Feasibility check: rifles as melee weapons

[seasight]

Setting: Modern world, zombie apocalypse version

Comments

[spikedpunch]

Technically speaking, the AK-47 was purposefully designed to be used as a blunt object to even knock down doors with.

[seasight]

I will bear that in mind. :D

[sollersuk]

Historically, rifles etc have always been expected to be capable of being used as a blunt instrument (one has to consider situations in close-quarter fighting where one has run out of ammunition or is at too close quarters, and bayonets were not always appropriate)

[spikedpunch]

"Yes and no." The problem is that there are always exceptions to any statement like that. I am not saying this to start an argument, but just bringing up a point that what we are in fact dancing around at the moment is one of those annoying exceptions.
The case in point: the AK-47 and M-16 are often compared to each other since they came about the same time.
The AK-47 was designed to be heavy, sturdy, and simple enough for anyone to use, while the M-16 was made using all "new space age materials" to make it light, easy to carry, but had a notorious problems with being maintained while out in the field. The M-16 was often referred to as the "toy gun" because it always felt too light to be a weapon, seemed flimsy, and barely could be used as a blunt object. This was later corrected with redesigns and other changes though, and formed a whole family of other weapons around it.

[seasight]

Cool. I've gone in and changed that now.

[seasight]

I'm gonna go with that, then. He would know that. For Reasons.

[ioanna_ioannina]

In a martial art I'm training, if you aim to a head with a (wooden) stick, you aim to the eyes to terrify and to the temple to kill the opponent.
I think the temple would work with any clubbish weapon.
Or maybe from behind, if you have the chance with your zombie, a weak point should be between the 2nd and the 3rd vertebra - a point for beheading. But you will need your zombie kneel or something. :-)
In a battle, I'd rather go for the temple.

[seasight]

Thank you, that's very useful. Temple-bashing it is, then.

[six_dollar_baby]

i'd go for the temple, but only if he's got an AK-47 or M-16 (which were designed to be used as clubs) or an older, heavier rifle with a good wooden stock construction. (Here is a link to a diagram of the parts of several types of guns: http://www.info4guns.com/firearms_parts.html)
A newer, lighter rifle (with a plastic composite stock) may well disintegrate after a few blows, so he'll want an older, heavier gun.
Still, using an older rifle as a club too many times risks damaging the gun by bending the bore or damaging the bolt or pump action- all of which would cause the gun to jam/misfire/generally be unusable in future. If it's a one-time action, your character should be okay, but if it happens often, you may want to consider giving him a lead pipe or golf club as well as a gun.

PS, when someone strikes another person with the butt of a rifle, it's called a "butt stroke."

[seasight]

Thank you! I'm actually going to write the damage to the gun into the story, now. Thanks. :D He'll have access to more, eventually, so it's not the end of the world. But it is a good thing to know.

[six_dollar_baby]

glad to help. :D i'd love to read the story when you've finished.