My take on revolvers in a zombie situation is that when you only need to take out one or two zombies, you’d use your revolver ammunition first. Save the semi-auto ammunition for when you’re pressed by numbers and don’t want to get caught reloading at a critical moment.
Well, if you can get your hands on a bunch of riot-cop shields and helmets, you could train ten or more people to slaughter walkers Spartan-style. Hold together, jab with spears, have a squad leader with a whistle to signal commands like “two steps back”, “right incline”, etc. and even large groups of walkers will pose no problem at all.
But that would make sense, and making sense is kryptonite to zombie fiction.
I’m a bit surprised that nobody seems to use just a simple .22 rifle. Zombie skulls in particular are fragile, and a .22 has enough penetration to get inside the skull and scramble the soft gooey insides. For short-range sniping, it’d be pretty efficient.
Plus, .22 ammo is available damn near everywhere.
A little .22 semi auto carbine with an external magazine, or perhaps a tube magazine with a lot of .22 shorts. I’ve had too many jams in .22 semi auto pistols, and I don’t want to have to reload a revolver while cowering under a dumpster.