Looking at the info, I've devised some comparisons between groups of weapons. I also give a bit of a run-down as to which is 'better' to choose, if you have the choice (though I am not in anyway trying to change your particular choices or playstyle, as most of the groups have a weapon for each playstyle, and each weapon has it's own advantages).

Look at this as a to-the-point, numbers vs. numbers comparison of the weapons.

Marksman Rifles: Mini-14 (Hunting Rifle) vs. HK41 (Military Sniper)

Both rifles are identical in all aspects excluding magazine size, ammo count, and reload time.

• The Mini-14 carries 15 rounds per mag, and 165 rounds overall. The HK41 carries 30 rounds per mag, and 210 total.
• The Mini-14 boasts a 3.25 second reload, whereas the HK41 reloads in 3.5 sec.

So, if a choice is presented, in most scenarios it will be best to take the HK41 for the extra ammo, both per mag and total; the only downside being the reload time being a fourth of a second slower.


Assault Rifles: M16 vs. AK-47 vs. FN SCAR

• Damage wise, the M16 has the lowest damage per shot, and the AK-47 boasts the highest per shot.
• The AK-47 has a 40 round magazine, with 400 total. The M16 has a 50 round magazine, with 410 total. The FN SCAR has a 60 round magazine, with 420 total.
• Highest Rate of Fire goes to the M16, with 11.4 rounds/sec; the SCAR gets 9 rounds/sec (3 bursts), and the AK-47 gets 7.7 rounds/sec.
• The M16 (2.35s) also gets shortest reload, followed by the AK-47 (2.5s), and the FN SCAR holding the low spot on the totem (3.35s)
• The SCAR and M16 both hold the same recoil values, whereas the AK-47 has a considerably higher recoil.

The M16 is very accurate and boasts a high rate of fire, with good ammo consumption if you fire in single shot. However, it is more than likely that you won't have that sort of level headedness when you're in the frying pan, so expect to lose a bit more ammo than you think. However, it does have the advantage over the SCAR of having the flexibility to use automatic fire, so it's a toss up.

The AK47 has low accuracy, and low rate of fire, so at longer ranges it's not your best choice. However, it's damage is significantly higher, making it a very suitable weapon for short range, and works well for medium ranges if crouching. Expect to lose more ammo with the AK47, since you'll likely be spending much of your time in the middle of the horde, spraying about.

The SCAR is a good middle ground between the two, boasting accuracy, low recoil, and medium damage. It also boasts some of the best ammo consumption of the 3, excluding at longer ranges where the M16 can perform one-shot-kills, so it's best to get to medium range with the SCAR, or let someone else take the shot.


SMGs: Uzi vs. Silenced MAC-10

• Besides Damage and Recoil, the weapons are identical.
• The MAC-10 has a damage bonus, although it is almost negligible. (Uzi: 20 dmg, MAC-10: 25 dmg)
• Both weapons have an equal maximum spread, but the MAC-10 has more spread per shot and a higher spread of first shot.

Both SMGs are similar, and there's not much reason to choose one over the other. However, the Uzi does have slightly less spread, meaning it can be more accurate out to shorter distances. It is possible that the Silenced MAC-10 has a reduced 'warning' zone for common infected, making it possible to pick your shots and move on with less contact with the infected.


Shotguns: Pump vs. Chrome vs. Benelli M4 Super 90 (Tactical Shotgun) vs. SPAS12 (Combat Shotgun)

• Damages, from least to most: Chrome (31 dmg per pellet * 8 pellets per shot = 248), Pump (25*10=250), SPAS12 (28*9=252), Benelli M4 Super 90 (23*11=253)
• Ammo: Pump and Chrome both have 8 rounds loaded, 64 total. The M4 and the SPAS12 both have 10 rounds loaded, 100 total.
• Recoil/Spread: Pump and Chrome both have identical recoil, but the Chrome has less spread. The M4 has slightly less recoil than the SPAS12, and the SPAS12 has less spread.
• Both the Pump and Chrome are similar in all other respects, same goes for the M4 and SPAS12. All have the same penetration.
• The Pump and Chrome have a lower rate of fire but quicker reload than the M4 and SPAS12.

The Pump and Chrome should be classified as the 'Tier 1' Shotguns, and the M4/SPAS12 as 'Tier 2'. In both tiers, there is a more accurate shotgun with more damage, and one with more spread (and therefore more infected being hit per shot, if fired into a crowd). The Chrome and SPAS12 are the accurate shotguns, and the Pump and M4 have larger spreads.

The more accurate group are more likely to be better in confined spaces (Hallways, funnel areas, etc) whereas the larger spread shotguns will likely be better in open areas.


Pistols: Single pistol vs. Double pistols vs. Magnum

• Dual pistols are better than a single in every respect excluding reload times.
• Magnum boasts over twice the damage, but due to it's lower rate of fire has a lower damage-rate than dual pistols.
• The Magnum's damage rate is also considerably less due to it's short clip size limiting how long it can sustain fire.
• Single pistol and Magnum share the same reload rate.
• The Magnum has a higher recoil, but similar spread.
• Ammo: Single-15 shots, Double-30 shots, Magnum-8

Magnum is better than a single pistol, excluding ammo-wise. During hordes, the difference is negligible since the Magnum will do in one shot what a pistol will do in 2, making the magazine sizes actually balance out.

Dual pistols is arguably better than a Magnum, for all situations. With a higher rate of fire, higher damage rate, and a great deal larger of magazine size, the only downside to these is the reload rate.




Melee weapons!

Fastest to Slowest (animations for each weapon have different timings, so the timings will fluctuate slightly each swing, but not far from; for instance, the machete may hit faster than the frying pan 2 times, but the other 8 times, the frying pan will beat it):

• Chainsaw-100 (fuel gauge limits use)
• Frying Pan-70 damage
• Machete-50 dmg
• Crowbar-50
• Cricket Bat-50
• Baseball Bat-70
• Tonfa/Nightstick/Billyclub-50
• Katana-70
• Fire Axe/Electric Guitar (both same speed and dmg)- 70

Frying pan is hands down the best melee weapon, next to the chainsaw. HOWEVER, it is not stated whether the melee weapons have different ranges, and it is possible that weapons like the katana, fire axe, and guitar have larger ranges (and therefore can hit more zombies at once, perhaps?)





The post where this information was gathered, thanks to Reaper, has a section 'Multipliers' and 'Other Important Information', that mentions things like that the damage values listed here are not necessarily the same as the damage that is portrayed in game (like headshot bonuses, how shotguns do 5 times damage within 100 units of distance ingame, apparently).