After reviewing many of the plans on this forum I have come to find that most if not all have two things in common; 1) all are based around long defense and evasion (shit will go bad immediately and only as a worst-case scenario), 2) the people involved have made preparation at least a week or two in advance. I don't mean to disrespect anyone’s plans with that statement as a good personal plan tailored to your needs is essential to survival. What’s more is that it is good judgment, by anyone’s standards, to prepare a worst case scenario plan from the get go. In the beginning, however, it will go great lengths for you to work towards going on the offensive immediately (to at least thin out the hordes in your local area) and to do it with people who have not made survival preparations before hand.

The plan I am bringing to the table does not include long term arrangements as it will either A) help to eradicate the hordes in your immediate area, or B) should only be a consideration and/or supplement to any of your current survival plans. This is because I believe strongly in the idea that if you plan to attack a zombie menace immediately with aggression, planning, and team work you wont need to use any plans beyond the first or second week. Also many of the people who will survive initially, believe it or not, will be those who have made no prior preparations at all. This plan is aimed at them; both so they know what to do and so you the prepared individual will know how to act when the time comes both for their benefit and yours.

Remember, if you can destroy it now you won’t have to worry about it in the future.

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STEP 1: WEAPONS CHOICE

This is actually an easy step. For those who already have weapons at home it should be your own personal firearm. There's no point in you buying something new and retraining yourself unless the weapon you have is totally inadequate such as a pistol or small caliber firearm (your main concern is the undead horde but remember that there are humans you may need to use it on as well).
For those that have no firearms at home but have more than a few hours of experience (military veterans as a prevalent but not exclusive example) either purchase a weapon you are experienced with or make an educated guess as to what you believe to be most adequate for you and learn that weapon inside and out.

As I said above this plan is mostly directed at those least prepared for a zombie onslaught and this will almost always consist of those that are not armed or experienced with firearms to begin with. Having said that I personally recommend 2 specific firearms for the virgin zombie hunter;

+12-gauge pump action shotgun (various makes and models).

A simple, robust design of firearm. As long as you have the strength to work the action it will always work for you. The wonderful advantage it has lays both in its ammunition and availability.

*Buckshot shells contain between 5 and 9 small pellets (15 if a magnum shell) around 9 millimeters in diameter that spread outward upon leaving the barrel allowing an inexperienced shooter to make a headshot (multiple are possible depending on the range and horde density involved).

*Shotguns are one of the few firearms that are universally accepted across the country, so much so that in all but the tightest of gun law states (California, New York) it is actually legal for minors to own one depending on age. Because of this it is a guarantee that every gun store in America will carry shotguns and the ammunition for them to use making it easy both to buy prior to an apocalypse and to scavenge after it begins.

There are numerous down sides to this weapon, though;

*As their magazines are internal their shells must be manually loaded one at a time which can present an obvious problem with reloading if things get tight.

* As the size of the shells are as great as what they are it means that there a finite number of rounds that can be loaded into the weapon (usually 5-8 depending on model) and that can be carried on your person (60 is considered an acceptable maximum).

*As buckshot rounds separate after leaving the tube their range is severely limited to only around 20-25 yards for an effective headshot and is questionable up to 75.

*However, as the main concern of this post is the effective arming of those least prepared to fight the zombie hordes, I consider the choice of this weapon for the inexperienced shooter/zombie hunter to have more than made up for its pitfalls with the above mentioned advantages, especially if working in groups.

*As a side note there is one major consideration that must be made in the choosing of a shotgun and that, surprisingly, is variety of design. Semi-automatic shotguns do exist but don’t carry anymore shells than a pump-action while also increasing the complication of its design on the inside. Also, there exists some sport models that are extremely light with thin barrels designed only to fire birdshot and target rounds, meaning they can’t handle the pressure of firing full sized buckshot. This is a problem as the last thing a new zombie hunter wants to have happen to him/her is the weapon they’re carrying bursts in their face. These are considerations that must be factored when choosing a design.

+Revolver.

A design that was the first effective multiple-shot weapon in history, revolvers have provided an unbeatable level of reliability for a firearm since a time when Kalashnikov was merely a family name. For the untrained zombie hunter this weapon reigns supreme as a backup. Advantage-wise;

*the weapon will never jam on you.

*Requires about 30 seconds worth of cleaning time.

*As a handgun it merely requires looking down the sight, steadying your hand and breathing, and pulling the trigger.

*Its disadvantages stem from a finite number of rounds (generally 6) and a long reload period as each round needs to be loaded one at a time. Again, though, this is a weapon for those least prepared to fight as a backup weapon, so I consider the disadvantages of the weapon to be offset by its advantages.

As a personal consideration I always recommend a .38 caliber revolver (specifically Smith & Wesson and Colt Police models). This is due mostly to the cartridge than the weapon itself. The .38 is one of the most prevalent cartridge designs for a revolver that exists in America (alongside the .357 and .44) making it easy to acquire both before and during an apocalypse. Also, the round itself is roughly comparable to a 9mm Parabellum and thus relatively easy to fire by the untrained user. As the .38 was originally designed to be used against charging Filipino tribal warriors it is also very effective against humans, an additional plus.

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STEP 2: EQUIPMENT

Equipment in the context of going on the offensive in general is going to be different from that which is used purely for survival and evasion. One of the greatest differences is size and weight; you don’t need a water purifier, tent, and/or cooking gear to clear a building or town. In this regard I will always recommend the military example as the average combat soldier only needs the bare essentials in a fire fight;

*Weapon

*Ammunition

*Water

*First-Aid Kit

Weapon and ammunition is self-explanatory. Water on average will be 1-2 quarts although a fresh supply needs to be available for you to acquire whether it be in an accompanying vehicle or an established base. The first-aid kit will be small and only include the essentials for non-zombie induced wounds (as a zombie wound is always fatal). For the prepared zombie hunter all of this should either be available already or acquirable in the future. For the new zombie hunter, however, I will go into more detail.

Believe it or not, it is not necessary to buy lots of equipment and load-bearing gear to carry what is needed for offensive zombie warfare. In fact, something as simple as a vest and a pair of pants with cargo pockets works wonders for carrying the essentials for a zombie war. In this regard all you need to do is choose one cargo pocket to place your first-aid kit in and have the rest designated for ammo (since the person using this equipment is new to this I have to assume you listened to my advice about choosing a shotgun and all ammo is buckshot although other ammunition types are doable).

Carrying water will generally be an easy proposition as all you will need is a water bottle or canteen that is at least 1 quart/liter in volume (although I recommend at least 2 be carried) that can be attached to your belt. As long as you remain hydrated you will be fine. As a note on Gatorade and other power drinks; they are good at keeping you going in moderation but don’t plan on making them your only source of hydration as they have A LOT of sugar that can work to slow you down.

A first-aid kit is generally easy to come by in a store but if you need to make one it’s very easy. As an example, military first-aid pouches issued to individual soldiers prior to the early 2000’s consisted generally of a trauma dressing, morphine (if issued) and sometimes additional bandages and dressings. While the new kits have more the load-out idea has generally remained the same. The reason behind this is because an individual first-aid kit for a soldier is designed to be used for that individual first, i.e. if a soldier is wounded his buddy’s will use the equipment in his bag first to help him. This line of thinking needs to be used for the new zombie hunter as well since any personal aid kit must be small, simple and disposable.

General first-aid pouch load-outs in this regard will include;

*Band-Aids, 5-10 (for the small stuff)

*Medium Bandages, 4-6

*Roll of medical tape

*Roll of gauze

*Tube of disinfectant (Neosporin is good)

*Rubber medical gloves

Packaging each in an individual Ziploc baggy and putting those all together in either a larger Ziploc bag or a pouch to carry them in will guarantee they remain clean and usable. Buying all of these items in bulk for around 100$ can equip a platoons worth of new zombie hunters with an individual first-aid pouch.

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STEP 3: PREPARATION FOR OFFENSIVE

As I have mentioned before, if you can stop a zombie apocalypse from growing in its initial stages you have the potential to stop it all together. This requires aggressive action by a motivated and sufficiently equipped force of individuals with a small but dedicated rear echelon in support from a central base. To accomplish this there are several elements that must be in place;

1) A Base of Operations;

Usually a fixed position although a bus or large RV is usable. Must include a designated medical area (a dining room with a table and medical supplies may be all that you need or will have available), rest area for the zombie hunters, designated supply area (for food, water, ammo, and equipment), and dedicated command room for communications and intelligence (a couple of phones and 3-4 laptops is more than adequate for a small civilian team). Must be defensible and adequately sized for the force of zombie hunters operating out of it. If it is just a half dozen souls your own home could do, but if it is several dozen or even 100 survivors you may need a warehouse (if you can find one). When out on the offensive a guard must be in place at all times.

2) Transportation;

Although SUV’s are the best because of their off-road abilities, any vehicle will do. Remember, this plan isn’t about survival; it’s about destroying a zombie menace before it spreads in its early stages. You will still have relatively clear roads to drive on to get to hot spots so it is not imperative you have anything that goes off road. Generally the vehicle in question has to be in good working order, can transport at least 3 people and still have room for plenty of additional ammunition, 2 gallons of water and 3 meals worth of food for each individual, miscellaneous medical supplies, and a five gallon jug of gasoline. This vehicle is to act as mobile support on the attack and a fallback position if things get hairy.

3) Preparation for the new zombie hunters;

This is directed mostly at prepared zombie hunters although reading it won’t hurt the unprepared. As I’ve mentioned numerous times, many of the initial survivors in the beginning will not consist of those that have made prior preparations. These people will be unprepared, untrained and unequipped to deal with what is going on around them and most likely either scared and/or shell shocked. Mentally and/or physically some will be unfit to bear arms to fight and it comes down to whoever is in charge and those who are prepared to weed them out. Remember, though, that survival happens to those in groups so the prepared must be willing to assist the unprepared to combat the undead. I generally classify the unprepared into 4 groups;

*Physically and mentally able: Those with the physical and mental capacity to survive and work together, the best for combat operations.

*Mentally able, physically restricted: These people have the mindset to assist but have a physical handicap, whether they are out of shape (in this case seriously obese), are handicapped (missing a limb, wheelchair bound) or are too young or too old. As long as they are willing to work, however, find a noncombat role for them and let them know they are part of the general effort to survive. In this situation everyone’s contribution is vital and important.

*Mentally unprepared: These people, regardless of physical disposition, are having a hard time accepting what is occurring around them. They can mentally come around and assist but it may take cajoling convincing. As a personal appeal I have to ask that the prepared hunters have a little sympathy for some of these people; even if you have prepared for this day it will still be a shock to your system when it actually occurs. For the unprepared, for which life does not include the dead coming back to life and devouring the living, it will be down right devastating especially if they had witnessed it happen to their own family’s and friend’s. For many, as long as you are willing to be patient and wait for them, you just need to give them time.

*Mentally Unable: These are the people who are stereotyped as the most likely to get killed. Although my post thus far may seem overly kind to the unprepared don’t take this to be a sign of weakness; the mentally unable are the ones most likely to get someone killed, most likely to be a danger to their fellows, and the ones most likely to threaten the security of the group. Best case scenario they will constantly deny that what is happening is really happening, worst case they will openly threaten the security of the group and the base you are using. If you judge them to be dead weight put them someplace they won’t be a danger to others, if a liability/danger to the group get them out of your base. I recommend not killing them unless you have to only because if the zombie plague that you are combating is restricted to your local area it is highly likely that the power of the government, both local and federal, will eventually return due to the efforts of both outside powers and your own aggressive action.

Once the unprepared have been assembled and assigned based on their abilities you need to acquire and pass out weapons and equipment to those that do not already have them, especially if they are assigned to combat duties (this could include your own weapons stock or acquiring weapons on the fly due to scavenging). Once this is done it is best to organize them into hunter teams, usually 3-5 people strong, led by a prepared hunter.

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STEP FOUR: THE OFFENSIVE

Once the equipment has been readied, the base has been established, transportation acquired and the unprepared have been made ready to fight, the time will have come to take the fight to the horde. Humans are the most dangerous on the attack when they are not only equipped but also motivated and smart. Having said this, it will do much to let the newly minted hunters know with absolute honesty what they are facing but encourage them by letting them know both that the horde is not invincible (which they are not) and that they are fighting for something greater than themselves (which they are).

On the attack your tactics will be based on the overall size of your force and the horde you are facing. Aside from requiring only headshots to kill almost every advantage in zombie fighting will rest with humans; we are motivated, smarter, faster, have an inherent survival instinct, and can think analytically. With all of this factored together, a zombie hunting team can be outnumbered up to ten to one and still survive without loss of life as long as they remain smart, level headed and , most importantly, have enough ammunition. This does not mean, however, that a zombie hunting team is invincible. As long as a few basic tactics are followed and advice heeded on the attack then a victory is almost guaranteed.

*Keep a Cool Head: Whatever you do don’t panic, just because a zombie keeps coming doesn’t mean it can’t be stopped.

*Always Work as a Team: Zombies don’t work together, they are each an individual fighting unit. Working together humans have the ability to cover more ground and have more eyes scanning an area. Additionally, we can cover each others backs.

*Stay Alert, Stay Alive: Always remain vigilant, just because zombies move slowly doesn’t mean they stop moving at all.

*Know When to Pull Back: If there is one thing that sticks out in my mind that my Drill Sergeants told me in Basic it’s this; don’t be a hero. Just because we as humans hold most of the cards doesn’t mean we can’t lose. If it is tactically sound for you and your team to fall back and regroup you should do just that.

*Apply the Proper Amount of Force: If you are engaging single zombies don’t let off a whole magazine to make a kill. Additionally, if there are over a hundred in a horde, don’t try to take it on with only a half dozen hunters.

*Always Try to Make a Kill: Remember one dead zombie now is one less zombie to kill down the road. Whittling away at a zombie horde always helps in the long run.

*Maintain Communication: Make sure everyone knows were everyone else is. This allows for greater coordination and increased safety. (Don’t waste money on radios and walkie-talkies; in the beginning cell phone towers will still be operational so make use of them).

*Don’t Fire All at Once: Ensure that no more than half of a team is firing their weapons at a time unless you are about to be overrun and you have no choice. The last thing you want to have happen is you think your safe and begin to reload and have a dozen zombie pop out of nowhere.

*Stay Motivated: Don’t let fear or doubt cross your mind no matter what. Even if you have to repeat in your mind 'its all going to be over soon' then that’s what you do.

*Chain of Command: If a group of survivors is large enough (greater than 3-5) make sure there is someone in charge and everybody knows who that is. Remember, though, that you are not in the military; if you start barking orders, especially unreasonable or selfish ones, you are setting up a powder keg ready to explode.

*Be conservative about your ammunition and supplies, especially if you are restricted to how much you can acquire both before and after the apocalypse begins. If things truly fall apart you are going to need them in the long run.

*While on the offensive it is best to have multiple teams working together if you have them. While it is possible in theory for five or six people to clear a town it is almost impossible in reality. With multiple teams working together, however, not only is a clearing operation faster but it is also more efficient.

*It is best to be open but cautious towards other survivors. In addition to being added to your own group of survivors they can also provide assistance that you may not have at your disposal (such as specialists in an area or equipment you may need). Also, if you have the ability to coordinate your clearing operations with them do so as it will make things easier for both groups. Don’t simply let them waltz into your group or compound, though, as they could potentially be marauders (even within the first couple of days) or those made mentally unstable by the events occurring around them. In other words, don’t shoot on sight but keep it as a possibility.

*Generally it is best not to go on the offensive beyond your local area. This is because 1) the vehicles you are using have a finite amount of fuel and you have no idea how long this plague is going to last, 2) clearing your immediate area should always be a priority for safety and survival, 3) you lose the advantage of knowing the terrain if you stray too far. Throughout history local fighters (colonial militia in the American Revolution, Partisans guerrillas in WW2, and the Viet Minh and Viet Cong in South East Asia as a select few examples) have always maintained an advantage over their enemies because they know the terrain and lay of the land were they live. While they have almost never won a war on their own they have certainly made many huge contributions. It is when they are taken beyond their local area, however, that they tend to lose. The same should go for you and your band of hunters, both prepared and unprepared alike; keep your operations within a 15-mile radius (as an average) and you should be ok.

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CONCLUSION:

On the whole I will conclude this post with a few basic remarks of what I have hoped to bring across in this plan;

*Attacking immediately all on its own can allow you to win, or at the very least increases your chance to survive.

*The unprepared are a surprising resource to be tapped.

*Work as a team.

*Stay smart and motivated (we can and do, zombies can’t and don’t).

As I wrote in the beginning this plan is purely a supplementary suggestion to the prepared hunter’s current plan and the circumstances they find themselves in. If it is totally unrealistic to do anything except lock the doors, grab the gun, and hold out as long as possible, than a large-scale coordinated attack of any kind should be totally out of the picture. For the unprepared survivor, however, I direct this post to you for when the world goes to shit and you begin your on-the-fly preparation.

In the end the worst case scenario imaginable would be that your efforts in the bigger picture were all for naught; the plague had spread out of control, the government has collapsed, and your emergency survival plan has to go into full effect. Even if this were the case your efforts in your immediate vicinity would have still had an effect; you still have supplies, arms, transportation, and ammunition available as long as you were smart about there use, there are more survivors than just you and a small group of friends, and the zombies in your local area will at least be thinned. When the end finally goes into full swing, you will be a step ahead.

Note: all preparation is based on the George A. Romero style of zombie. To speak honestly, anything like the remake of "Day of the Dead" is a guaranteed death sentence as that sort of zombie requires a head shot while sprinting (all the strengths and none of the weaknesses), and "28 Days Later" isn't actually a zombie and you just have to wait for them to starve.