Sidearm(s)

[Kalani Lu]

When picking a sidearm for zombie defense you have to remember that your picking it not to defend yourself from a burglar or mugger, but a zombie. For instance, a weapons stopping power is near moot, as shooting a zombie anywhere but the head is not going to completely neutralize the threat. So having a bigass .357 or .44 magnum isn't going to matter much.

The main points that do matter are: Is it reliable? Is it accurate? Does it have a high capacity so that I'm not going to have to reload every 6-7 shots? Is the ammo for it common enough that if I need to scavenge for some I have a good chance of finding some? Is it powerful enough to penetrate the skull at short range and cause significant damage to the brain?

In terms of reliability and accuracy, revolvers tend to have an edge over automatics. Your not going to have to worry about clearing a stovepipe with the undead comming from you, and that is always piece of mind. However, you are limited with how much ammo the weapon carries. Another thing you have to think about is that maitenence on automatics is easier then on revolvers. There is less to go wrong with a revolver then with an automatic, but there is less an untrained person can fix with a revolver should something major breakdown with it.

Having said all this, I would suggest an automatic of solid reliablity and accuracy, with a high capacity magazine in either .22lr or 9mm as both of these ammunitions are very common. .22 is more common and has the added advantage of being used in many pistols and rifles, and you can carry lots of ammo compared to larger calibres and most weapons chambered for it carry a high capacity. However, the only disadvantage I see using a .22 sidearm is penetration and damage. While most of the time a .22 would be able to penetrate the human skull and do enough damage to down a zombie, there have been more then one reportings of human shootings in which a glancing shot from a .22 did not penetrate the skull, or penetrated only minimaly causing minor to moderate, and often reversable, brain damage. Not enough to completely shut down the zombies central nervous system, which is your goal. You might end up with a zombie that is still functioning and still able to attack albiet in a more limited way, or still functioning but has lost most of it's abilities, better know as a "Twitcher".

9mm, especially hollow points, are not going to run into the aftermentioned problem too often.

Whatever you choose, remeber one thing though. This is your sidearm and not your primary weapon. You will probably only be using it in dire situations. You loose your long-arm or run out of ammo for it, or you are in a situation where a long-arm would encumber you. You need to take this into account and not think of the pistol as your primary weapon.  

[Stoic Socialist]

First things first, you will need to face a mugger/burglar.

That being said: I'm going to choose the .357 over the 9mm ANY day.
I'm a revolver person, the .357 is stronger, and a gun in .357 magnum will accept a .38 round.
Also: the same goes for the .44. The .44 magnum accepts the .44 special, but the .44 special isn't very common.

[EDIT]  

[exploding-waffles]

i just remembered the tarus judge.
*drool*
perfect.
anyway i think we should also discuss fictional sidearms.
an apeture science gun with one portal over a cliff would work well. smile  

[OberFeldwebel]

The Zero-gravity manipulator cannon. (Gravity gun)
With that thing anything is a weapon, even zombie heads!  

[Ephemeral Filigree]

Stoic Socialist

First things first, you will need to face a mugger/burglar.

That being said: I'm going to choose the .357 over the 9mm ANY day.
I'm a revolver person, the .357 is stronger, and a gun in .357 magnum will accept a .38 round.
Also: the same goes for the .44. The .44 magnum accepts the .44 special, but the .44 special isn't very common.

[EDIT]

Well said. In a zombie crisis there will be more dangers than just zombies. There will be looters and robbers and even rapists taking advantage of the chaos and you would have to deal with them as well as zombies. And what if an armored military personell were bitten? Good luck penetrating a bulletproof vest or helmet with a .22 Long Rifle. I'll take my Magnum, thank you very much. A 9mm is the smallest thing you should even consider.

Also, I've read that your side-arm is only for use while you get yourself at the right range to use a rifle.  

[-Fatal Desires-]

Honestly, I'm not a revolver person--at all.

Even without a main, I'd go with a .22 or a 9mm anyday.

Big revolvers don't work for me--I have small hands.  

[Ephemeral Filigree]

-Fatal Desires-

Honestly, I'm not a revolver person--at all.

Even without a main, I'd go with a .22 or a 9mm anyday.

Big revolvers don't work for me--I have small hands.

They do make small revolvers.  

[Fresnel]

Felix H. Riboruba

Stoic Socialist

First things first, you will need to face a mugger/burglar.

That being said: I'm going to choose the .357 over the 9mm ANY day.
I'm a revolver person, the .357 is stronger, and a gun in .357 magnum will accept a .38 round.
Also: the same goes for the .44. The .44 magnum accepts the .44 special, but the .44 special isn't very common.

[EDIT]

Well said. In a zombie crisis there will be more dangers than just zombies. There will be looters and robbers and even rapists taking advantage of the chaos and you would have to deal with them as well as zombies. And what if an armored military personell were bitten? Good luck penetrating a bulletproof vest or helmet with a .22 Long Rifle. I'll take my Magnum, thank you very much. A 9mm is the smallest thing you should even consider.

Also, I've read that your side-arm is only for use while you get yourself at the right range to use a rifle.

The line of logical military thought says "We are fighting an unarmed enemy. Bulletproof armor is heavy. Why do we need it? Let's leave it behind."  

[ArmasTermin]

Fresnel

Felix H. Riboruba

Stoic Socialist

First things first, you will need to face a mugger/burglar.

That being said: I'm going to choose the .357 over the 9mm ANY day.
I'm a revolver person, the .357 is stronger, and a gun in .357 magnum will accept a .38 round.
Also: the same goes for the .44. The .44 magnum accepts the .44 special, but the .44 special isn't very common.

[EDIT]

Well said. In a zombie crisis there will be more dangers than just zombies. There will be looters and robbers and even rapists taking advantage of the chaos and you would have to deal with them as well as zombies. And what if an armored military personell were bitten? Good luck penetrating a bulletproof vest or helmet with a .22 Long Rifle. I'll take my Magnum, thank you very much. A 9mm is the smallest thing you should even consider.

Also, I've read that your side-arm is only for use while you get yourself at the right range to use a rifle.

The line of logical military thought says "We are fighting an unarmed enemy. Bulletproof armor is heavy. Why do we need it? Let's leave it behind."

Touche.  

[OO23OO]

Closet Mobster

Glock 19 or 23 Perfect zombie killin guns.

So a gun that stovepipes a lot is a good idea?
This is news to me.  

[OberFeldwebel]

This gun shop near me had a Taurus .44 magnum that was about the size of my hand, the thing had been ported to channel the muzzle flash to lower climb and recoil.
... a .44 magnum 'pocket' gun!? eek  

[Floyd]

OberFeldwebel

This gun shop near me had a Taurus .44 magnum that was about the size of my hand, the thing had been ported to channel the muzzle flash to lower climb and recoil.
... a .44 magnum 'pocket' gun!? eek

Not really a new concept. For those who saw any version of Blade Runner, you saw a .357 magnum four shot derringer called the COP 357 used in one scene.

For better or worse, they're out of production but plentiful in the used gun market.

http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Single-Shot-Pistols/COP_357.htm
 

[Fresnel]

OO23OO

Closet Mobster

Glock 19 or 23 Perfect zombie killin guns.

So a gun that stovepipes a lot is a good idea?
This is news to me.

My brother's put hundreds of rounds through his 19 on the range next to me, and they've all fed flawlessly, except he had one mag that wouldn't always feed right, but it was always the same mag, so it wasn't the gun's fault.  

[OO23OO]

Fresnel

OO23OO

Closet Mobster

Glock 19 or 23 Perfect zombie killin guns.

So a gun that stovepipes a lot is a good idea?
This is news to me.

My brother's put hundreds of rounds through his 19 on the range next to me, and they've all fed flawlessly, except he had one mag that wouldn't always feed right, but it was always the same mag, so it wasn't the gun's fault.

I was talking about the 23.
Hell, I even suggested the 19 because magazines would be easy to find for it, and hi-caps for those in less than free states, could be lifed from cops/older Glocks.  

[Fresnel]

OO23OO

Fresnel

OO23OO

Closet Mobster

Glock 19 or 23 Perfect zombie killin guns.

So a gun that stovepipes a lot is a good idea?
This is news to me.

My brother's put hundreds of rounds through his 19 on the range next to me, and they've all fed flawlessly, except he had one mag that wouldn't always feed right, but it was always the same mag, so it wasn't the gun's fault.

I was talking about the 23.
Hell, I even suggested the 19 because magazines would be easy to find for it, and hi-caps for those in less than free states, could be lifed from cops/older Glocks.

I know my brother has a 19 with 2 regular-size mags, and 2 high-cap 34 rounders (33+1 extension). I think my dad might have a 19 too, which would have interchangeable mags. So... lotsa ammo there.