Best guns for zombie apocalypse
So, now, before I get into the specifics of this firearm, and let you decide if it would ever make your list of best guns for Zombie Apocalypse, I will make the obligatory clarification statement for my readers NOT in love with the Zombie culture.
DISCLAIMER While I enjoy the zombie culture, I admit that it’s a largely fictionalized and over-hyped scenario. HOWEVER: the “Zombie Apocalypse” is real in the sense that a potentially deadly mob of angry, hungry, driven, sick people can and will be part of a future event. There will be at some point in time, a scenario where people will be looking for food, shelter and water and will become violent to accomplish their needs. The Zombies don’t have to be “undead”, they can be alive and well, they will still have the same mob mentality in a time of need, when they are unprepared.
This is a controversial topic in many circles. I know what I would use in the “ZA”, but something caught my eye recently, that I would never have considered before for my personal list of “Best guns for Zombie Apocalypse”. I’m a fan of high quantity magazines and semi automatic actions, but I realize the need for simpler, more manual and easier to use firearms for times when you absolutely need to kill a ZED (Walker/Zombie/Undead/Ghoul, or even a human).
I’m not going to lie, this gun even jumped straight to the top of my “To Purchase” list, over the Sig P210 Legend (whose review you can find HERE), which was not an easy decision at first, but it DID happen. Here are my top three guns to purchase, my wish list of sorts.
- The Rossi Ranch Hand .38 SPL/.357 MAG
- The Sig P210 legend 9mm
- The Kriss SDP (I can’t own the Kriss carbine as I live in CA)
As you can see; the chances of any gun jumping the current number 2 and 3 is low. These three guns are incredible. Two of these three are also on my top ten list of best guns for Zombie Apocalypse (with the Sig P210 Legend JUST BARELY losing out on the tenth spot as a result of its possibly unmatched beauty and grace).
I’ve never been a huge fan of Rossi, but I never had questions of their quality necessarily, like I would with other makers. A lot of people consider Rossi to be a second tier or middle of the road maker, likened often to Taurus or others. But the Rossi lever actions have always been quality in my mind. I used one a few times years ago, and Noted that it was every bit as good (at the time) as the Winchester, and almost as good as the Marlin. I should note that I find Marlin to be the best lever actions on the market from a finish and fit perspective, as well as a usability perspective. Rossi is just slightly less well finished and is just slightly less well fit than the Marlin.
Now in truth, I have never shot the Rossi Ranch Hand, and while I intend to change that soon, I cannot speak to the recoil, accuracy or specific function of a Rossi Ranch Hand; let that be clear.
I have shot several Rossi firearms, and several of their lever actions.
Now: why this gun is on my list of “Best Guns for Zombie Apocalypse”.
Semi autos are nice. High capacity is nice. Special tactical guns and head busting ballistics are great. But there is something to be said for a gun that can’t jam, and if it does you can fix it easily; one that uses a great caliber and has a cheaper alternative and fits on the side of a saddle, a backpack, a motorcycle and can be used to dispatch a deer, the undead, or a rival group of humans in a defensive situation. The parts are by and large easy to fix and repair if necessary; the gun isn’t ridiculously expensive and the design has an inherent toughness, durability and of course, reliability.
This 4 pound saddle gun with a large lever loop, a saddle ring and a stubby stock lends itself well to killing Zombies, with its 6 shots; 12” legal barrel and relatively paltry price tag of $579 MSRP. (I’ve seen these for $425, but not lower)
The furniture on the weapon is both functional and durable for a quick reaction gun. This is not a sharpshooter, you can’t reasonably shoulder fire the weapon, but it is infinitely usable on a horse (I know because I have modified saddle guns to almost the exact dimensions, aside from the shortened barrel). It’s heavy for a six shooter, but it’s got its uses, especially in a last ditch or moving on the run or on a horse, motorcycle or from your best friend’s car window.
The reason this makes sense over a revolver or another semiauto, is that when you are moving on say, a horse, the extra “buttstock” is enough to perch on your forearm and the extra sight radius adds velocity, accuracy while on the move and weight for, get this: stability. One wouldn’t think that a heavier “handgun”, which this basically is, would contribute to better balance, but it does. The shooting of this is much more accurate while on the move than a revolver or another gun, and it is controllable by one hand.
I hear rumors that you CAN shoulder it somewhat realistically, but I doubt the BATF would be to stoked about anyone using it that way, and certainly they wouldn’t want anyone to make a post about the uses of the gun for such purposes, but suffice it to say … (left blank intentionally).
The gun is available in .44 Magnum and .45 Long Colt as well, but I would suggest that if you have a real desire to buy this sub $600 lever action for killing zombies, that you consider the .38/.357 instead.
The .38 special is an excellent caliber, at around the 100 or 200 kill range, you know, once you’re comfortable with your single shot head kills. That way you save a bit of your money, silver, alcohol or food you might use to trade for ammunition, as it’s obvious the .38 special ammunition will still be cheaper on the barter market than .357 magnum. Ok, maybe that isn’t true, but you will save several dollars a box in your stockpiling endeavors prior to the ZA.
The other reason this gun is one of the best guns for Zombie Apocalypse usage, is that it has a lifetime repair policy, so if you use it and hurt it you can get it repaired so it’s in perfect working order for when the Walkers start showing up.
It’s simple: either you love it or you don’t. See the usefulness of it or you don’t. When the Zombies come, you won’t be traveling in cars, as gas won’t be readily available and roads will largely be closed. So fuel up the Harley with siphoned gas form the roadside blockages, or grab your neighbor’s horse, and get to killing some Zombies, because this Rossi is on MY list of best guns for Zombie Apocalypse.
