Firearms Help for book characters.

[QuickDraw]

Hello ZS, i am currently writing a work of zombie apocalypse fiction. However, I am stumped on which guns to have my main characters wield. so i am looking for any advice from my fellow ZS'ers to solve this problem. The characters go as follows.

The main Badass type:
A guy with a lot of exposure to firearms his entire life, and ex military. He has probably invested a lot of money and time into his training and proficiency as well. I was thinking he would definitely own a good combat rifle, shotgun, and handgun at least, with good supply of ammo and mags.

The Brothers:
Two brothers in their mid 20's, who grew up in the country as your standard hunting, fishing, brawling southern boys. Know their way around guns, and i was thinking maybe a good shotgun, bolt rifle, and maybe even some sidearms. Some ammo, but not a huge amount.

The Kid:
A young kid who's parents have been killed during the infection. His father was a policeman who taught him how to handle guns and the basics of marksmanship. He either has his own .22 types or got his Dad's issued weapons.

Thanks for your help ahead of time, and ill post the results in the fiction section when its finished.

[TacAir]

What Country? Laws matter pre-PAW.

Do you have an outline of the story - why will these folks need weapons? THat is to say, how do they play in the plot?

What other factors? Set on the beach? In the mountains, in Alaska? HI?

Looking forward to some additional details, otherwise any BFG should work....

[DannusMaximus]

The Brothers:
Two brothers in their mid 20's, who grew up in the country as your standard hunting, fishing, brawling southern boys. Know their way around guns, and i was thinking maybe a good shotgun, bolt rifle, and maybe even some sidearms. Some ammo, but not a huge amount.

The Kid:
A young kid who's parents have been killed during the infection. His father was a policeman who taught him how to handle guns and the basics of marksmanship. He either has his own .22 types or got his Dad's issued weapons.

For The Brothers, give one of them a compound bow. Real country boy types often take advantage of every possible hunting season, and that includes Archery pretty much every place. I don't bow hunt, so I can't give any advice as far as a popular type. Could be the de facto 'silenced' weapon which might come in handy, you know?

For funsies, give one of The Brothers an automatic weapon of some kind, maybe something they home-brewed. Country boys are pretty good at jerry-rigging things, how hard could it be for some good old boys to toy around with an old AK until they figured out how to make it fire full-auto? With enough JB Weld and fence wire you can do damn near anything!

For The Kid, pops would statistically have been issued a Glock of some type if he's career PD, so make it a Glock 17. Generic enough that you could make it non-regionally specific PD, 9mm so a younger person could pretty easily handle it. I would give him a Ruger 10/22 as well. That's a pretty common .22 for kids to learn on, and is ubiquitous in this country. Not as practical, but maybe he held onto it for sentimental reasons because it reminds him of better times being with his dad.

[NonExistence]

The Brothers:
Two brothers in their mid 20's, who grew up in the country as your standard hunting, fishing, brawling southern boys. Know their way around guns, and i was thinking maybe a good shotgun, bolt rifle, and maybe even some sidearms. Some ammo, but not a huge amount.

The Kid:
A young kid who's parents have been killed during the infection. His father was a policeman who taught him how to handle guns and the basics of marksmanship. He either has his own .22 types or got his Dad's issued weapons.

For The Brothers, give one of them a compound bow. Real country boy types often take advantage of every possible hunting season, and that includes Archery pretty much every place. I don't bow hunt, so I can't give any advice as far as a popular type. Could be the de facto 'silenced' weapon which might come in handy, you know?

For funsies, give one of The Brothers an automatic weapon of some kind, maybe something they home-brewed. Country boys are pretty good at jerry-rigging things, how hard could it be for some good old boys to toy around with an old AK until they figured out how to make it fire full-auto? With enough JB Weld and fence wire you can do damn near anything!

For The Kid, pops would statistically have been issued a Glock of some type if he's career PD, so make it a Glock 17. Generic enough that you could make it non-regionally specific PD, 9mm so a younger person could pretty easily handle it. I would give him a Ruger 10/22 as well. That's a pretty common .22 for kids to learn on, and is ubiquitous in this country. Not as practical, but maybe he held onto it for sentimental reasons because it reminds him of better times being with his dad.

I couldn't agree with these weapon groups more, just some details that would be cool. The older of the brother's should have an old 1911 that is a family heirloom, that he never want's to use for that reason, and there should be some revolver love in the other's holster, like an old SA hunting revolver in .44 mag. They should have a really nice gun that they have no ammo for, because I have seen plenty of people with this situation at hand. The younger brother looks forward to finding a box of ammo for it somewhere, and constantly beats himself up because he spent all his money o Budweiser irresponsibly a few weeks before Z-Day and forgot to score ammo for it. It should be a somewhat exotic caliber, .50AE, 5.7 or something like that.

The former .Mil guy should have a high end AR-15 derivative, with tons o' expensive toys on it, a massive supply of ammo, a ton of mags, in an less than common caliber if he is more badass, or 5.56 if he sticks with the practicality of the norm. Sidearm should be equally badass, but something less common. I could also see this guy carrying a very sawn-off shotgun, that just hangs off of his side just in case it really gets ugly. It should look beat to shit, and was possibly found abandoned in a ditch full of mud or something.


No comment on the kid's weapons, Dannus nailed that.

[223shooteresc]

Main BA weapons: AR-10 tricked out with Leupold scope and target barrel by leading manufacturer,also Surefire Suppressor, 7 -20 rd mags and 2 -10 rd
H&K MP5SD
Twin (2) tricked out Glock 17Ls with night sites carried in Miami Classic 4 extra mags
Ruger Mark II with integral suppressor with 4 extra mags carried mounted to backpack
Knives: Ek Model 1 or 5 and Condor Kumunga with self made Micarta handle and CKRT M21-04 folder

[Cadillac]

The kid would probably have either a Glock 17, Beretta 92FS, or a Sig of some sorts. those are the three main firearms carried by PD

[223shooteresc]

Brothers Rifles: carry Remington Model 25s 308 cause Michael Waddell the hunter on TV uses them with Bushnell 6500 scopes only 3 mags caused they are expensive and Marlin model 60 and Ruger 10/22 22 LR
Brothers Shotguns: Remington 870 Wingmasters and Bakail OU in 12 ga
Brothers pistols: Ruger Security-Six 357 and Taurus 92 in 9 mm both bought cheap and used at Pawn shop

Kid Rifle: Ruger 10/22Target with Nikon Scope 4X12 his personnel rifle and Dads Remington Sendero in 300 Win Mag with 10X Uertl Scope
Kids Pistols: Ruger Mark III Target Hunter personnel, and Dads pair of Glock 34 target shooters

[jamoni]

Badass guy would have an AR if American, or whatever legal option most closely approaches the weapon he trained on most. He'll also have a hi-cap 9mm or .45 of your choice.
Good old boys: Lever Action 30-30 or bolt action magnum caliber, with glass and iron sights. .44 or .357 magnum revolvers, maybe scoped, probably not. Black powder rifle just for fun.
Kid: .22 bolt gun and a .38 revolver.
All of this depends on how they got these guns. Where they all sitting at home when the zombies attacked? Where they crusing around in the truck? Out hunting? Was the kid at school? I mean, why not throw in a school teacher with a table leg?
Seriously, you can't just list a set of stereotypes and a bunch of guns and have a story. It's like "Col. Mustard killed Mr. Body in the Parlor with the Candlestick".

[Kutter_0311]

The main Badass type:
A guy with a lot of exposure to firearms his entire life, and ex military. He has probably invested a lot of money and time into his training and proficiency as well. I was thinking he would definitely own a good combat rifle, shotgun, and handgun at least, with good supply of ammo and mags.

I can't help but think "Gunny Highway" for this one: Old Recon Marine with a Vietnam-bringback-AK, and carries more skills than gear. His loadout should be professional, a bit oldschool, with a few newschool upgrades that are top-notch. This would include(IMO):
1) Issued M4/ACOG(cause he was still on active duty on Z-Day), 7 mags
2) FA AK he brought home from 'Nam, Grenada, or even a country we were never 'officially' fighting in, 7 mags
3) Amphibian S .22LR because every pro needs a 'hush puppy' (with 3 mags)
4) Ka-Bar

The Brothers:
Two brothers in their mid 20's, who grew up in the country as your standard hunting, fishing, brawling southern boys. Know their way around guns, and i was thinking maybe a good shotgun, bolt rifle, and maybe even some sidearms. Some ammo, but not a huge amount.

There are no shortage of smart country boys with good jobs and decent gear, who love the outdoors because they just love it.
1) High-quality AK/AR, maybe integrally suppressed(they know Red Jacket. Personally), 2-50+ mags
2) Amphibian S .22LR because every redneck needs a 'hush puppy' (with 3 mags)
3) compound bow/crossbow

The Kid:
A young kid who's parents have been killed during the infection. His father was a policeman who taught him how to handle guns and the basics of marksmanship. He either has his own .22 types or got his Dad's issued weapons.

Since lots of cops aren't 'gun guys' but most teach their kids how not to hurt themselves with their issued weapons:
1) Glock 34/17/etc...
2) M4gery (cause a kid can shoot those)

[AK_Stick]

main guy,

*insert brand name M4 here* with either an ACOG, Eoturd, or Aimpoint. flash light, sling and VFG, maybe a supressor.
M9 or 1911 for a pistol. Those are really the only two choices. Maybe an H&K or Sig if you're really feeling exotic. Should have a supressor and a flashlight.

M9 bayonet, or some similar knife, stryer, harsey, busse, etc made for cutting people.

Possible thoughts, a frag grenade or two, claymore, or military grade NVG's (PVS-14 and PEQ-2/15/15a/PAQ-4) (you know because most of us .mil guys are going to raid our armories before we flee the zombies)


Brothers

Rifle, winchester model 70, Rem700, or Savage bolt in 30-06 or 308, 270-243 are possible but would be much more hard to find ammo for.
Possible bow or cross bow, since they are hunters.

Give one a 1911 bring back from his grand father, passed down family heirloom. Give the other a run of the mill 357 revolver or something like that, good quality fixed blade knife for hunting.

Kid,
Ruger 10-22, or maybe one of those new 22 lr's that looks like an M-4.
Dads gun, Glock 17 in 9mm or a 22 in 40 would probably be the most common. Should have a light since most cops these days have one. Possible AR-15/870 if dad was killed at home and patrol car was there

[ultra magnus]

Realistically?

BA: AR and Glock

Kid: Glock or Dad's back up piece a S&W snub.

Brothers: Ruger Blackhawk, and a bolt rifle in a non military hunting caliber for one. Longer barrel "sporting" shotgun for the other maybe an Auto 5 or one of it's clones, and a Marlin Model 60, or a store brand version of it for the other.

[Southron Boy]

The badass vet should have an M4 from a decent manufacturer with a modern optic. His shotgun should either be an 870 or a Mossberg 590. He would probably carry a Sig or a 1911 for a handgun, but a Glock would be credible.

Your redneck boys would have a lever action 30-30 and a mid-range bolt gun with a scope between them. They would probably each have either an 870 or a Mossberg 500. For handguns, at least one of them would have a .357 revolver, but a .44 magnum wouldn't be out of the question. What they would certainly have is a .22, either a rifle or pistol, or both. You always need a .22 around the farm. Redneck boys typically have their own .22 before they buy their first condom.

Around here, pretty much all the police departments have gone to Glock .40s. Why not give the kid one of those Henry brass reciever .22s? Those things are made for doting fathers to give to their kids for their first rifles.

[jamoni]

To be absolutely honest, I think I'd be bored shitles about midway through the description of the guns. A couple of good old boys with rifles would do it for me. I don't need to know the serial numbers.

[Yaivenov]

They should have a really nice gun that they have no ammo for, because I have seen plenty of people with this situation at hand. The younger brother looks forward to finding a box of ammo for it somewhere, and constantly beats himself up because he spent all his money o Budweiser irresponsibly a few weeks before Z-Day and forgot to score ammo for it. It should be a somewhat exotic caliber, .50AE, 5.7 or something like that.

For what it's worth, I really don't see the country boys with an Automag-V or Five-seveN. One thing I've personally seen in real life though is a country fellow here in Colorado who has a revolver in .41 Remington Magnum. He didn't ever have a lot of ammo on hand because of how expensive it is (I helped him out by reloading a box for him and getting him into hand loading).

[nateted4]

To be absolutely honest, I think I'd be bored shitles about midway through the description of the guns. A couple of good old boys with rifles would do it for me. I don't need to know the serial numbers.

NS. Generally, a good writer would only describe these mundane equipment details as necessary for plot. Plot and dialogue move a story, not straps. Anyone who would care about this will create their own picture in their minds. Any one who doesn't care about guns ain't gonna give two poops about model numbers, and it will not help them understand the story to know them either. Also, if you as the author don't know about firearms then don't push this aspect of the story. It will come off clunky.

-Nate

[NonExistence]

They should have a really nice gun that they have no ammo for, because I have seen plenty of people with this situation at hand. The younger brother looks forward to finding a box of ammo for it somewhere, and constantly beats himself up because he spent all his money o Budweiser irresponsibly a few weeks before Z-Day and forgot to score ammo for it. It should be a somewhat exotic caliber, .50AE, 5.7 or something like that.

For what it's worth, I really don't see the country boys with an Automag-V or Five-seveN. One thing I've personally seen in real life though is a country fellow here in Colorado who has a revolver in .41 Remington Magnum. He didn't ever have a lot of ammo on hand because of how expensive it is (I helped him out by reloading a box for him and getting him into hand loading).

Funny that you mention this... I based my stereotype of these guys off of the two redneckest guys I know, and they have a DE .50AE, and have never once since I've known them had ammo for it. I definitely couldn't see them with anything 5.7 or even resembling an AR platform. Colorado rednecks may vary. %.7 was just off the top of my head.

On a similarly funny note, I had never even heard of, or seen on shelves .41 magnum until a coworker talked about everybody in Wyoming having them instead of .44.

[phydaux]

Interesting. Here are a few initial thoughts before I get into specific recommendations:

1) Brand names - Most gun owners are gun lovers. They love their guns, and in their minds their gun is the best gun in the whole, wide world. While not everyone goes so far as to give their gun a name ("Big Thunder" or "I call her 'Vera.'") they do know their guns proper name. So it isn't "I carry a back-up gun" or "I reached for my .380." It's "I carry a Walther" and "I reached for my PPK."

2) Know how guns work - There's an author I used to read, but I stopped because she just pissed me off. She made too many simple gun mistakes. Here's one example: The main character had this "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude that the author just harped on. And she always carried a Browning Hi Power. One time she was interrogating a prisoner and threatening him with her Browning. And like you see in so many movies, at a key moment she thumbed her Browning's hammer back to show that she meant business. Well, the Browning High Power is a single action automatic pistol. If the hammer isn't already back then it's useless as a weapon or a threat. Simple mistake, easy to make, but it ruined the scene for me.

The main Badass type:
A guy with a lot of exposure to firearms his entire life, and ex military. He has probably invested a lot of money and time into his training and proficiency as well. I was thinking he would definitely own a good combat rifle, shotgun, and handgun at least, with good supply of ammo and mags.

This guy is going to gravitate toward modern military weapons.

He is going to own an AR, probably more than one. He'll probably have a Colt AR that is his no frills "beater," and then he'll have another from a slightly higher tier manufacturer, like Bravo Company or Daniel Defense, that is his "patrol rifle." He'll look down on people who bought cheaper rifles from bottom tier manufacturers, knowing that the cheaper components and cost cutting measures from those rifles' manufacturers are what give the AR the bad rep of jamming when you need it most.

For a shotgun he'd go simple - A nice, reliable pump 12 guage with an 18 inch barrel. Either a Remington 870 or a Mosberg 500.

He'll probably own a 9mm automatic, either a "mil spec" Beretta M9 or the "civilian" Beretta 92. And he'll probably own a 1911 in .45. But probably not a Colt M1911a1. More likely a Springfield Armory, probably the Springfield Loaded but maybe the Springfield TRP. Either one will have most of the finish worn off from being carried in a CCW holster year after year. And just maybe he'll have saved his pennies and have a Wilson Combat CQB. Wilson Combat is a small, boutique 1911 custom house, and the CQB is their crown jewel. It's expensive as hell, but it's nearly a work of art. And hand crafted so that when lives are on the line it will function flawlessly every time. A lot of SWAT teams use the Wilson CQB as their standard sidearm. Bad Ass will probably save the CQB for shooting competitions.

This can set up a nice scene of him standing in front of his safe, choosing what weapons to bring with him. In his head he knows all the tactical advantages of the high capacity 9mm Beretta, but when the dead have risen to eat the flesh of the living, he reaches past the M9, past his well worn Springfield because "It's the big bore CQB that I trust with my life."

The Brothers:
Two brothers in their mid 20's, who grew up in the country as your standard hunting, fishing, brawling southern boys. Know their way around guns, and i was thinking maybe a good shotgun, bolt rifle, and maybe even some sidearms. Some ammo, but not a huge amount.

I like the idea of one of them having a compound bow, if for no other reason than it's quite. If you give the Mosberg to Bad Ass, then the other bother can have a Remington 870 with two barrels - one smooth 28" for birds, and a rifled 24" for "varmints, four legged and two legged."

The Kid:
A young kid who's parents have been killed during the infection. His father was a policeman who taught him how to handle guns and the basics of marksmanship. He either has his own .22 types or got his Dad's issued weapons.

A Ruger 10/22 is a great gun for this guy. How about this for a twist - He's got his Dad's old Glock 17, but he only has one magazine (for the love of God, it's a "magazine" not a "clip) and it's not even full of ammo. So he keeps it hidden. He doesn't want other people to know he's got semiauto firepower until he really needs it.

[Yaivenov]

2) Know how guns work - There's an author I used to read, but I stopped because she just pissed me off. She made too many simple gun mistakes. Here's one example: The main character had this "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude that the author just harped on. And she always carried a Browning Hi Power. One time she was interrogating a prisoner and threatening him with her Browning. And like you see in so many movies, at a key moment she thumbed her Browning's hammer back to show that she meant business. Well, the Browning High Power is a single action automatic pistol. If the hammer isn't already back then it's useless as a weapon or a threat. Simple mistake, easy to make, but it ruined the scene for me.

Condition 2, found in Section 110.2, item 3.a

http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dfssg/med/files/110.htm

[phydaux]

2) Know how guns work - There's an author I used to read, but I stopped because she just pissed me off. She made too many simple gun mistakes. Here's one example: The main character had this "shoot first, ask questions later" attitude that the author just harped on. And she always carried a Browning Hi Power. One time she was interrogating a prisoner and threatening him with her Browning. And like you see in so many movies, at a key moment she thumbed her Browning's hammer back to show that she meant business. Well, the Browning High Power is a single action automatic pistol. If the hammer isn't already back then it's useless as a weapon or a threat. Simple mistake, easy to make, but it ruined the scene for me.

Condition 2, found in Section 110.2, item 3.a

http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dfssg/med/files/110.htm

1) Manually lowering the hammer on a single action automatic pistol wit ha round in the chamber is like sending out an engraved invitation for a neglignt discharge

2) Carrying a single action pistol without a firing pin block safety in Condition 2 also invites a negligent discharge if the pistol is dropped. Series 80 1911 single action automatic pistols have firing pin block safeties. Other 1911s and no Browning Hi Power have them.

I am well aware of conditions. The author in question is not. The above example was just one of many cases of firearms ignorance that could be given out of the author's published works. I was hoping OP could learn from that author's bad example and avoid those mistakes.

And Condition 2 is neither safe nor tactically sound.

[0122358]

lets see:

Give the badass guy an M60 and a huge fuckin knife....

The brothers, like everyone else give one guy a crossbow and a good 9mm semi-auto pistol for back up, the other a an M1A or lever action 30-30 or pump shottie with a good revolver (and/or sub compact, hey im a redneck but love the top tier gear as well lol)...have them keep a couple of goodie weapons like ARs or somthing back at the truck.

The kid...Glock, Beretta 92 (lovin the only one magazine idea), ect oh and maybe a single shot .22/.410 guage over/under that his dad gave him as a christmas present

[AmnJoker333]

Interesting.


He is going to own an AR, probably more than one. He'll probably have a Colt AR that is his no frills "beater," and then he'll have another from a slightly higher tier manufacturer, like Bravo Company or Daniel Defense, that is his "patrol rifle." He'll look down on people who bought cheaper rifles from bottom tier manufacturers, knowing that the cheaper components and cost cutting measures from those rifles' manufacturers are what give the AR the bad rep of jamming when you need it most.

All the above, and give the badass an ARFCOM account

I say give the good old boys Mosin Nagants. Taurus 92's as sidearms, one with a nickle/stainless one, the other with a blued/black finished one. Give one of them a PGO 12 gauge. Maybe give one a Mosin, and the other a lever action. (All this based one some of my good friends back home).

The kid? His father's personal Glock 22 .40 to start out with (I know several LEO types that own more than one of the same gun, or have one issued and own a duplicate as a personally-owned firearm), as well as a Ruger 10/22. He doesn't know whether his father is alive or dead. As a plot device, the group later finds his father's cruiser with a Colt M-4 in the trunk, a few magazines, and a note to the son from the father. You can go pretty far with this: either reunite the boy with his Dad, have him find his father mortally wounded, or zombified. (Don't mean to write the book for ya, just a few suggestions )