Zombies by Joseph McCullough Page A

top-of-the-market fees.
    Today, most militaries contain at least a token zombie-hunting force, although the quality and training of these groups varies wildly. The United States and Britain maintain two of the best because, for reasons unknown, these countries suffer a much higher rate of zombie outbreaks per capita than anywhere else in the world.
OUTBREAK SURVIVORS
    While they’re not really “zombie hunters,” I believe it is worth mentioning the men and women who unwittingly get caught up in zombie outbreaks. Unlike the amateur hunters mentioned at the opening of this chapter, these people do not go looking for a fight but are only doing what they must to survive.
    There are several books on the market that attempt to educate people on how to survive a zombie outbreak. While some of these contain valuable information, they have also done much to propagate the “zombie survivor myth.” There is nothing glamorous or glorious about being caught up in a zombie outbreak. It is a terrifying, chaotic battlefield. No matter how many books a person has read or how many hours they’ve clocked at the shooting range, the single biggest factor in survival is luck.
    Even for the lucky few who do escape, most suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and can spend the rest of their lives trying to recover. Psychology is only justbeginning to scratch the surface of the effects of seeing a friend or loved one turned into a walking corpse. The Zombie Wars are not a game. 20 While numerous civilians have been appropriately lauded as heroes for their actions during zombie outbreaks, they are greatly outnumbered by the piles of corpses left behind.

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    20 See the Further Reading chapter for some great games relating to the zombie wars.

Zombie Hunter Weapons and Equipment
    As with most modern military special forces, zombie hunters are allowed wide leeway to choose their own equipment. What follows is an overview of the most commonly employed weapons and equipment and the rationale behind their usage. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, nor is it a checklist for would-be zombie hunters. It is provided to give a better understanding of the desperate battles between the living and the undead.
FIREARMS
    As explained earlier, guns are not always the most efficient zombie killers. However, since humanity hasn’t invented a better ranged-weapon alternative, firearms remain the primary armament for all zombie hunters. Of course, some firearms are more effective than others. Most zombie hunters carry some form of carbine as their primary weapon. Slightly shorter and lighter than assault rifles but with the same toughness and reliability, carbines such as the American M4 make good short-range zombie-sniping weapons and can be loaded up with a huge range of accessories. In a standard four-man zombie containment fire team, it is usual for at least two men to carry carbines. Of the other two, one is often equipped with a longer-ranged target rifle. The fourth team member generally carries a military shotgun. Military shotguns such as the AA-12 are considered by many to be theultimate anti-zombie weapon. With their low recoil, extreme hitting power, and decent-sized magazines, they can blow apart just about any zombie: magical, chemical, or viral. Unfortunately, these weapons and their ammo are quite heavy and using them can be exhausting. Thus they tend to remain a squad support weapon rather than standard equipment.

    An AA-12 automatic shotgun.
    Unlike many other soldiers in the field, zombie hunters always carry a pistol. Zombie fights often occur at close quarters where pistols are easier to use. Also large zombie hordes can often overrun a position, leaving no time to reload a primary weapon. Again, every man is free to choose his own backup weapon, but they generally fall into one of two categories. Some hunters prefer a light pistol with low recoil and a big magazine, which is good for calmly making head shots