Combat tactics 101: Melee weapon choice

[foxx]

There will be ammo to be found, or traded. I think there would be a timeframe to the major uprising, lots of battles, and ammo will be used. Yet, as time goes on, I suspect most of the survivors will see fewer and fewer Zombies. Some cache of guns and ammunition will be found, and can be used in trade for other goods.
I will have some other weapons, but I won't be tossing my guns just cause I run out of ammo. In the long term, maybe there won't be any Zombies, every other plague has a lilfespan. Then a world without guns or Zombies would leave just farmers.

[squinty]

For Zombies - for your Romero standard shuffling, need to destroy the head zombies - I'd swing a nice heavy roofing or framing hammer. 22 - 28 ounces. Good tempered steel, swings naturally, one side smashes one side removes big divots of zedhead, and when you're finished fighting them off you can use it to board up your apartment before some more show up. Use a lanyard.

For IRL? The crusades are over. Non-firearm "melee" weapons aren't my thing. If I'm doing something that requires a particular tool, I'll use the tool at hand if I need to. I carry a strictly utility knife and a small flashlight. Neither are intended as weapons, either could be pressed into service in a dire emergency but I'm not expert at using them in a martial capacity.

The only dedicated "weapon" I keep on hand that doesn't go bang is OC spray.

This is a zpaw discussion my friend. You no longer have companies putting out the materials needed to assemble ammunition nor do you have companies producing routine maintenance and/or replacement parts for your firearms. You've got to ration your ammo as much as possible. Roll with it

I'm rolling with it, bossman, been rolling with it for three years now! I was contrasting my "Zombie Beatdown" non-firearm weapon of choice - a heavyish, long handled flat claw hammer - with IRL ("in real life" - also called the NAW, or "not apocalyptic world") in which I don't carry much in the way of melee weppings.

Though now that I think about it, why not a bayonet? No use for one IRL/NAW, but what's wrong with a handy field knife that you can stick on the end of your rifle and perforate Zed melon with? Been looking for the proper muzzle brake to stick on my Mini, perhaps I'll shop for a bayonet lug as well.

I still think the best weapons are improvised dual use weapons, not sure why but I always think of ZA survivors as having mastered the art of making do. So, crowbars and carpenter's hatchets and canoe paddles and pitchforks. Maybe a pair of survivors could get a tandem "house clearing" routine down with the pitchfork and hammer: one guy man's the pitchfork and uses it to temporarily immoblize the zed - by pinning it to a wall, or the ground, or just wedging it on or between the tines, and holding it for a second. This sets up the other guy to use his axe or hammer or maglite to brain the restrained shuffler. Rinse repeat. They get it refined to a sort of dance, like the two step. Fork - hammer shuffle ball chang, fork hammer slide, two three fork - hammer shuffle ball change, fork hammer sliiiiide, etc. What music should they play?

[Malleolus]

There will be ammo to be found, or traded. I think there would be a timeframe to the major uprising, lots of battles, and ammo will be used. Yet, as time goes on, I suspect most of the survivors will see fewer and fewer Zombies. Some cache of guns and ammunition will be found, and can be used in trade for other goods.
I will have some other weapons, but I won't be tossing my guns just cause I run out of ammo. In the long term, maybe there won't be any Zombies, every other plague has a lilfespan. Then a world without guns or Zombies would leave just farmers.

Not saying to toss guns out, but when your ammo drops out, you're just going to have a bunch of relatively light weight guns that for the most part aren't designed for bashing things over the head, and unless you've got a good object you have designated as, and trained with, a weapon you're going to wind up with a bunch of dented, broken guns.

[foxx]

That's why most here agree that having both firearms and other weapons is the only practical choice.
I've been practicing with a Tomahawk and an Airsoft pistol, one in each hand. It's interesting, two very different weapons to transition between. The body and mind both have to adjust, I don't quite trust myself with a real gun and a real tomahawk yet. Maybe it's just too risky, and they shouldn't cross paths. I don't know yet.

[squinty]

There will be ammo to be found, or traded. I think there would be a timeframe to the major uprising, lots of battles, and ammo will be used. Yet, as time goes on, I suspect most of the survivors will see fewer and fewer Zombies. Some cache of guns and ammunition will be found, and can be used in trade for other goods.
I will have some other weapons, but I won't be tossing my guns just cause I run out of ammo. In the long term, maybe there won't be any Zombies, every other plague has a lilfespan. Then a world without guns or Zombies would leave just farmers.

Not saying to toss guns out, but when your ammo drops out, you're just going to have a bunch of relatively light weight guns that for the most part aren't designed for bashing things over the head, and unless you've got a good object you have designated as, and trained with, a weapon you're going to wind up with a bunch of dented, broken guns.

Mosin Nagant M44 FTW! It's a rifle and a spear and a club - and a decent canoe paddle - all in one cheap, ugly little package.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

There will be ammo to be found, or traded. I think there would be a timeframe to the major uprising, lots of battles, and ammo will be used. Yet, as time goes on, I suspect most of the survivors will see fewer and fewer Zombies. Some cache of guns and ammunition will be found, and can be used in trade for other goods.
I will have some other weapons, but I won't be tossing my guns just cause I run out of ammo. In the long term, maybe there won't be any Zombies, every other plague has a lilfespan. Then a world without guns or Zombies would leave just farmers.

Not saying to toss guns out, but when your ammo drops out, you're just going to have a bunch of relatively light weight guns that for the most part aren't designed for bashing things over the head, and unless you've got a good object you have designated as, and trained with, a weapon you're going to wind up with a bunch of dented, broken guns.

I'll stick with my AR then. I've had training with it, and when I run out of ammo, I have a 43" spear that I've also trained with, and a nasty blunt instrument on the back end. I also have two legs and a pair of lungs for my favorite ZCT, take off running and shout "RUN AWAAAAAAAAY" in my best John Cleese voice. That assumes, of course, that I've already expended the stash of AR and AK ammo, and my hunting ammo, and my pistol ammo, and my .22 ammo, and all my Dad's ammo, in which case they're importing zombies from other states and it's timeto execute plan B) Run away and watch the SCA nerds from afar whilst sipping Mai-Tais from a rooftop with a sun umbrella and playing D&D.

Yes I called you nerds. Big, muscley nerds wearing steel armor and swinging heavy weapons, but lets face it, SCA is what happens when D&D guys got tired of getting beat up and ordered steroids...Real men stayed in the basement with the Fritos and Mountain Dew and awaited the creation of the intarnet.

[Turtlewolf]

Darn it Doc Torr thats a good plan! Probably the best I've seen on here yet, I remember still playing D&D when SCA first started and wondering what the hell they were doing.
Of course growing up on the farm I realy had nothing to prove physicaly when I moved into town and realy didn't catch onto the idea that there even were Nerds until the late 1990's, my D&D crew consisted of school jocks, nerds, skids and red necks like me.
Maybe it was just a wierd town......
cheers

[Malleolus]

There will be ammo to be found, or traded. I think there would be a timeframe to the major uprising, lots of battles, and ammo will be used. Yet, as time goes on, I suspect most of the survivors will see fewer and fewer Zombies. Some cache of guns and ammunition will be found, and can be used in trade for other goods.
I will have some other weapons, but I won't be tossing my guns just cause I run out of ammo. In the long term, maybe there won't be any Zombies, every other plague has a lilfespan. Then a world without guns or Zombies would leave just farmers.

Not saying to toss guns out, but when your ammo drops out, you're just going to have a bunch of relatively light weight guns that for the most part aren't designed for bashing things over the head, and unless you've got a good object you have designated as, and trained with, a weapon you're going to wind up with a bunch of dented, broken guns.

I'll stick with my AR then. I've had training with it, and when I run out of ammo, I have a 43" spear that I've also trained with, and a nasty blunt instrument on the back end. I also have two legs and a pair of lungs for my favorite ZCT, take off running and shout "RUN AWAAAAAAAAY" in my best John Cleese voice. That assumes, of course, that I've already expended the stash of AR and AK ammo, and my hunting ammo, and my pistol ammo, and my .22 ammo, and all my Dad's ammo, in which case they're importing zombies from other states and it's timeto execute plan B) Run away and watch the SCA nerds from afar whilst sipping Mai-Tais from a rooftop with a sun umbrella and playing D&D.

Yes I called you nerds. Big, muscley nerds wearing steel armor and swinging heavy weapons, but lets face it, SCA is what happens when D&D guys got tired of getting beat up and ordered steroids...Real men stayed in the basement with the Fritos and Mountain Dew and awaited the creation of the intarnet.

That has to be the most hilarious association I've seen about the SCA

[Cherokee John]

I have a Cold Steel shovel that seems to fit my needs. It's a bladed weapon that can be used for blunt force trauma. You can throw them (I wouldn't throw away a perfectly good weapon) and then bury your dispatched bodies. They have reach and you can swing them all day because they are light.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cold+steel+shovel&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1920&bih=955&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=pOtqsZ_W04KDDM:&imgrefurl=http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/Special-Forces-Shovel.html&docid=Hj0i4WsGQP8WJM&imgurl=http://www.coldsteel-uk.com/store/special-forces-shovel-92sf.jpg&w=320&h=320&ei=PG9CT_GrK-_vmAXGuLGpBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=99&dur=107&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=102&ty=132&sig=118189527206108785402&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=137&start=0&ndsp=45&ved=0CEUQrQMwAA

I also have a Cold Steel Bushman knife which can double as a spearhead. I affix it to the end of a very light and strong walking stick (which can be used as a blunt instrument as well)

My Ka-Bar USMC issued. Cold Steel Tanto-have recieved training with this knife.

[SeaDog]

Short sword and a hatchet. I have practiced what I consider to be extensively with short swords and a bit with the hatchet, I need a proper training version so I don kill someone while trying to parry...

Of course these are secondary to a proper long gun. Sadly, I have the short sword and hatchet but not the long arm :I

Melee weapons but no long arm?
You live in Texas with no firearm?
I think my igloo just started melting.
cheers

I live in Texas and I thought we all carried guns. Dude, you're giving us Texans a bad rep. Get some guns or move to Cali. A good Texan should never have no less than two lethal weapons on himself at all times.

[squinty]

Short sword and a hatchet. I have practiced what I consider to be extensively with short swords and a bit with the hatchet, I need a proper training version so I don kill someone while trying to parry...

Of course these are secondary to a proper long gun. Sadly, I have the short sword and hatchet but not the long arm :I

Melee weapons but no long arm?
You live in Texas with no firearm?
I think my igloo just started melting.
cheers

I live in Texas and I thought we all carried guns. Dude, you're giving us Texans a bad rep. Get some guns or move to Cali. A good Texan should never have no less than two lethal weapons on himself at all times.

I live in NC. Unlike Texans, we can open carry. Nyah-nyah.

Framing hammer in the loop on my carpenter jeans. Zed's show up I'll nail 'em.

[SeaDog]

Dang it...you lucky dog. I so wish we could open carry here. One would think of all places, the Great State of Texas would allow open carry. We're working on it though.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

M4gery. Bayonet and buttstroke FTW. Failing that, lemme get Leon Kennedy's knife: that sumbitch did 1/3 the damage of an RPG with each headshot!

[nill]

I would personally never try to kill a zombie from melee range. I would prefer to push it away, get some range and then think about what to do with it. I would always have things like leather jacket and such on me that could not be penetrated by a biting zombie. If you are 100% sure that your gear can and will sustain a biting zombie; i would just jam my elbow in its mouth and push it away(Assuming one pushes me to ground and is now sitting on top of me or something). Last thing i would want is blood and other fluids spraying all over the place.

But if i had no choice i would use some long item to poke its eyes out/maybe even damage the brain or if extremely close range (Zombie is hugging me) i would try to stab its eyes.

[mantis]

If this is truly combat tactics 101, the first less should be how to avoid getting into situations where a "melee" weapon could be employed.

[squinty]

If this is truly combat tactics 101, the first less should be how to avoid getting into situations where a "melee" weapon could be employed.

This is actually zombie combat tactics 101, where everyone gets to be the humungous.

[Malleolus]

... if you aren't going to include melee weapons in your combat tactics, then when your 50+ rounds gets wasted in a hoard of zombies with only a fraction of them being killing shots, then you're on your own.

[squinty]

... if you aren't going to include melee weapons in your combat tactics, then when your 50+ rounds gets wasted in a hoard of zombies with only a fraction of them being killing shots, then you're on your own.

I'm on my own with my MIGHTY KUNG FU!
I will float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Ain't no Zombie gonna much munch on me.
When I'm confronted by undeads, I do flying side kicks to their heads.

[Malleolus]

I'm on my own with my MIGHTY KUNG FU!
I will float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Ain't no Zombie gonna much on me.
When I'm confronted by undeads, I do flying side kicks to their heads.

I doubt that they'll want to much on you, though munching they would.

Mind you, in any combat tactic you want to include melee weapons when you don't have a reliable source to replenish your ammunition. It may not seem like it, but ammunition is finite and in any apocalyptic scenario you aren't going to have companies producing vast quantities of primers, casings, bullets, and charge powders like we do now. You really should conserve ammo for the scenario of, in the case of zombies, a hoard attack catching you off your game because of this. You will not always be able to ransack a house or even a gun store and find the ammo you need, in fact any store that has guns/ammo are going to be the places that are wiped clean first.

[squinty]

I doubt that they'll want to much on you, though munching they would.

When those ugly suckers rise from the grave,
a judo chop to the noggin can make 'em behave.
As the smelly bastids come up from the ground,
My fly kung fu puts 'em right back down.
Should the ZPAW turn out to be real,
Start bustin' heads with your fists of steel!
Grrrrrr! (makes a fierce face.)

[Malleolus]

I'm on my own with my MIGHTY KUNG FU!
I will float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Ain't no Zombie gonna much on me.
When I'm confronted by undeads, I do flying side kicks to their heads.

I doubt that they'll want to much on you, though munching they would.

Mind you, in any combat tactic you want to include melee weapons when you don't have a reliable source to replenish your ammunition. It may not seem like it, but ammunition is finite and in any apocalyptic scenario you aren't going to have companies producing vast quantities of primers, casings, bullets, and charge powders like we do now. You really should conserve ammo for the scenario of, in the case of zombies, a hoard attack catching you off your game because of this. You will not always be able to ransack a house or even a gun store and find the ammo you need, in fact any store that has guns/ammo are going to be the places that are wiped clean first.

not to mention replacement parts for your firearms nor cleaning equipment. Unless you are a gunsmith, this doubles the need for you to conserve the use of your firearm, even then you have to have the equipment and materials...

[squinty]

They shuffle left? Then you glide right -
be smooth and avoid that zombie's bite.
'Cause it moves slow, but you move fast-
That's how you'll kick a zombie's ass.

[KentsOkay]

They shuffle left? Then you glide right -
be smooth and avoid that zombie's bite.
'Cause it moves slow, but you move fast-
That's how you'll kick a zombie's ass.

Sung to "Can't Touch This"

[ancient_serpent]

Probably grab one of these if I need a "melee" weapon.