I Wanna Be An Airborne Ranger...

I met this actual Airborne Ranger the other week.  82nd Airborne.  A Major.

Of course the conversation eventually turned to zombie prep.  And knowing about my interest he asked for my comment on what he thought was the superior anti-zombie weapon.  He assumed the 12 gauge shotgun was the way to go...

~sigh~

What are they teaching these poor professional soldier with 20+ years of experience? (he was prior-enlisted)

I asked him how easy it was to reload a shotgun.  I then asked him if zombie encounters came in ones and twos, or in great multitudes.  Then I asked him how heavy 200 rounds, with  magazines, of .223 were compared to 200 rounds of 12 gauge.  The light went on over his head at that point.  Modern American military personnel are practical and flexible and able to get their heads around better tactical solutions, quickly.

It's this last item, the bulk and weight of shotgun ammo that is the biggee.  A perfected Saiga that works reliably takes the reload time issues out of the equation, assuming you can find a Saiga with magazines that are reliable.  No one is arguing that the shotgun is not effective, certainly, one on one with the undead.  But fighting zombies involves moving, if not very fast.  And moving involves carrying stuff.

I didn't have time to go into the value of .22lr (carry 10 mags in one pocket, 500 rounds in the other and you still have more shots even if you have to double tap each zed in the head and much lighter in weight).  I figured he was VERY familiar with .223 type platforms and that was where his comfort zone was. 

I need your help, though, people.  Spread the word to the misinformed masses.  Shotgun are fine for a half dozen zombies, but facing a dozen with your 9 shot tactical Remington 870 pump shottie makes all your prep go pearshaped.  

I know I keep harping on this, but folks aren't learning.


That said, I don't have a .223 my own self.  I'll have to make do with the heavier .308 and/or .22lr.  Which is still better than a shotgun.