I am so glad that you'll all be dead in a zombie apocalypse, and if I'm not I'll make myself dead with a bullet to my brain. The ideas on this thread are absolutely horrific and suicidal.
Rambo survivalists: You will die. Run and gun and you're one and done. Survival isn't about who has the bigger and more impractical gun. The best option isn't to prepare for an encounter, it's to prepare for avoiding one entirely. Let's go over a bit more practical methods of survival, interaction, and avoidance techniques, beginning with weapons.
If you ever need a weapon that can kill at ranges beyond 100 yards, you're stupid. You'll never be at those ranges and need to shoot, save the incredibly rare instance of being in a firefight with other people shooting back. That crosses off, right there, the majority of high powered rifles. If your weapon is so loud you can't fire it indoors without blasting your eardrums out, it's too **** loud. Shotguns, .50 caliber pistols and rifles, and .45 pistols are gone. Fire those in a closed space, and consider your hearing history, thus killing you. Ammo availability is perhaps the most important. You simply will not be able to attain enough practical ammunition (in America for the intentions of this writing) for anything except .22LR, 9mm, 5.56mm, or 12 gauge shells to be useful. In other parts of the world, even these are often highly regulated. You are not going to find .50BMG almost anywhere not already infested, and even if you did, the second you picked a .50BMG up you would regret your choice of weapon (already exceeding 30 pounds in the case of most .50BMG rifles). .45 ACP is very common, but firing one indoors will put unprotected ears in harms way, and sound will save your life more than sight ever would. Orion's recommended weapons: Multi-shot semi-automatic .22LR rifles, 9mm pistols, or if you're a lucky *******, an AR-15. As for exotic weapons: No. Just no. What are you, stupid?
Melee weapons: If you're ever in a situation where a 5 inch knife or a baseball bat wouldn't work, you're already dead. Most people simply aren't physically fit or skilled enough to safely use bladed weapons like machetes, and even if they were, against more than two zeds you're dead. Plain and simple. While melee weapons never run out of ammo, they do run out of energy, and when under constant stress, energy is already going to be lacking.
Moving on to necessities: Food, water, and shelter will all be paramount to any survival attempt. You would be absolutely shocked at just how hard it is to find these basic needs. Clean water will be rare at best, and food will be tough to come by. In cities, where food may seem abundant, it is likely already looted or spoiled. Water is even rarer. It would be unwise to keep more than a gallon of water with you as well, seeing as water is heavy and cumbersome, yet so needed. Being in a rainy climate or in a forest with many streams is preferable, but not likely for most people. Getting creative would be wise, and plundering and shooting others for water may be the best course of action in most scenarios. Shelter is easy but tricky: Too big or too small, and it will be dangerous and uncomfortable. Houses are dangerous because of many windows and often a lack of visibility. I would recommend and attic for city shelter, and a tarp and string for non-city shelter.
Medicine: Forget about it. Grab some advil and get going. Antibiotics will be long gone by the time you get to a place where they are stored. In a post-apocalyptic scenario, the survivors are often the late-arrivers and recluses, and obviously everything is gone by that point.
Luxuries: These are best used in trade and as comfort. It might amaze a person just how much you can get for a carton of cigarettes or a bottle of liquor. Admittedly, when in extreme chronic stress, the temptation to down it yourself might be a bit strong, and very few people would resist it. Assuming you do, you can barter quite a bit for the simpler, more chemical luxuries people use to unwind. Sometimes, when death and threat of death is all around, passing out is the best sleep a person will get, and they'll literally give away the shirt on their back for it, or better yet, the ammunition in their magazine.
Transportation: This is pretty simple. Cars break down, animals run away and need feeding, and your feet get sore. When in doubt, use a bicycle. Fast, easy to maintain, and one can even put their items on it that they don't immediately need on their person.
Clothing: Climate appropriate. Don't wear shorts in the winter of Minnesota and don't bundle up in a hot and humid Florida summer. However, a few precautions might want to be heeded. Boots, gloves, and a brimmed hat can do amazing things. It shouldn't be needed to be said exactly why, as it's pretty obvious.
So I'll compile a summary checklist that may or may not be missing some items and include a few things not mentioned:
-Small, easy to maintain firearm that is quiet and ammo is plentiful
-Small melee weapon
-A water bottle or two
-A metal or plastic plate with metal or plastic fork
-Some canned food
-A multitool
-Advil, Tylenol, or another over-the-counter pain reliever is good for those dehydration headaches you are 100% guaranteed to suffer
-Cigarettes
-Vodka
-A bike
-Boots
-Gloves
-Wide brimmed hat
-A tarp or otherwise light and portable shelter
-A lighter (reusable and tough lighters work well) (matches get wet (unless waterproof))
-Something to sleep on (see: tarp)
-A backpack to put it all in
That should get you started. Just remember to avoid zombies and stay away from cities. Don't shoot from more than 100 yards, as that's silly, and don't shoot weapons that can be heard from a mile in all directions.
