Zombies are coming!!!!

the problem with the assault rifle is that you end up wasting too much ammunition.  where as with the hunting rifle you use single shots with great care so you dont end up gettin eaten by god damn zombie. the whole point is it causes you to save ammo and take better shots. after all head shots are all that really matters.

As Tommy said, for survival... the hunting rifle is better for Joe Average.  Any fully automatic weapon will let Joe Average waste ammo as he/she goes "Rambo" on the undead.

Now, if you take someone who has training... an assault rifle would be fine.

If you are forming a Zombie Hunting group whose funtion was to directly confront and assault the undead, then a fully automatic weapon would be fine as well.  No need for stealth or subtlety.  Simply line up your squad, and let loose at neck/head level and knee/ankle level.  Cut down the waves of undead that approaches.  Fragmentation/crowd dispersal weapons won't work.  Incendiery weapons could prove useful in certain situations.

Mini-guns and SAW (squad assault weapons like M60's and such) would be good line trimmers.

Also don't forget our friend El Ray from Planet Terror. Can't go wrong with a good set of knives to back up your fire power. Although good thing with the assault rifle is that if you have control, you can control your shots. I would actually prefer to use my 30-30 just cause I enjoy accuracy. My Cal-Tec 9mm with the extended clip ( not legal in NY state but who cares when zombies are involved). Its light weight, fold able, and is accurate at mid to close quarters. Of course you can't leave your side arm. While I do enjoy the smooth shot of my bursa .380 when dealing with the under we need what we can rely on over luxury. In case on invasion i would have to stick with a good old .357 snub or regular size revolver ( if the first bullet wont fire i bet the other 5 will). Just be sure to keep plenty of reloads. That should do it along with some other small choice firearms that would help in the fight against the once again living.

I have a 7mm Remington 700BDL, which is a great long range, bolt action rifle.  So if the zombies were coming across the field, one could knock them down at long range.  OTOH, I also have a 30-06 semi-automatic rifle, which with an extended clip I would classify in the assault weapon category.  However, for short range, what is wrong with the perfect home protection weapon, say an Ithaca 18" (shortest allowed under the law) barrel pump shotgun in 12 gauge?  It holds 8 rounds, is deadly accurate under 50 feet, and has the power to stop and shred almost anything.  If they are bunched, like in the movies, one can use buckshot and scatter a 9-15  .32 caliber balls around.

All my options are readily available to the civilian populace, use common off the shelf ammo, and for short range (under 150 feet) are ready as is to get rid of pesky undead.

I would disagree about the shotguns.  If we are following the "rules" of zombies... tissue damage to them is negligable and only wastes your ammo.  Sure... you hit them, they fall, but then they get right back up.  Head shots only, and a spread of buckshot at head level would only get 1 maybe 2, if you're lucky.  Or go for knees to make them crawl towards you instead of the undead slow shuffle.  Shotguns are great vs people... not zombies.

100' feet or greater = hunting rifle or semi-automatic assault rifle (here, you have time to change clips/reload ammo.  so rifles without great ammo capacity are ok here)
50' - 100' feet = assault carbine on semi-auto (like the M-4... here you need to watch when you change clips/reload.  the less you have to, the better.  Ammo capacity, accuracy, and power are key here)
5' - 50' feet = large caliber hand pistol w/ extended clip (you need power and ammo here.  accuracy shouldn't be an issue at this close of a range unless you really suck.  unload on the ones closest to you before you run)
0' - 5' feet = RUN SUCKA RUN! 

OK, now I get to try my own "Mythbusters" test on the efficacy of shotguns vs Zombies. 

1 - I will save some 1 and 1/2 Gallon plastic containers.  I realize that plastic is not as good as bone matter on deflecting pellets, but I must work with the materials at hand.

2 - Fill containers with water.

3 - Take into back yard, mount on something so the containers are between 5 feet off the ground (zombies Jon G., Wally,  and my size) and 6 feet (Geoff, Rob, and others).  Make certain the spread is 3 -4 feet between them.  Stagger a second row behind them, since zombies seem to like to attack in staggered ranks.

4 - At 100 feet fire 12 gauge magnum OO buckshot, aiming at the 1 gallon "head."  Check the spread and penetration.
    Ditto at 50 feet
    Ditto at 25 ft.
    What the hell, try it at 10 feet

Since I do not have many 1 gallon plastic containers, this will take a week or three to set up.  Plus, I use discarding sabot rifled slugs for shooting, so I have to buy some shot.