ZOMBIES!!! The Best Weapons for Obliterating Zombies in the Apocalypse (2 page)

If choosing a more contemporary firearm, you have a whole array of weapons to choose from. Guns such as handguns, rifles, carbines, and Berettas all have unique strengths and weaknesses.

The typical handgun is an excellent firearm for most zombie killers who prefer guns. Ammo for the handgun tends to be easy to find and most people are able to operate one. I find that a Beretta 92F works well in most situations. Machine guns are an excellent way of killing more than one zombie at a time, but they run out of ammo quickly and are loud. A sniper's rifle can pick off zombies a great distance away and is definitely an asset to your weapon collection.

There are countless other weapons that shoot projectiles similarly to guns. Many of them use the user's manpower. Others are less tiring and use cables to project objects.

Used since ancient times, the bow is a classic weapon of defense. However, more traditional versions were hard to use or required the strength of one or many people to fire. Nevertheless, they have historically had their uses. During medieval times, the English longbow, which could pierce armor, was used to win many battles. It was this weapon that allowed them to beat the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The Mongols developed the first composite bow, which was light and accurate, enabling them to shoot accurately at enemies while on horseback. However, most of these historical examples require too much strength and skill, combined with little firing

accuracy, and are therefore not recommended.

Contemporary bows are much more reliable than ancient prototypes, and they are much easier to use. However, they still require an inordinate amount of strength and training to use effectively when compared to many weapons. They do have some benefits. Generally, most arrows can be used again and again, unlike gun ammunition. They are also much quieter than most projective weapons, and can be as accurate as a gun if used correctly. However, the chance of contamination is high. Removing the arrow from a zombie can bring the user into contact with unwanted blood or other fluids. It also takes much longer to reload and shoot, thereby increasing chances of being bitten or scratched while using. They can be used in some of the same situations as handguns, but cannot be used at such short range. They also lack the long range capabilities of most rifles.

Because of the skill needed, the possibility of contamination, and the long re-load time, this weapon is not recommended for most users as a first choice for killing zombies. However, because the ammo can be used repeatedly, and because it can be made by the user with little practice (through flintknapping), it would be a good idea to practice with this weapon in case other projectile weapons become unavailable or unusable in the zombie apocalypse future.

Crossbows are an excellent option for the bow-friendly user who lacks the skill for the more traditional models. Like traditional bows, they have many positive aspects: they are silent, and their ammo can be re-used. However, they also have additional benefits. They have a good firing range, and their ease of use makes this weapon and excellent option for someone who wants to kill zombies from long-range distances. They also have a lot of force and can bring down larger or stronger zombies that other weapons may not kill or slow down. Crossbows can be used in place of a sniper rifle in some situations, and they can be a much better option due to their lack of sound.

Crossbows, both the single and repeating varieties, were thought to have originated in ancient China. Their use later spread to Greece, Rome, and eventually medieval Europe, where they were used in both military procedures and assassination attempts. They use metal bolts rather than arrows, and were more accurate and sturdy than most bows of the time period. However, some argue that the harder to use longbow was more accurate. Because they were so easy to learn to use (most sources indicate that a soldier could learn to use one effectively in a week), they were eventually banned from battle by the Pope (though he did not monitor their actual use). This was because of the unfair advantage they bestowed over better-trained soldiers who we lesser equipped.

Crossbows also have some serious drawbacks. Like other bows, they take a long time to re-load. In fact, their reload time is slightly longer than other bows, so there is a great chance of being injured or contaminated by zombies when using at close range. Your best bet is to use this as a long range weapon for killing zombies, rather than for hand-to-hand combat.

A final note: user-made crossbows can be extremely effective, and the user may consider also learning how to use or make one of these weapons in the event of an emergency.

You might be surprised to learn that there are projectile-based weapons other than guns or bows that can effectively kill a zombie. Each one has its failings and merits, and each one is suitable for certain situations and skill levels.

When we are children, slings and slingshots are merely toys. But the weapon sophisticate knows slings can also be deadly in the right hands. Like most projectile weapons, there is some skill and strength involved when using them.  Generally, a sling is a small cup or pouch of cloth or leather which is attached to strong, thin ropes. A stone or other similarly-shaped object is used as ammo. It is placed in the cup, and the user swings the sling above the head in a circular motion. When ready to shoot, one of the ropes is let go, allowing the stone or object to be shot at a target. The most obvious mythological example comes from the bible story of David and Goliath. Goliath, who was a giant, and some say one of the nephalem, was challenged and killed by David, a simple shepherd, with nothing but a sling. However, using a sling against zombies is problematic for the following reasons: the ropes make a whistling sound in use (this may attract more zombies due to their keen sense of hearing), there are limits to its effectiveness based on your strength (how big of ammo you can use), and finally, it is highly inaccurate (more so for someone with little training). Historically, slings were used in ancient times for hunting small game, or they were used by shepherds to protect their livestock from predators. However, since they can be easily made, and since they do not require specialized ammo, this is something a user could easily make for themselves, if needed.

             
Unlike the sling, the slingshot does not have the violence or killing power needed to take down a zombie. While it is more accurate, due to its shape and manner or propelling objects, it cannot shoot large enough objects, or shoot them fast enough to do any damage. Avoid using at all costs when confronting zombies!

Some knives are designed expressly for throwing at a target. However, most knives (hunting, kitchen, and pocket knives) are not. It also takes a great deal of strength and skill to master a pair of throwing knives so that you can use them effectively. They also don't have the capacity to pierce a human skull except with years of training and perfect throws. You are better served using your knives at close range to decapitate or disembowel a zombie than you are at throwing them at a zombie's head.