Common weapons?

[Conquistador]

Okay, I have a question, no rancor but a smidgen confused...

I notice that it appears that many (most) "survivors" miniatures are armed with noisy, ammo-guzzling automatic weapons.

Since it is not required that loud noises draw Zombies (mutants and demonic creatures, perhaps,) which would possibly make fully automatic weapons short term risky perhaps, I wonder about:

1)  The viability of automatic (or given the lack of fire discipline by modern military, paramilitary, and civilians) weaponry in a world where bullets may be limited.

2)  The availability of fully automatic weapons to survivors who don't own them legally (here in the USA getting a license to own/operate a functional fully automatic weapon is reportedly harder than a Top Secret clearance - from the people who have both - to obtain,) can't break into the local armory, or take them from the hands of criminals/gang-bangers (no small task perhaps,) seems... limited.

Okay first let me partially answer my own concern:

Maybe the weapons I see on so many miniatures are semi-automatic "look alike" weapons (the well known Hello Kitty AR-15 for example) and not fully automatic.

Not being familiar with many APOC rules, can survivors in those games acquire automatic weapons (and sufficient ammo) easily either in character/gang creation or game play?  Do most rules reflect the "Oh Crud" moment of being (completely) out of ammunition for said weapon for game/campaign play?

What weapons would you most likely be able to pick up if the APOC (Zombie, Mutant, "normal" humans) happened today?

Sitting here right now I can think of my wife's Tai Chi Straight Swords (2 metal, 2 wood,) Kitchen knives, old Herter Camping/Hunting Knives, Shovels, Pick, Axe, Saws (better than my hands,) hand tools, Swiss Army knife and similar, and (currently) not a single firearm [for once in life] that I/my family would have on hand.  I rather think all the Pepper spray everyone has would be useless for Zombies, might work to stop Mutants, humans.

Would you be able to "adequately" arm yourself, family, close friends, like it seems to occur in the AARs I see posted?

Yeah, I know, why am I putting reality into what is essentially Science Fantasy games?  I don't know, it just struck me seeing some newly posted figures with some heavy firepower.

Gracias,

Glenn

[Red Orc]

Large and small kitchen knives, fishing knife, cricket bat, monkey wrench and some woodworking tools. I don't even have a chainsaw - the closest thing I have is a dremmel, and I've never heard of any zombies being taken out with one of those! No firearms (we don't really have those in the UK so much) or pepper spray or Mace. I have some pepper, and some mace, but strictly for cooking. Best I could in terms of pepper spray would be a little tub of ground white pepper I have somewhere. I suppose I could if pressed throw it in a mutant's face before I hit him with a hammer. I think i have some cricket stumps, but frankly they seem like they'd be more use against vampires. Oh, I suppose also bottles of bleach and suchlike.

But the whole point of the apocalypse is that weaponry does become available. All those soldiers down the barracks? Dead - the Space Plague got them - so why not raid the armoury and steal some ammo/a tank? The Gunstore/Hunting Suppliers? Gutted by the Terror-Fish on their way through town, the doors are hanging off and all the crossbows/rocket propelled grenades are just lying on the floor. The annoying Inspector from the Ministry of Stopping You Making Explody Things in a Residential Area? Eaten by the Mushroom People so he can't stop you making superior ammo from bits of old carpet and parts from a 1961 Chevy.

Etc etc...

[Machinegunkelly]

I´ve got a full suit of chain mail armour (bite through that bastard), spears, swords( I think I would go for the cavalary sable since it is original and not a modern replica). And a double barrel shotgun in case of emergency.

[Conquistador]

Large and small kitchen knives, fishing knife, cricket bat, monkey wrench and some woodworking tools. I don't even have a chainsaw - the closest thing I have is a dremmel, and I've never heard of any zombies being taken out with one of those! No firearms (we don't really have those in the UK so much) or pepper spray or Mace. I have some pepper, and some mace, but strictly for cooking. Best I could in terms of pepper spray would be a little tub of ground white pepper I have somewhere. I suppose I could if pressed throw it in a mutant's face before I hit him with a hammer. I think i have some cricket stumps, but frankly they seem like they'd be more use against vampires. Oh, I suppose also bottles of bleach and suchlike.

But the whole point of the apocalypse is that weaponry does become available. All those soldiers down the barracks? Dead - the Space Plague got them - so why not raid the armoury and steal some ammo/a tank? The Gunstore/Hunting Suppliers? Gutted by the Terror-Fish on their way through town, the doors are hanging off and all the crossbows/rocket propelled grenades are just lying on the floor. The annoying Inspector from the Ministry of Stopping You Making Explody Things in a Residential Area? Eaten by the Mushroom People so he can't stop you making superior ammo from bits of old carpet and parts from a 1961 Chevy.

Etc etc...

I like this.

Gracias,

Glenn

[Conquistador]

I´ve got a full suit of chain mail armour (bite through that bastard), spears, swords( I think I would go for the cavalary sable since it is original and not a modern replica). And a double barrel shotgun in case of emergency.

So all those SCA and re-enactors will start with an edge... pun intended.

Gracias,

Glenn

[Sinewgrab]

Easily within reach?  .357 magnum pistol, .22 target pistol, 12 gauge single shotgun, unsharpened claymore with full tang, 'battle-ready' short sword, suit of pickle barrel plate armor and steel roman plate (lorica segmentata) from my re-enactment days, no small number of hunting and kitchen knives, pickaxe, splitting maul, axe, several hatchets, 2 agricultural bills I picked up for a song at an estate sale that the gentleman had no idea what they were,and a propane flamethrower I use to clear weeds.

Geebus - when I write it all down, I sound like a small armory.

[Machinegunkelly]

Perhaps time to modify an old mediaval knight miniature as a PA survivor?

[Andrew May]

 

Us Brits don't have such a good time as you new worlders!
All I have is hand tools and kitchen blades.
I reckon I'd be better off with a table leg than most of what I've got lying around although, as Red Orc says, I've got army barracks just down the road!

[Elk101]

Ice axes would be pretty effective against zombies in a post-apoc setting. I have 4 of those to hand. Most wargamers probably have a sword or two kicking around too!

[Grimjack]

Most armouries in the UK, whether police or military, are pretty secure and are kept that way. Yes, you might find some weapons on the streets but limited ammunition would be the name of the game, most units only carry a certain number of rounds.

It is a bit of a fantasy over in the UK that we would have access to a lot of firearms beyond the shotgun or air rifle - now, crossbows and bows, that's a different matter but still hard to find and easily looted.

In the UK, just aim for what is in the house rather than wish fulfilment moments.

[bandit86]

I have been working on some. One has an iron bar the other a garden hoe.

[FATROC]

I live in the U.S. so privately owned firearms are still legal. For firearms, I own a Glock 27 in .40 SW, a Marlin 336C lever action in .30-30, a Bush Master C-15 in 5.56mm, and two Mossberg 500 12 gauge shotguns. I try to maintain at least 500 rounds of ammo for each firearm. I also collect edged weapons. I have two bayonets for the M16, one bayonet for a M1 Garand, a Marine issue K-Bar, a tactical tomahawk, a U.S. Army N.C.O. saber, and a few other blades. I also own a couple of crowbars, baseball bats, shovels, kitchen knives, hammers, and other hand tools that could serve as a weapon. I'm thinking of picking up the new M48 Kommando Survival Hammer being produced by United Cutlery. It appears to be based on a German War Hammer from the 1500s.
Being former military, and current Law Enforcement, my friends and I tend to prepare for a lot of "worst case' scenarios. Honestly, weapons can be improvised from almost anything. It's the lack of food and water that will be the biggest challenge. I don't know what the stats are for Europe, but the average U.S. city only has about 3 days worth of food on hand. Most people don't think to store up food, when they can just run to the Super Market down the road. But what happens when the shelves are empty....  

[capthugeca]

But what happens when the shelves are empty.... 

We'd have to resort to McDonalds!!!!!!! 

[Mathyoo]

If we're talking about "at hand" only, I've got knives, axes and a chainsaw (yay! ). But I believe you shouldn't concern yourself with this, unless you want to play it "realistically" (in this aspect at least).

If so, my friend, for example, has shitload of weapons and ammunition at home. I am sure he has mentioned he has something like 7 or so rifles and 20 handguns. Which wouldn't help me per se, but just so you know - people do have it. Now while I am not from US, I've heard some people store lots of ammo in their houses, so I'd presume raiding a house for ammo would suffice to give you a limited supply.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but here, automatic rifles are locked behind double door and armed with alarm. I think those would be accessible if you'd be able to get in the barracks, but the question is if those would still be there - if army would be mobilised, you'd have more chance finding it on the streets -where others would be looking for it, as well. We got old "ak-47s" (its a yugoslav made copycat, so technically M70AB2) stored in warehouses in "case of war" for general mobilisation and some were sent to Iraqis and such. But those are located in one or two bigger warehouses in country, so good luck getting there.

I see lot of people wonder where you'd get a gun, but I got another question for you guys...if you'd find it, would you know how to use it? Even if in the essence, shooting gun is just pointing and pulling the trigger, I would be hardly convinced someone who never had interest in guns would even know how to lock/unlock it, aim properly and hit A HEAD on an approaching zombie, while being all wet between the legs from fear. Even someone would be able to do that, reloading a weapon (considering you got bullets) isn't as easy as it seems if noone shows you how to do it. And even if you do that, jammed weapon is as good as gone. Plus, even if you'd manage to unjam it (ak47s were made for people with little training and such after all), you could never take care of it. In Vietnam, trained soldiers had problems with that, imagine how it would be to a guy who has only saw weapons in Call of Duty.

I must say that I prefer melee weapons and I still haven't found a zombie game perfect for my needs. And with weapons, semi-auto would be a way to go, as you need aimed headshots anyways. But...imagine Walking dead without guns -boooring. And if zombies would come, we'd be all dead meat before we could even think about getting a weapon. So, play it so that game is fun, regardless of all the details.

Even if you'd be fighting zombies in melee, swing that knife few times and see how quickly you can get exhausted

[HerbyF]

I have a couple of cutlasses & a Cavelry saber. I also keep a couple of lightweight crossbows around the house. Can make one out of some cable a car spring & a 2 by 4. Done it before. Shoots push rods really well.