Melee Weapons Or Firearms?

Question. When you use bullets can you reuse the casings by refilling with powder and using a new bullet?

Question. When you use bullets can you reuse the casings by refilling with powder and using a new bullet?

Yeah man. It's called pressing your own bullets. My old man used to do it, you need a machine I'm fairly certain, and I'm not sure if you actually need the casings, maybe you just need raw metal? But yeah, nah, you can choose your own grain amount and everything. The only drawback he mentioned when he told me was that every 10th bullet or so will fuck up. Either jam your gun or misfire or something, I can't recall with certainty exactly what happens.

It'd be a handy tool if you had the machine for it, certainly.

Question. When you use bullets can you reuse the casings by refilling with powder and using a new bullet?

It's called reloading.

There are hundreds of ways of reloading ammo. From simple hand presses to very expensive single lever presses with multiple stations to reload 1000+ rounds in a couple hours.

To reload any round, you will need: Used (or new) shell casings, bullets, powder, and primers. (Powder, bullets and primers were recently very scarce)

The casings (should be) cleaned, then need to be deprimed, resized, reprimed, filled with powder (accurate), and a new bullet pressed into it.
The Dies for doing all of the above are specific to the type of press AND Caliber. So you would need different Dies for 9mm, .40, .357, .223 etc...

Do a search for "reloading" on youtube.

A Dillon XL650 reloader has been on my wish list for the last couple years.

Nice. I'm going to start researching that in order to add to my ZA prep skillz. lol

This doesn't apply to us Brits as firearms are banned in the UK with the exception of some Police units, the Military and James bond.

This doesn't apply to us Brits as firearms are banned in the UK with the exception of some Police units, the Military and James bond.

ouch. So you Brits are totally screwed when the ZA hits. I was hoping to get a teaching assignment somewhere in the UK when my kids are older but now I don't know if I want to spend a year in a place that will be totally unprotected in the ZA....

Aye. I feel bad for you guys. Tiny little island, sizeable population. I don't envy your chances. Here in Australia we've got too much room. Maybe the zeds will get bored in the cities and go out wandering the deserts for food. That would be one hell of a depressing sight if you were out of water, food and energy and miles from your camp in the blistering heat and you run into a herd of walkers.

Hi,
Valleyaggie, yep, our firearms laws are extremely strict. It is our legal right to own a shotgun (with certificate) but they are limited to 3 shot only (not high capacity pump action). However, to hold a firearms license it is a long, detailed process which (I think) needs interviews, Character references, good, valid reason and a secure area (strongbox) in which to store the weapons and ammunition. There's also a limit on the ammunition one can have at any one time.

In the event of a ZA we can only hope that the Zeds are vulnerable to an attack consisting of good manners, etiquette and a polite handshake, otherwise we are totally screwed.

Mac, I was actually thinking about this the other day. I think Australia might become a "safe zone" in the middle of the Country, its remoteness and landscape giving ample warning of impending Walkers. One thing that got me concerned though was that if the "Salties" got a taste for Zed flesh, which led to a massive expansion in numbers and then having to face a difficult choice as a survivor. Hungry Salties or horde of Zeds.

Tough one. I see the Firearms laws in Oz aren't that great as well.

Mac, I was actually thinking about this the other day. I think Australia might become a "safe zone" in the middle of the Country, its remoteness and landscape giving ample warning of impending Walkers. One thing that got me concerned though was that if the "Salties" got a taste for Zed flesh, which led to a massive expansion in numbers and then having to face a difficult choice as a survivor. Hungry Salties or horde of Zeds.

Tough one. I see the Firearms laws in Oz aren't that great as well.

I can shed some light on how things go on down here, because honestly the population density and spread of landscape is possibly our greatest benefit, but we have others.. I'll start with the firearms.

Since the Port Arthur Massacre of 1996, all firearms have been strictly regulated. Anyone who was known to possess a firearm was required by law to turn it in, but as we Australians with our tall poppy syndrome and disdain for authoritarian commands didn't like that decision too much. Many just buried their guns and dug them back up whenever they had to move, thus keeping a VERY sizeable number of firearms still in circulation in Australia's lower class, more rural populations. My own mother, coming from a less-than-wealthy family, owned two shotguns, one sawed-off, four rifles and three hanguns (one semi-auto). Yeah, my family like their firearms.

Legally acquired, though, there is a criminal history check, your strongbox requirement (ammo must be stored separate to firearm), and it is mandatory requirement to be a member of the sport shooting association and you must attend a sport shooting range at least once a month. There's strict regulations on what guns are allowed, as well; automatic firearms a complete no-go, especially large or especially concealable pistols also forbidden and as for shotguns, I'm not sure, but you won't be allowed to tote an AA-12 around the range.

The crocs aren't too much of an issue unless you're living in Queensland coastal or Northern regions (yay me) or the Northern Territory. The croc spread is all across Australia, but they tend to cluster around the equator and close to Asia. Northern Territory, you can't even swim in the water. Think of those Animal Planet documentaries on crocodiles in Africa. It's more or less like that; if you go near the water, you're (excuse my language) fucked, mate. In Queensland, it's not quite so bad, but it gets worse the further North you go. The crocs don't like the Southern regions because it's a bit colder, I imagine.

As far as them gaining a taste for the zeds... Well, there's one of two possibilites I can see. It all depends on whether crocodiles are susceptible to the infection or not. Gods, I hope they aren't. If they aren't, they'll thin out the population in those watery areas of Northern Australia and basically all you'd need to do is dig a fucking deep and wide moat around your compound, link that moat to the nearest body of water and lead the population of crocodiles in with bait and go to sleep comfortably knowing that during the night, the moatodiles will thin out the fence for you. A crocodile, as a reptile, would likely eat half of the walker on the day, depending on how big of a croc, and if he ate the lower half, he'd eat the upper half in the next couple of days. They don't need a lot of food because they don't expend a lot of energy (they jump and tear apart when they attack, but the rest of the day they sleep or bathe on the banks).

This means if you have 20 crocodiles in the river, they'll eat roughly 10 walkers a day, until they get big enough to eat at a ratio of 1:1.

The downside to this is that your camp is surrounded by croc-infested water (That may or may not dig their dens into the land your compound is sitting on) that may or may not dry up during the dry seasons (Australia is the driest continent on Earth.) It's like a reverse Winter.

If they ARE susceptible to the illness..... Well.... I'll relocate to the South.

However, to hold a firearms license it is a long, detailed process which (I think) needs interviews, Character references, good, valid reason and a secure area (strongbox) in which to store the weapons and ammunition. There's also a limit on the ammunition one can have at any one time.

In the PeoplesRepublicOfMassachusetts we have similar nanny laws.

There is on average a 4 Month wait just to get your license renewed. (I have heard of 6-8 months depending on your town) Which is good for 5 years and costs $100. If you are applying for one the first time, you must take the Firearms safety/training classes. Must have no criminal record, FBI background check, DHS check, and must be approved by the MassFirearmsRevueBoard, then and only then your Local Police Chief will issue you your permit.

ALL Firearms, ammo, magazines all must be secured/locked up, even during transport, unless you have a LTC (License to carry) in which you can carry it on your person.
No high capacity rifle magazines manufactured AFTER 1994 you must also have a LTC-A (high capacity).
No high capacity pistol magazines manufactured AFTER 1998, again must also posses LTC-A.

Hi-Capacity meaning more than 10 rounds. Although I still consider 30 rounds standard capacity, since they were being made that way since before I was born - 1971.

My favorite: No mail order/internet ammo sales...

There is a law which prohibits Commonwealth vendors from selling ammo without a permit from a store in Massachusetts. The permit is issued by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) of each city/town the Vendor is located in for an annual fee.

No CLEO can issue a permit to a Vendor not located in their city/town.

The Massachusetts Attorney Generals office has interpreted a storefront face-to-face sales law and apply to internet sales in other states.
The law has never been challenged. Vendors simply do not wish to put up the money to fight the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office. The MAG Office simply bullies the vendor with a lawsuit and tells them no out of state sales.

Funny thing is: It is perfectly legal for me to drive to another state, purchase ammo and drive back. It is also perfectly legal to privately purchase ammo from another private party anywhere and mail it to me... Just no vendor sales...

Also no more than 10,000 rounds total ammo in possession per dwelling. (Again locked)
So one can only posses 10,000 rounds in their home. If they have a detached garage, you can posses another 10,000 in there. (Also locked)

Anyone thinking 10,000 rounds of ammo is a lot. You can easily shoot a brick (500 rds) of .22lr at a range in an afternoon.


Sorry about the rant... Rights and Freedom is not Equally Shared as it is in other states.

I can shed some light on how things go on down here, because honestly the population density and spread of landscape is possibly our greatest benefit, but we have others.. I'll start with the firearms.

Since the Port Arthur Massacre of 1996, all firearms have been strictly regulated. Anyone who was known to possess a firearm was required by law to turn it in, but as we Australians with our tall poppy syndrome and disdain for authoritarian commands didn't like that decision too much. Many just buried their guns and dug them back up whenever they had to move, thus keeping a VERY sizeable number of firearms still in circulation in Australia's lower class, more rural populations. My own mother, coming from a less-than-wealthy family, owned two shotguns, one sawed-off, four rifles and three hanguns (one semi-auto). Yeah, my family like their firearms.

Legally acquired, though, there is a criminal history check, your strongbox requirement (ammo must be stored separate to firearm), and it is mandatory requirement to be a member of the sport shooting association and you must attend a sport shooting range at least once a month. There's strict regulations on what guns are allowed, as well; automatic firearms a complete no-go, especially large or especially concealable pistols also forbidden and as for shotguns, I'm not sure, but you won't be allowed to tote an AA-12 around the range.

The crocs aren't too much of an issue unless you're living in Queensland coastal or Northern regions (yay me) or the Northern Territory. The croc spread is all across Australia, but they tend to cluster around the equator and close to Asia. Northern Territory, you can't even swim in the water. Think of those Animal Planet documentaries on crocodiles in Africa. It's more or less like that; if you go near the water, you're (excuse my language) fucked, mate. In Queensland, it's not quite so bad, but it gets worse the further North you go. The crocs don't like the Southern regions because it's a bit colder, I imagine.

As far as them gaining a taste for the zeds... Well, there's one of two possibilites I can see. It all depends on whether crocodiles are susceptible to the infection or not. Gods, I hope they aren't. If they aren't, they'll thin out the population in those watery areas of Northern Australia and basically all you'd need to do is dig a fucking deep and wide moat around your compound, link that moat to the nearest body of water and lead the population of crocodiles in with bait and go to sleep comfortably knowing that during the night, the moatodiles will thin out the fence for you. A crocodile, as a reptile, would likely eat half of the walker on the day, depending on how big of a croc, and if he ate the lower half, he'd eat the upper half in the next couple of days. They don't need a lot of food because they don't expend a lot of energy (they jump and tear apart when they attack, but the rest of the day they sleep or bathe on the banks).

This means if you have 20 crocodiles in the river, they'll eat roughly 10 walkers a day, until they get big enough to eat at a ratio of 1:1.

The downside to this is that your camp is surrounded by croc-infested water (That may or may not dig their dens into the land your compound is sitting on) that may or may not dry up during the dry seasons (Australia is the driest continent on Earth.) It's like a reverse Winter.

If they ARE susceptible to the illness..... Well.... I'll relocate to the South.

Don't think Animals are susceptible. BUT in WWZ a para trooper did come across a 12 foot alligator skeleton in a Zombie infested swamp. HEr exact thoughts were " I can't imagine how many it took to bring that bastard down..." I'd love to see how many it would take to overpower a 20 foot salt water croc.

Don't think Animals are susceptible. BUT in WWZ a para trooper did come across a 12 foot alligator skeleton in a Zombie infested swamp. HEr exact thoughts were " I can't imagine how many it took to bring that bastard down..." I'd love to see how many it would take to overpower a 20 foot salt water croc.

I would love to see that. Shit, I'd love to see quite a few animals faring up against some zeds. Cape Buffalo, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, (if he's big enough) even a pissed off wild boar would be hard to take down.

Luckily, I live in Texas and my ex-husband didn't have room for the gun safe when he moved in with his mom, so it's still at my house. I have in it: 1 AK-47, Bulgarian made; a .44 revolver; a .22 revolver; a 9mm, one M1 carbine rifle; 2 .357 semi-autos; a Judge; and my baby, a .38 Special. I need to get a good shotgun and stock up on ammo. But if the ZA comes and you can find a boat, you're welcome to come hunker down with me. I'll be sitting pretty in a prison I have all picked out in East Texas, eating my awesome home cookin' made from my grown, gathered and preserved food supplies, smelling sweetly of homemade soap and listening to music on my solar-powered MP3 player.

Luckily, I live in Texas and my ex-husband didn't have room for the gun safe when he moved in with his mom, so it's still at my house. I have in it: 1 AK-47, Bulgarian made; a .44 revolver; a .22 revolver; a 9mm, one M1 carbine rifle; 2 .357 semi-autos; a Judge; and my baby, a .38 Special. I need to get a good shotgun and stock up on ammo. But if the ZA comes and you can find a boat, you're welcome to come hunker down with me. I'll be sitting pretty in a prison I have all picked out in East Texas, eating my awesome home cookin' made from my grown, gathered and preserved food supplies, smelling sweetly of homemade soap and listening to music on my solar-powered MP3 player.

You know, having all that weaponry, you'd be well-worth throwing any spare change you have into collecting ammunition. A bit of cash left over from the week's budget? Buy some ammo. Got a hefty tax return? Buy some ammo. Won the lotto? Buy ALL the ammo. :')

You know, having all that weaponry, you'd be well-worth throwing any spare change you have into collecting ammunition. A bit of cash left over from the week's budget? Buy some ammo. Got a hefty tax return? Buy some ammo. Won the lotto? Buy ALL the ammo. :')

Horde ALL THE BULLETS!!!

You know, having all that weaponry, you'd be well-worth throwing any spare change you have into collecting ammunition. A bit of cash left over from the week's budget? Buy some ammo. Got a hefty tax return? Buy some ammo. Won the lotto? Buy ALL the ammo. :')

Horde ALL THE BULLETS!!!

Uhm. Yeah. About that. I'm recently divorced and I'm a teacher. This means my budget is now so tight it squeaks. And as much fun as it is to prepare for the ZA, I actually have some other projects around the house that I want to save money for, like a gazebo for my backyard. But I'm willing to take donations, stock up on ammo, and save it for you in case of a ZA! lol And only the .38 is mine. The rest is all technically his so theoretically I'd have to give it back some day. But that will also be the day he moves out of his mom's house and has room for the gun safe and I don't see that happening this decade.....

My weapon of choice if it was durable and tempered well is this:

 Nodachi 1.jpg   16.81kb   8

A long Samurai sword

Horde ALL THE BULLETS!!!

For those who do not know: Use gunbot.net to find ammo/mags for sale at discounted prices.

http://www.gunbot.ne...stol/38special/

melee

bullets aren't going to last forever, and i doubt someone like eugene is gonna be around (same goes for the factory)
only keep firearms as a last resort, and for snipers

now that is if these are the typical romero type zombies, if say these are the return of the living dead or dead next door unkillable zombies, well, you're fucked either way

melee

bullets aren't going to last forever, and i doubt someone like eugene is gonna be around (same goes for the factory)
only keep firearms as a last resort, and for snipers

now that is if these are the typical romero type zombies, if say these are the return of the living dead or dead next door unkillable zombies, well, you're fucked either way

I dunno, man, I think a lot of people would learn how to survive. Perhaps not "Hailstorm of bullets and knives" survive, but survive. The biggest thing people overlook is the learning curve. They expect to jump from a sedentary 9-5 lifestyle into a full-blown zombie survivalist, which is a bit drastic even for trained soldiers. Rick and Co. didn't become battle-hardened in one week, it took over a year, and they're still curbed by a lot of limitations.

bullets aren't going to last forever, and i doubt someone like eugene is gonna be around (same goes for the factory)
only keep firearms as a last resort, and for snipers

It would be a matter of locating the ammo...

Close to a trillon rounds are imported/produced/consumed by the US each year.
Around 15 billon rounds are sold/produced domestically. I would guess that there is 4000 rounds of ammo per person somewhere in the US.

Where is it all? Private ownership, National Guard Armories, Military/Naval/Airforce Bases, Local & State LEO, Gun clubs, Private Securities, Federal Agencies, Local sporting goods shops, and Big Outlet stores.

It would be a matter of locating the ammo...

Close to a trillon rounds are imported/produced/consumed by the US each year.
Around 15 billon rounds are sold/produced domestically. I would guess that there is 4000 rounds of ammo per person somewhere in the US.

Where is it all? Private ownership, National Guard Armories, Military/Naval/Airforce Bases, Local & State LEO, Gun clubs, Private Securities, Federal Agencies, Local sporting goods shops, and Big Outlet stores.

So... What I'm gathering is that in America, guns and bullets are never far away? Oh, man, I could be so patriotic to your country. Everyone's ready to whip out a gun and settle matters with bullets, so when the apoc hits and that's... Generally the accepted method of dealing with matters post-apoc, you guys will be more prepared than others. Try finding a gun in Australia.

So... What I'm gathering is that in America, guns and bullets are never far away? Oh, man, I could be so patriotic to your country. Everyone's ready to whip out a gun and settle matters with bullets, so when the apoc hits and that's... Generally the accepted method of dealing with matters post-apoc, you guys will be more prepared than others. Try finding a gun in Australia.

It really depends on where you live. Know the law, and know your rights.

New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Colorado, (certain cities like Chicago, Detroit), and Maryland have Massive AntiGun laws.
NewHampshire, Vermont, Carolinas, Maine, Texas to name a few (there are many others) all enjoy the freedom of purchasing whatever you want.

Here in NY you can't load more than 7 rounds in. It's asinine, really.

Really restricts what you can buy as not many rifles come with less than 10 round magazines.

M-88 Does that rule apply to vintage firearms , such as those from WW2 ?. I can see the value of, say, a genuine MP40 being decimated due to the magazine having a restrictor put in place, or are you simply not allowed to own a weapon with high capacity mags?.