Horror movies have been a thing for a very long time, and when gun owners watch them, we tend to utter the same words: “If they’d had a gun, this wouldn’t have made it past the opening scene.” Well, we’ve taken the time to choose five of our favorite monster-hunting guns based on popular horror movie monsters and mobs. This way, if the zombie apocalypse hits, you have some ideas to get you started.
Ruger Super Redhawk
We know what you’re thinking, but hear us out. Yes, the Ruger Super Redhawk is a revolver, which means more limited capacity than many handguns. And yes, it has a long barrel and it isn’t entirely convenient to carry. However, its 44 Magnum version with a 9.5-inch barrel is incredibly effective against all kinds of monsters. And let’s be real, if you’re talking about a slow-moving monster like Michael from “Halloween” or Jason Vorhees from “Friday the 13th,” you’re going to have time to access this gun and aim.
What makes the Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 Magnum such a great option for movie monsters is the caliber and the fact that the barrel length gets the most out of that caliber. It’s a crazy accurate gun, too, as surprising as that might be. Yes, you need to get some practice with it, especially when it comes to getting back on target quickly, but it’s a great gun. If the 9.5-inch barrel is a bit much for you, don’t worry, there are also five-inch and 7.5-inch models. Magnum revolvers have been used against movie monsters with great success for a long time, so why break tradition?
Cosaint Arms COS21
The Cosaint Arms COS21 in its Government-sized 10mm edition couldn’t be more perfect for horror movie monsters of all kinds. Not only is this a double-stack, meaning greater capacity, but it has a five-inch barrel which translates to great accuracy and somewhat mitigated felt recoil and muzzle rise. Then there’s the fact that “cosaint” means “protection,” and that’s an accurate description of what you need to ward off monsters.
This handgun’s 10mm chambering makes it ideal because the 10mm is both excellent for self-defense and hunting and manageable enough to make rapid, accurate follow-up shots. That’s important when you’re fighting a horde of zombies or the equivalent. And because it’s government-sized, it’s a full-size pistol that’s still small enough to be easily carried. You could conceal it if you wanted to, but if you’re fighting off zombies you probably don’t need to worry about open carry versus concealed carry. There will be much larger problems to deal with.
Desert Eagle, Black with Tiger Stripes
Although the Desert Eagle is offered with a lot of different finishes, we’re partial to this model that has a black finish with tiger stripes. It gives you a little monster-fighting flare without being so flashy or bright that it attracts the wrong kind of attention. We’re going with the traditional 50 AE chambering for this one, not because there’s anything wrong with 429 DE, 44 Magnum, or even 357 Magnum but because sometimes it’s a good idea to stick to the classics. This is the perfect gun to load with silver bullets to go up against werewolves, plus it has the added insult of stripes, suggesting it’s a cat-themed gun…to fight werewolves.
The Desert Eagle is a well-known movie gun that’s pretty cool in real life as well. In its 50 AE chambering it has a capacity of 7 +1, and while we admit it might be nice to have a bit more ammo readily available, these rounds are big enough to handle monsters on a single mag. And it’s easy enough to carry a spare mag or two as needed. Just practice your magazine changes. Fighting horror movie monsters might not be what you had in mind with all that dry fire and magazine changing, but if that becomes your reality, won’t you be glad you trained?
Mossberg 590 Shockwave, Magazine Fed
By using the magazine-fed version of the Mossberg 590 Shockwave, you have the ideal blend of old-school monster fighting with some modern benefits. The Shockwave is great for shooting from the hip or otherwise not worrying about shouldering a long gun, making it easier to shoot offhand. Yes, it’s a pump-action shotgun, and that serves as a nice tip of that hat to the classics. After all, how many horror movies have we seen with pump-action shotguns used to defeat the evildoer?
The Mossberg 590 Shockwave is a 12 gauge and its detachable box magazine has a 10-round capacity. It’s up to you whether you choose to fight monsters with buckshot or slugs, but before you choose we suggest spending some time patterning your shotgun to familiarize yourself with how it impacts targets at close ranges. Thanks to its bird’s head grip and 15-inch barrel, this is a shotgun that’s easy to maneuver and fast to get on target. What more could you ask for in a horror movie?
Phoenix Weaponry Christine AR
There are two things you need to know about this rifle. First is that if you’ve never seen the movie “Christine,” which is based on a Stephen King book, you’re missing out. Remedy that situation immediately. Second is that the 45-70 Government, which could easily be called the cartridge that Won the West, does exist in an AR platform. Technically it’s not the exact same cartridge, it’s a 45-70 Auto, but it’s a relative of the original Government round. This is the perfect AR for fighting monsters.
The Christine AR is a bit heavier than some ARs. It weighs in just under 10 pounds, empty, so when it has a loaded magazine inserted it is a hefty firearm. That comes in handy, though, because the 45-70 Auto felt recoil and muzzle rise are nicely manageable with the extra weight of the gun itself. This rifle has an 18-inch barrel and a six-position adjustable stock, so you get both accuracy and a nice fit. Why wouldn’t you want to fight monsters with a rifle bearing the name of a movie monster? It’s perfect.
We stuck to portable firearms for this list. As nice as a machine gun or tank would be to fight monsters, they’re just too hard to move around. What guns do you think we missed? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
