they'll come looking for ours; and they'll be better armed.

Human beings are social animals. We need each other to survive. Those who feel they can make it alone will eventually run out of one key item which will make the rest of their hoard useless.

Survivalists forget that true independence and security only comes from the ability to make and defend everything you need. Most people are incapable of growing or gathering their own food, shelter, clothing, tools, medicines, and all the other things necessary for survival. All the stored supplies, ammunition, camping gear and fuel you may have prepared will eventually run out, or at any rate, one key item will, like novocaine or duct tape or WD-40. And in the meantime, your mobility is nonexistent because you can't move your stash around, so you don't have the option to make the dangerous journey to a place where things might be better. So you're a sitting target for anyone who decides he wants to help himself to your stuff.

Survivalists fancy themselves as masters of their freeholds, islands of civilization in a vast desolation. Instead, they will quickly degenerate into roving gangs of armed cannibals (livestock, fish, game and edible plants will be the first things to disappear, firewood will be the next). You can arm yourself and defend against one or two or a few, but sooner or later they will outnumber and outgun you. Either that, or you will be forced to join them. That's the real zombie apocalypse.

The true model for "after the fall" is not the frontier settlement or the pastoral village, or even the walled castle; its the urban street gang.