A good carbine is something any zombie survivalist would love to have slung to their shoulder when clearing a location, or moving though the tight urban ruins. Most carbines are chambered in the 5.56mm NATO round (the classic bullet used by the M-16), but in recent times many have felt in a carbine with the shortened barrel, the 5.56 doesn’t have the punch that it usually has when fired from a longer 24 inch barrel. Enter the 6.8mm Special Purpose Cartridge (SPC), delivering 44% more energy than a 5.56 NATO when fired from the same barrel length (16 inches), the six-eight gives you the power you need to put rounds through zombie skulls, even if you have to get through the wall in front of you first. The Bushmaster 6.8 SPC rifle uses a slightly modified magazine and upper receiver to allow you to fire the 6.8 SPC from a familiar weapon system (the M4/AR-15 framework), reducing your learning curve when the z’s pile up at your door. the Bushmaster 6.8 SPC has a 16 inch M4 profile barrel allowing you to move through cramped areas and still bring your weapon into play. Plus the 6.8mm gives you more power than the 5.56 NATO, but is still far more controllable than the 7.62mm fired from heavier rifles.
Hmmm… going to have to disagree. Small caliber rounds are sufficient on zombies. .223/5.56 are certainly good enough. More importantly, interchangeable parts and common rounds will be key during the zombie apocalypse. An AK platform in 7.63×39 would be even more appropriate in other parts of the world. Furthermore one could acquire a higher quality brand, such as a Colt, for less. For extended use this will matter more than usual. Recommended sidearm, 1911 style pistols in .45acp. A common pistol with common parts and ammunition.
sufficient? We want impressive here, not just sufficient. However, you are right, the 5.56/.223 is a great reliable round and we do like weapons like the Sig Arms 556. Also, good call on the 1911, however the ultra reliability of the Glock 21 (.45 of course) just really caught our eye.
Overall a .22LR will be sufficient to cause enough brain trauma to incapacitate the zombie. A .223 will be more than enough. .22 is the easiest to acquire and carry. .223 is still scarce for the most part, but is getting better. Good luck finding any 6.8mm when SHTF. As far as side arms, I am not a Glock fan myself. I would go the route of an XDm in either the .40S&W which has a 16+1 capacity or the 9mm which has 19+1 capacity. Both are field proven and reliable. But a full frame 1911 can still be used to inflict damage, even when you have spent your last round
But I 2nd the choice of going with a Colt 6920 for your main gun. I’d go top tier (Colt, BCM, LMT) AR. The bolt carry group should be top notch.
I gotta say, I do like your suggestion of the XDm as a sidearm.