"Crossbows are a great weapon, but not in a firefight. Most will take you 10-20 seconds to reload a single shot. Crossbows, like any slow firing weapon, need backup or fortification if they're going to be an effective weapon."

"like i said, the only place it is useful is when you are stalking around a building and only have one zed in your way. Because you want to stay quiet and remain unnoticed. Crossbows failed as a fighting weapons around the 16th century when rifles started to become popular"

"it failed because they invented better weapons. the M1 garand is still a very useful weapon, and many servicemen who used them will say that they are a better weapon than the current M16. the military switched to the M16, not because its a better weapon but because of force multiplication, and the whole NATO thing.

the M1 garand never fell into the FAIL box."

"Crossbow no doubt, bows are much harder to use. They are essentially personalized bows now ones draw length may not be long enough or may be too long to fit your arms. It's not really a pick up and shoot weapon. Crossbows operate on a simpler level than a bow when shooting, and are easier to be able to fire accurately better than a bow."

"Definitely not a failure. Obsolete. World of difference. If the crossbow was my only choice I would take it in a heartbeat but to willingly choose an obsolete weapon system is akin hitching up a horse and buggy every day to get to work, sure it works but a car is superior in every measurable way (hear that Amish people?) Oh wait, no Amish on the 'net :)"

"The crossbow is easier to learn use with less practice, but a bow is MUCH faster.

I have both and have shot them for years. I prefer the recurve models of both of them for simplicity.

Bows require many years of practice to be "tactically" effective. Effective in that if given a fixed position, I could get off several arrows before closing in CQC - not that it would ever replace a firearm. Bows also require less maintenance to the weapon itself vs a crossbow.

Crossbows are better at short range for power, but at longer ranges - the bow wins hands down.

The mechanics of firing and reloading favor a bow too. It is a much smoother and flowing operation. Which is why we had those famous North America Indian and Mongol horseman archers.
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