Below is a listing of common weapons found in zombie Outbreak Zones and a short description explaining benefits and pitfalls of each. Also provided is an easy 5-star rating to aid you in selecting your weapons.

LR-308 SERIES RIFLE

The LRT-SASS and LR-308L are prime examples of this category which is considered the absolute best group of weapons an individual can deploy against the undead, giving you unsurpassed accuracy and stopping power at long range. Zombies simply can't get close enough to infect you or your loved ones. Given enough ammunition and supplies (food, water, etc.) a single rifle could conceivably keep you safe for weeks.

AR-15 SERIES RIFLE

The SDM-R, RFA2-C and Mark 12 are outstanding examples of these semi-automatic rifles which bare some resemblence to their larger cousins above. With plenty of power and range to stop undead hordes, these are lighter but fire smaller rounds, sometimes requiring multiple shots at range to fell your opponent. In the right hands they are potent weapons indeed.

BOLT ACTION RIFLES

While not as effective as their semi-automatic counterparts, bolt action rifles have great range and power. Since their owners have been overrun and infected due to their inability to engage multiple targets quickly and efficiently, they won't mind you using them as a back-up when you enter an Outbreak Zone in search of survivors.

SHOTGUNS (Pump or Semi-Auto)

Shotguns are incredibly desructive to the undead, unfortunately only at very close range. While they do enjoy a much stronger "kick" than pistols or revolvers, the ammunition usually found with them is inneffective over longer ranges forcing you to either burn through more shells, or allow the undead closer to your loved ones. Neither are good options.

HANDGUNS (Pistols or Revolvers)

Not the best weapon for fighting the undead, however their light weight and compact designs allows them to be used by the "non-shooters" in your party to defend themselves should you become incapacitated or worse. With a high number of reloads and generally lower power, these should be avoided in all but the smallest outbreaks.

BOWS (Compound or Recurve)

While silent (keeping your location hidden from most zombies), in most cases bows lack the power necessary to take out large numbers of undead. A well placed shot with a broad head arrow can kill a zombie, however most arrows used for target practice and competitions (field point) are not suitable for this task as they simply do not do enough damage to the zombie brain.

CLUBS(Crowbar,Tree Branch,Etc.)

While it is possible to kill a zombie with one of these, hand to hand combat with the undead is never recommended. Of concern in particular is the perpensity for "splash-back" infection as you must hit with enough force to open the skull and destroy the brain. If done correctly, a "cover and club" or "blanket party" technique can be effective in a pinch.

BLADES (Knife,Sword,Etc.)

These are generally unsuitable tools for fighting a zombie horde. The estimated chance of infection while fighting a single zombie with a blade is 65%, which goes to nearly 80% when fighting a small group (3-5) and 100% when fighting larger groups. Exceptions exist. Long bladed weapons such as Grim Reaper style scythe or very sharp blades, Katanas for example can be useful.

NOTE: Only small arms were reviewed as most civilians do not have access to large scale military weaponry.