Zombie Cliche Lookout: Guns Are Too Loud
A lot of zombie and survival stories border on gun porn. Some cross that border with reckless abandon. There are, however, a number of stories that go in the opposite direction, with characters eschewing firearms completely for one reason or another. Probably the most irritating example of this comes from the disappointing found-footage movie Diary of the Dead, where one character refuses to use guns against zombies because “it’s too easy”.
Other characters are more practical about guns in the zombie apocalypse. Some don’t want to become dependent on them because ammunition is finite. Others worry that guns do nothing but bring in more zombies on account of the noise. These characters don’t usually hate guns as a general rule; they simply feel they’re a bad tool for the job at hand.
About this Episode:
Well, that snapping noise turned out to be a zombie, not Cheryl, Russel, or even Murphy. Nor was a secret third person in Joy and Michael’s group. Of course, that doesn’t preclude any of that from happening later.
Discussion Question: In the Zombie Apocalypse, Are Guns Worth It?
Considering their drawback, namely the noise and necessity of ammunition, are guns the best type of weapon for surviving the zombie apocalypse? If so, why, and what type of gun specifically? If not, what would you suggest as an alternative.
I realize that the real answer to this question lies somewhere in the middle. Guns are extremely useful when you have ammo and noise isn’t an issue. Otherwise, they’re either risky or useless, depending on whether you actually have any ammo. That said, I’d like it if everyone would choose a side and make an argument for or against. Sitting on the fence – even when it’s obviously the right approach – is just no fun for anyone.
It depends. If it’s the running zombies, then you’re better off maintaining stealth as much as possible; if they get tipped off to your presence via gunshot, then they’ll be swarming over you faster than rabid Battlefield fans over a Call of Duty article on IGN. Using a gun around walking zombies is slightly more forgiving, but only slightly. You can still outrun them, but you’re liable to still be swarmed if you’re too slow or too careless.
By the way, did anything catch your eye at E3 2014 so far?
I saw Dead Island 2 announced, the trailer looks pretty awesome. Might have to check that out.
Typo alert, Zombie Cliche Lookout, first paragraph, third sentence: “go int he opposite” place the space in the correct space for the bolded words si it reads “in the”. 😀
Same section, second paragraph, fourth sentence, after the semicolon: “bad tool for job”–>”bad tool for the job – insert bolded word! 😀
About this Epsiode, first sentence, after the second comma: now–>not 😉
Man, I was having a hell of a time with “the”s.
Regarding the discussion question, I’m thinking it depends on the type of gun, and since Dave let in gun types, let’s digress a little, and say it’s the disintegrator gun LRRR from Omicron Persei 8, in the cartoon show Futurama. If this were a futuristic zombie apocalypse, where such guns existed, and were the same speed as the one portrayed in Futurama, I’d say guns would be extremely handy for wiping zombies out. On the other side of the coin, if it’s an extremely heavy gun and rather noisy, like the 7.62mm GE M134 Mini Gun the Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, used in the T2 movie, you should expect to attract loads of zombies, possibly an endless stream of them if you happen to be lucky enough to have holed yourself up in a spot where there’s a large weapons stash at your disposal! 😀
Of course, I’d recommend you be at least as strong as Arnie, and have an attitude people can get along with, as that sort of weapon isn’t for just anyone! 😀
I meant to say “wielded by LRRR” 😀
God Lrr is a great character. As is Morbo the news monster.
If you are using the gun from terminator, don’t you get the unlimited ammo like they invariably do in the movie? 😀
The Terminator movies are actually pretty good about gun realism, with reloads and running out of ammo. It’s quite uncommon.
I’m assuming this is Michael trying to be smart here and avoid drawing more zombies in on them. What makes me curious is if he actually has any kind of bashing weapon himself, and if so, why doesn’t he just take that “thing”, as he calls them, out?
It is strange that he doesn’t have any sort of backup weapon, isn’t it?
Have we seen this zombie somewhere before? He seems a little familiar to me, I think I’ll have to go archive delving and see if I can turn up an episode appearance for him! 😀
I’m pretty sure I’ve used the torso before. Let me know if I’ve done this exact combination.
I just don’t buy the whole “one shot will bring every zombie for a square mile down on us” bit. for several reasons.
First, even if you assume that hearing is completely unaffected by being undead, humans are sight based predators. If I remember correctly 80-85 percent of our sensory input comes form our eyes. Our hearing just isn’t that good at determining the direction and range of sounds. Unlike say a dog, whose ears are much more sensitive and can move. Under the best of circumstances sound is tricky and bounces around a lot.
Next, to my way of thinking, zeds cant learn new things. How many humans have ever “homed in” on the sound of a gunshot. As a hunter I have heard countless gunshots in the woods coming from different directions and at different distances. Even with all this experience its difficult to determine direction and range from a single shot. Someday I would love to perform an experiment where I take 10 people out into the woods, move off about 500yards and fire 3-5 shots into the round. Then see how many of those individuals (without consulting with each other) can actually find me by following the sound. (Im betting between 0-2)
Next, zeds are bound to be easily distracted and will most likely not be able to follow a straight lint to the source of the sound. How lilkey is it that a zed will be able to move around an obstacle in its path then return to the exact direction it was traveling before it encountered the obstacle? How likely is it that it will encounter something in the distance it needs to travel that will distract it? Say the noise made by another zed or a squirrel.
Next, as any COD enthusiast will tell you, don’t be a camper. If you are out on patrol or foraging and you need to fire on a zed, odds are you aren’t going to stick around that area for long. Even if they do home in on the location of the shot, don’t be there when they arrive. You may encounter some inbound while moving away, but you’ll still be in a better position.
There are exceptions of course, if you are defending a fixed position sustained gunfire over a prolonged period is probably a bad idea. Also if you are in a densely populated area with zeds in close proximity guns are probably a bad idea. Actually being in a densely populated area with zeds in close proximity is already a really bad idea.
As far as ammo being finite, its a good point. But there is a LOT of it out there.
Excellent thoughts here. I grew up in the woods and have heard lots and lots of distant gunshots. I could often tell a sort of general direction they were coming from, but part of that was my knowing where people were usually shooting, which is totally cheating.
Nowadays, I hear mostly fireworks. My wife and I can hear the same firework at the same time, and completely disagree about which direction it came form.
Good point Dave. I have very rarely seen two people agree on the direction a gunshot was coming from.
I did think of another very interesting point along the vein of a zed moving around on obstacle and coming back to his original bearing. You frequently hear about people lost in the woods accidentally travelling in a circle when they were trying to walk a straight path. Les Stroud on his show “Survivorman” addresses this and say the reason is that when a person is walking and encounters on obstacle they tend to pass it on their less dominant side. For example, a right-handed person would pass an obstacle on his left by turning to his right just out of habit or instinct. Unless that person is in very open territory or had a distant visual reference (like a distant water tower or other building) they will eventually wind up waling in a circle toward their right. Consequently a left-handed person would make a circle to the left. The only way to avoid this is to alternate the side you pass an obstacle on…first right…then left…then right…etc.
All this being said, you could make an argument that the vast majority of zombies are going to pend the vast majority or time walking in circles! Even if they are able to precisely determine the direction a sound come from they wont be able to follow a straight path toward it unless the space between them and the shot is relatively open and free of obstacles.
It could also mean that the vast majority of zeds will never get very far from the area where they got zombified unless they got on a rod or railroad track and followed it out of instinct.
Oh wow, that’s something I never would have thought of. Zombies just making circles in the woods forever.
in a sense guns are totally worth it because with guns its about distance and power. you wouldn’t want them getting too close to you and on the other hand you couldn’t kill a zombie with a pistol if hes like 90 ft away.
you would have to think if you’d like very close combat or short distance combat.
Effective distance is certainly part of the equation, as is the shooter’s skill level. I think a lot of people discount both.
At first, I thought, “What jerks! They’re testing him?!?” Then, however, I came to the realization that it’s very possible that their guns are *empty* and they are no relying on his machete.
As to the discussion question (is that hint?), I would have a gun but try to use it sparingly to save both ammo and excess noise. It would be my backup to a hand weapon.
Hah, no hints, Kim 🙂
1st I’d say that in the place I live, France, people don’t have guns at home, I did not grew up around weapons either (shot only once using a french machine gun FAMAS in a military open doors day).
That said, I here is my opinion about guns in ZA.
1/ To kill Z shot the head… not that easy when you think about it. The good think is you can reach them from a “safe” distant. Bad thing is you better be loaded when facing a lot of these things or a secondary weapon that don’t rely on ammo…
2/ I think that guns will be, and I really hate that, mostly use(ful) against other survivors (just look at Mickael and Joy or Abes’ group a few episodes ago, even the bandits in the beginning of TBD).
3/ But guns will also be used for the people you actually care for… Put a end to their misery, pain, avoid them turning, whatever in a bearable way.
I’m not for or against the use of weapons, I just wish people will be able to make their way through with whatever they will find, and most important don’t try to use the power of fire weapons to fight against each other. I guess I’m dreaming ’cause they already do…
I was really hoping we’d get a few responses from less gun-friendly countries. I always find that interesting.
I’m similar to Pi3rK in that I live in a country with a relatively low number of guns and ammo out there, and most of the readily available ones here are hunting types.
So I guess I’d be on the side of no guns due to access, even if you got access in New Zealand there would be a few crack shots from hunting, but beginner/untrained shooters being able to take down a zombie by shooting it in the head? good luck!
Come up with different weapons/ways to take down zombies. Look what Morgan did in TWD season three for example, traps everywhere, then dispatch them quietly.
Versus armed human survivors though… whole different discussion question right there.
I’ve always been fascinated with the traps people come up with.
I’d prefer to not use a gun simply due to the fact that I’m entirely unskilled in firearm usage. Saber fencing, however, is something I’m trained in, so if given the choice between a medium-sized blade and a gun, I’d go for the blade.
However, if ammo isn’t that big of an issue, anything light and automatic will do. But again, ammo restriction and lack of ability would probably render it useless.
Those two are totally out of ammo, by the way.
That seems to be the popular theory.
No Way they are out. If I had only one round left I sure as hell wouldn’t waste it on a warning shot. They are taking Stewart measure if you ask me.
Good point. Maybe one of them is out.
Out of curiosity, do you own a saber that would be suitable for fighting?
I wish. I want to get one, but it’s not happening yet.
As a hunter and gun enthusiast, I have to go with guns being good. I have seen what a twelve gauge can do a close to medium range. On a good sized buck. Of course, for reasons of ammo being heavy and finite, I say that you would only need 2 guns. A heavy rifle (grizzly big boar) or a heavy assault rifle with good range (G 36) and a light yet accurate pistol, preferably something police issue like a glock 22 due to reasons of ammo availability and cost effectiveness.
Two guns and a blade should be the rule. Not a blade thats too heavy (claymore) but something small, light and one handed. (Katana)
Even if you are scavenging a ruined city and you shoot something, chances are that the echo of the gunshot will move the zombies around you to action, but the ones more than a block away will get thrown off by the echo.
And about the “out of ammo” didn’t Michael take a warning shot before he appeared on the scene? Why would you waste your last bullet if Joy could have just jumped out and gone “boogla boogla” to get Stuart to drop the machete?
Everyone will go for the guns first without think, reckless abandon, and with the lack of training, gun control nuts, and MVP battle simulation hero want to be(s) it will be safer to wait out the first half of the apoc. Collecting parts for the bows and the bows themselves, melee weapons of choice (large staff like a rebar rod for me), and avoiding large crowds. After most of the shooting is done however people should check the crowd, then collect the guns and left over ammo. Double tapping any leftovers.
Simply put the chaff from the wheat should become separated.
I did think of one gun anyone could us during a z-day!
The portable gun, find largest zed population fire first 1/2 in front of large hoard…deposit as needed or loop!
I think some type of gun is necessary but someone in your group should also have a more silent weapon like a bow. As for what gun i would choose it would be a 22. This is for two reasons. One the ammo is small so you can carry much more and make up for lack of stopping power, and 22 ammo is available in large quantities everywhere from walmart to gun stores.