiful - grab one when you can.
Not Recommended: as a primary sidearm, unless it's all you have.
SIG Sauer P226R (9mm)[]
The modern P226R
The 9mm P226 is an elite combat pistol forged in the Swiss Alps. Most of you have probably heard that it's been used by the U.S. Navy SEALS and some other special forces units, and that it lost to the Beretta M9 for standard U.S. adoption back in the 80's. The model's 'R' designation indicates the short accessory rail, which is now an integrated feature in the series.
Setup[]
A detachable light, a threaded barrel, and a good suppressor - these are all the ideal things that would make my combat handgun complete when I go out into the zombie-infested wastes. Don't forget a .22 LR conversion kit - always a must.
Advantages[]
High Reliability / Durability
This design has garnered a sterling reputation among soldiers and LE officers in the field for being incredibly rugged and reliable through thousands of rounds and in all kinds of adverse environments. Many of the handguns that were made back in the 80's are still being seen and used today, and the gun reportedly outpaced the M9 in rigorous U.S. military trials, only to lose out for its price tag. Then when you got a revered special forces unit endorsing it, you know it has to be good.
Ergonomics / Simplicity
Internalized safety features make this an easy point-and-shooter; just sweep the hammer to prep the trigger (if you need to), and then sweep the decocking lever after you're done to make the pistol safe to holster or drop to the ground hard - even with a loaded chamber. Take down and maintenance is also pretty simple, and the weapon's sleek contours - combined with the weight - provide a firm and very comfortable fit in the hand.
Common Ammo
The 9mm round is a very ubiquitous and versatile handgun/SMG cartridge that you can find in abundance around the world, so getting ammo to feed this alpine gat shouldn't be a problem.
Versatility / Handling
On par with most double-stack service handguns, the P226 is accurate, relatively short, and sports an ample round count (standard is 15+1); making it a maneuverable and deadly piece to point in close quarters and wherever else a good sidearm will be better over a clumsy long gun.
Availability
The SEALS are fortunately not the only ones who are privy to this unique weapon: a number of other military units (including Canada's own Special Forces), law enforcement agencies, and government departments around the world carry it as well, and it is commercially available to civilians - albeit at a very high price tag. Chances of finding one in the wasteland are at least decent.
Parts/Accessories Availability
Thirty years (and counting) in professional and private hands has spawned many aftermarket and proprietary accoutrements dedicated to this pistol; from holsters, sights, to extended high-cap mags, to lights and lasers, to spare parts and custom grips, all angles are covered for this mean Swiss machine.
Disadvantages[]
Weight and Size
Like a lot of the classic SIG pistols, the P226 is chunky and heavy; great attributes for dampening recoil, but they can be major turn-offs for survivors with small hands, and those not eager to lug a boat anchor around in their pants.
Heavy Trigger (Double-Action)
While a minor issue that can be solved with good practice, some finger strength is your friend if you have to pull the trigger on this handgun with the hammer decocked - it's a little bit heavy and it has to travel a long way before the gun can go off, during which your aim can waver if you're not used to it. It can also slow your first shot down should you have to draw on a foe quickly, which can be detrimental when split seconds count.
Limited Stopping Power
Pistol cartridges typically yield less power than rifle rounds; the 9mm Para especially so, with its small diameter and case length. Shot placement will be a must against all living and undead targets.
Short Range
Don't expect to be too effective with any handgun in a long distance battle, let alone with the P226 - they're called "sidearms" for a reason, so get out your shoulder arm if you have to hit something accurately from afar.
Learning Curve
Covered before in the other handguns: it's so easy to miss when handling one of these weapons, so rigorously study and practice the proper techniques if you want to hit what you aim at... and live to tell about it.
Conclusion[]
As simply a defensive tool, there are now newer handguns that are cheaper, lighter, less over-engineered, yet perform just as excellently. Nonetheless, potential survivors can not go wrong with finding a P226 and keeping it at their side, whose solid attributes will be reassuring on the long road and behind high walls.
Highly Recommended.
---------------
I think this completes my list! For now, anyway, until PMG puts out more stuff, but I think my preferred armory is filled up enough as it is with the stuff dreams are made of.
So now onto my other mentions, where I list other firearms I like that are either not in PMG yet, cover broad categories, or are just enough to pique my interest but are either too exotic or untested to be fully recommended (yet).
Other Mentions[]
Ruger 10/22[]
The fun gun that's plinked tin cans off fence posts for many decades! Very common, very reliable, and chambered in very cheap and plentiful .22 LR. Not recommended as a main weapon, but it can stop zombies when properly used. Survivors can also use this rifle for tasty critter huntin', good ol' target practice, or perimeter ghoul control. Many aficionados also like to pimp these with countless mall-ninja doodads for added flavour (as demonstrated above)!
Kel-Tec KSG[]
My country has no access to Saiga's or AA12s, so I turn to this as one of the coolest (if not the best) hi-cap shotgun designs to have ever arrived on the Canadian market. Packs 14+1 shells in a sci-fi bullpup config for maximum anti-ghoul firepower, but the gun is expensive, can be awkward to load, not exactly common, and the company's rep for poor quality control means the possibility of getting a lemon is high.
Simonov SKS[]
A communist battle rifle that preceded the AK-47, yet uses the same ammunition. Here in Canada it is a popular civilian-legal firearm, which features an attached folding bayonet that can prove useful for skewering ghouls, bandits, and critters alike. Feeds from a 10-round internal magazine (which can be loaded quickly with stripper clips), but no thanks to current laws it is tapped off at five. Luckily, the weapon can be modified to use detachable (though goofy-looking) box mags to solve the neutered round count, along with some mall-ninja furniture should you want to add some slickness to this post-soviet collectible. There is also a unique variant that accepts AK mags, though this is an uncommon custom niche item.
Norinco Type 81SA[]
China's former standard-issue assault rifle has also come to our snowy maple shores! This unique weapon boasts an amalgamation of several Russian designs, becoming the closest thing to an AK-47 for survivors scrounging our scarce nation. Sadly, the rifles here seem to suffer from quality issues (including canted barrels!), and aftermarket support is near non-existent. They do appear fairly functional, however, and have arrived with a steady supply of AK mags (slightly modified to fit this gun) that could possibly be used in other AK-type weapons.
Norinco Type 97 NSR-A (Gen 2/Gen 3)[]
A .223/5.56 semi-auto model of China's QBZ-95. Inexpensive and "non-restricted", the original ugly version is quite common here, but this enhanced variant is what I'd pick for the wasteland: sold with a very slick flat-top upper receiver (which has either KeyMod or M-LOK mounting slots), a slick non-reciprocating charging handle, and an ambi mag release and reshaped mag-well for slicker reloads. Definitely not a Tavor or X95, but if you can look past its limited combat record, spongy trigger, and poorly placed safety, this weapon is still considered a light, handy, reliable, and fairly accurate bullpup rifle by most civilian accounts.
IWI-US X95[]
The latest iteration of the Tavor reconfigured for U.S. commercial sale, with some enhanced ergonomics and handling characteristics; most notably a rail system integrated into the forearm, the improved trigger, the closer charging handle, and the magazine release lever being replaced by buttons above the trigger guard on both sides - making for faster reloads. No doubt a reliable and tacti-cool post-ZSHTF weapon like its older brother, and the version that I would ultimately prefer - provided their numbers here increase.
IWI-US Tavor 7[]
The Tavor's beefier new brother, chambered in .308/7.62 with brand new features: the adjustable gas system, and the switchable ejection port and MP5-style charging handle - both of which can be quickly changed over (with almost no tools) for you lonely lefties. And it takes common SR-25 magazines! Finally, another battle rifle option coming to us maple-hustling Canucks in the north - in the same Israeli bullpup platform we know and love.
Robinson Armament XCR series[]
The eXchangeable Caliber Rifle (XCR) once competed against the FN SCAR for U.S. Special Forces adoption, only to lose over bad bureaucracy and suffer many years of teething troubles, before finally becoming a celebrated underdog in the civilian gun world. It combines some of the best features of the AK, FAL, and AR-15 with some unique ambidextrous controls to create a plain-looking, yet well-crafted tacti-cool rifle, capable of chambering a multitude of calibers with a simple swap of the barrel assembly (and the bolt, sometimes). The old "non-restricted" models once proliferated here in Canada, but very few places sell or stockpile this rather exotic firearm for future survivors to acquire.
XCR-L (5.56x45mm): A short-barreled carbine with a suppressor would certainly make for an excellent ghoul/bandit-snuffer for sneeki-breeki raids! And it has to have that new and sexy-looking M-LOK handguard that shrouds the whole barrel, for mounting all my doodads and to perfect my tacti-cool c-clamp grip for muzzle control.
XCR-M (7.62x51mm): This won't beat the SCAR-H in weight and looks, but for function and (slightly better) availability, it certainly fills my modern post-apocalyptic battle rifle niche, and would be my preferred XCR if I could only have one. A variable-powered scope and some canted back-up sights will be all I need to outfit this mean and fast long-range beast. Gotta have that M-LOK handguard up front as well!
CZ BREN 2 series[]
If the ACR and the SCAR became a couple, the BREN 2 series would be the resulting love children. Taking the best features of both those designs, this tacti-cool Czech platform combines them into a rugged and much more refined package. These guns have seen combat in Ukraine, and have also arrived in Canada; good news for us tacti-cool clowns, who may want one of these beauties for their arsenal! However pricey and exotic they sadly are...
BREN 2 MS (5.56x45mm): The commercial semi-auto version of the standard BREN 2. Much like the military version, it retains the same ambidextrous controls, bolt-lock/release buttons in the trigger guard, and non-reciprocating charging handle, while uniquely having a modular/swappable M-LOK fore-end for aftermarket tinkering. It can also be converted to shoot 7.62x39mm rounds, but mags are proprietary and not AK compatible. This gun would definitely replace the Tavor on my ranked listing, being cheaper and much more modular.
CZ BREN 2 BR
BREN 2 BR (7.62x51mm): The select-fire battle rifle variant (therefore "BR") , which is available to military and law enforcement only. In current media it is shown to be a tough and reliable weapon, and that it feeds from a proprietary 25-round box magazine - although CZ says it can also take military and commercial .308/7.62 mags. It remains unknown when the semi-auto-only model will be released for us civvies, but once it does and any of these start arriving in Canada, I think I can say goodbye to the SCAR-H and XCR-M in my zombie shoot 'em up fantasies.
AR-15 series[]
Anything M16-like, basically. Americans, Canucks, and a number of armed forces abroad have used many iterations of this platform over the years, making parts and accessories plentiful to keep these guns supported. If I can't get my hands on a C7 or C8, I can settle with the next best thing. I might even try and build a rifle of my own!
H&K G3[]
In its heyday, this German battle rifle had proven itself to be a tough and accurate shoulder arm, and there are quite a few still being equipped by a number of standing armies and paramilitary units. What turns me off though is the long awkward charging handle, its awkward reload process, the reportedly awful triggers, the mechanism's vulnerability to mud and grit, and that the gun is mostly used in developing nations (where I probably won't be). It's also banned in Canada.
H&K UMP series[]
The polymer SMG that was built to dethrone the long-venerated MP5... and ultimately failed. It has improved ergonomics, a bolt-catch/release button to quicken reloads, and its gas blowback mechanism is much simpler than that of its predecessor, resulting in looser tolerances for increased reliability in harsh environments. It also resulted (even with the 9mm variant) in increased felt recoil on the user beyond even some assault rifles! Coupled with its awful trigger, this platform failed to see widespread deployment.
Regardless, the UMP continues to serve mostly with law enforcement and paramilitary units, but in very limited numbers. If I had to choose one for my wasteland travels, and magazines and parts weren't so scarce, the UMP40 appears to be the most ubiquitous and viable for us North American survivors, and is one of the only weapons that seem practical enough to chamber the "snappy" .40 S&W cartridge.
FN SCAR Mk. 16 / 16S[]
I'm a little bit in love with the SCAR platform; so if I can have a Mk. 17 in my perfect post-ZSHTF scenario... why not have a Mk. 16 to keep it company? Probably the most feasible SCAR option, what with the lighter caliber being easier to shoot and the wider choices in magazines. Still quite exotic, however, and reportedly not much of an improvement over most well-built AR-15/M16s. It's banned here anyway, so... yeah.
SVD/SVDS Dragunov[]
The world's most ubiquitous sniper rifle and DMR, which fires some pretty common ammunition as well. Good luck trying to get one of these in zombieland North America, because the 3rd-world is where this deadly "dragon" usually dwells.
Revolvers (any)[]
Anything from little derringers to full-framed hand-cannons. These wheel guns are accurate and mechanically reliable weapons that always come ready-to-go, and greatly ensures ammo management. However, their low shot capacity (average is 5 to 6 rounds), typically high recoil, and antiquated loading method render them obsolete against modern semi-auto designs. And when a jam or malfunction occurs, the gun is pretty much kaput without a gunsmith to fix it. If you really have to rely on one of these when the world ends, the .357 Magnum models would be preferred, as they can also chamber the common and less snappy .38 Special cartridge.
Glock 21[]
Deemed to be one of the best .45 ACP handguns available; it carries 13+1 man/ghoul-stoppers, and has all the no-frills "perfection" you've come to expect of the Glock design. Even in places like Canada - with bans on "high-capacity magazines" - it still holds more ammo in a lighter weight than most other .45 platforms of the same size. Unfortunately, not enough people or institutions use this handgun to make it ubiquitous.
Glock 20[]
The other big-bore Glock, chambered for the infamously potent 10mm Auto cartridge. Its 15+1 round count, combined with its lighter-weight Glock "perfection", has allowed hunters/survivalists to ditch their Magnum revolvers for this powerful, practical, yet unassuming polymer-framed bad boy. The pistol and its ammo are pricey and scarce, but it can also load and shoot the more common .40 S&W round quite reliably.
Browning Hi Power[]
American-designed, Belgian-made: the first real combat handgun chambered in 9mm, boasting an unprecedented 13+1 capacity. It's used by more than fifty nations (including Canada, at present), with a service history going all the way back before World War 2. Despite being ahead of its time and enjoying greater worldwide ubiquity over the M1911, it has received little aftermarket attention and many modern designs have since eclipsed it - though I would still pick this over its predecessor any day of the week.
Smith & Wesson M&P series[]
I've heard many great things about S&W's handgun design; I even had the chance to hold one in a gunstore in Vegas. Though Glocks still beat it in track record and sheer numbers, the M&P (Military & Police) line rivals with its superb reliability and simplicity, while excelling with its sleek looks and ergonomics - along with a slightly cheaper price tag. The M&Ps have thus evolved and grown popular over the years to the point where even a couple of police departments here in Canada are now issuing them. Unfortunately, these departments aren't exactly close by, so for me this is definitely a pre-outbreak purchase decision.
M&P 40 SNAKE SKIN CERAKOTE SEXINESS
M&P40 (Full-Size 4.25") : Favored for currently being what's used by the select Canada PDs, and that if I find any .40 S&W ammo out in the wastes, this handgun is designed to use it best. Holds 15+1 rounds. Should the means become available, this pistol can easily be converted with factory/aftermarket barrels and magazines to fire either 9mm (17+1) or .357 SIG (15+1), giving you three caliber options in one. (.357 and .40 also share the same mags)
Pistol Showcase- Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 45
M&P45 (Full-Size 4.6") : Chosen because I'm lacking in good .45 ACP options. The version I want would sport the slightly-longer barrel & slide, which has been reviewed to be one of the softest-recoiling and most ergonomic designs for the caliber - qualities that make it comparable to the M1911. But as a compromise, it packs only 10+1 rounds; which still beats what's in the aforementioned pistol, and happens to follow the (dumb) mag cap laws here, making this one of the better handguns designed for this round count. Extended 14-round mags do exist, but we'll probably never see them up here.
M&P 10mm (Full-Size 4.6"/5.6") : While just as uncommon and niche as its older competitor, the Glock 20, this slick handcannon is a level above ergonomically (and aesthetically), and is a very welcome addition to the series. It holds 15+1 rounds of 10mm Auto firepower, can load and fire .40 S&W rounds in a pinch, and shares the same frame dimensions as the M&P45. This means that they also share magazines, making them very companionable pistols for the apocalypse; should a spare mag be scarce for either gun, you can load fifteen rounds of 10mm into the 10-round .45 magazine, or ten rounds of .45 into the other!
Examining the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Compact Pistol
M&P9/40 "M2.0" Compact: The mid-sized model of the series, with all the latest enhancements of the "M2.0" generation. Carries 15/13 rounds (for 9mm or .40 S&W, respectively) in a package that balances firepower with concealability; much like the popular Glock 19. The fact that this design also takes the full-sized mags makes this the most ideal M&P for post-ZSHTF survivalists.
Arsenal Rankings (real life)[]
Picked from within and outside PMG, these guns are ranked according to realistic expectations and/or outright bad-a$$ness. Highlighted names comprise my ultimate dream loadout.
Long Guns[]
- 1st. C7A2
- 2nd. M1A "Scout Squad" or "SOCOM 18"'
- 3rd. CSA vz. 58 (7.62x39mm)
- 4th. IWI Tavor/IWI X95 or CZ Bren 2 MS (11")
Shotguns[]
- 1st. Remington 870 (issued to LE and Military)
- 2nd. Mossberg 590SP
- 3rd. Bennelli M4
- 4th. KSG
Sidearms[]
- 1st. Glock 17 or 19 (police standard issue)
- 2nd. Browning Hi Power (Canadian military standard-issue)
- 3rd. SIG Sauer P226
- 4th. M&P9 or M&P9 "M2.0" Compact