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Using explosives against the undead has been brought up on a number of occasions. Several times among a group of fellow zombie hunters I have discussed the possible use of such weapons and whether or not they would be effective, or just ringing the dinner bell.On the whole the conclusions that have been reached in these BS session over beer, pool, and munchies, is that for the most part explosives are more likely a liability than a useful weapon. In most cases.

  • Grenades: One of the weapons that has its roots back to the first uses of gunpowder it is a fixture on the battlefields of today. The little balls of boom explode and throw a hailstorm of tiny pieces of shrapnel out in every direction. (Actually its out and up, unless it explodes in the air) Against the undead they simply do not have the killing power since a zombie’s brain must be destroyed, blowing fragments of metal through the body may at best cripple it, only slowing down, and at worst a fragment, after going through a zombie may injure a team member. In the end grenades are simply too must of a liability in the field of battle against the undead. That does not, however, in certain scenarios that they will on be of use, simply that they are not the omnipotent weapons that you see in movies and video games.
  • Mines: Antipersonnel landmines should be completely ignored since most of them are designed to maim and not kill. Antitank mines should likewise be ignored since they require too great a weight to be placed on them to be detonated, and I don’t believe we will be facing six ton zombies. Mines like the claymore, and its brethren, the directional mines, however, do have uses. Think of a massive shotgun, if you must. Since they can be placed at a certain height they can be set up to fire a head level and if deployed correctly can very well become a force multiplier. Getting the zombies to bunch up in an alley with the mines placed at head level should be easy, acquiring the mines may not.
  • Bombs: Since most zombie outbreaks will be small, unless the outbreak is in a large city, bombs rank up there as overkill on the highest order. Fun perhaps but most likely useless. Unless the outbreak is in a large building or shelter and there is no hope of survivors this option should be completely ignored, just make sure you tell that to the government, since they will likely be the first to want to call in air support in these situations.
  • Nukes: The biggest of all bombs, and while it is unlikely that anyone will simply come across one in the field they should be addressed non the less. Simply put these are weapons that are of last resort when all hope is lost and zombies surround you, not in hordes, but millions. To call in a tactical nuke on a city because of a zombie outbreak is madness. Fortunately we have intelligent people in power to make those decisions. Makes, you want to build an underground compound doesn’t it.

In the end, with the exceptions of the extremes of the category, explosives should be deployed with great thought, using them without regard or as first choice weapon will likely result in more harm than good. In the end the situation dictates the use.

Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay alive.