This almost just a link with a comment, but I thought the post on the use of crossbows in survival-fiction versus survival-reality was well done.
subtitled: Unless you're fighting zombies, skip the crossbow.
(from Alloutdoor.com, 2 December 2013)
So, can a crossbow be considered a viable option as a SHTF survival weapon? It’s probably better than a rolled up newspaper, but if you’re considering the crossbow for a long-term survival situation then you should seriously look elsewhere. Under most situations during a SHTF it should be thought of as a one-shot affair, so if you choose to use it then you had better make that shot count.
The author obviously does not think much of the odds of someone with a crossbow who is dueling it out with someone who is armed with a firearm. I would probably agree with that.
I would offer a couple of points however.
- Since we don't use crossbows in warfare very often, so it is likely that firearms are much more effective.
- You cannot compare the weight of the bolt-head with the pistol, nor is the muzzle energy particularly relevant. The key difference between arrows/bolts and bullets, is that one is a pointed edge weapon, and the other is a blunt/trauma weapon. Historically, the blunt/trauma firearms have won the battle when involving rather tough creatures like humans who need to be put down quickly, but the bleed out aspect of edged weapons is not to be discounted. Since a 22LR does not have much blunt/trauma to dish out, I would be hesitant to qualify it as inherently more damaging weapon at short ranges. A silenced weapon require a limiting speed to the projectile (`1050 fps), so they also have limitations.
- Crossbow projectiles, particularly practice rounds, can often be reused as is.
- Finally, the one area where crossbows are sometimes the preferred weapon over firearms is in poaching. They are not silent, but they are cheap to use, and the noise does not carry a particularly long distance.
So while I don't agree with what the author is saying, I do feel that he has set the crossbow up as a zombie-based straw man. Life is not about one on one dueling comparisons between different tools. Different tools are use appropriately in different situations with availability, and experience in the use of the tool often being a critical factor in deciding what gets used.
5 comments:
Maybe the modern day compound crossbows have enough power behind them to be effective. I don't know because I have no experience with them. The traditional style though in order to have enough power to really penetrate anything required some serious hardware to cock. In that scenario a musket would be easier to reload and fire. If you were not going to use the heavy end crossbows you might as well just go ahead and use a simple bow to attain the same power and a much higher rate of fire.
Pioneer: Hand pulled crossbows seemed to have been pretty popular for hunting purposes. I gather that a lot of the game would have been pretty small. I agree that a bow seems to be the more generally useful item, but it takes more training, and might not work as well in tight corners, or from a prone position.
Russ - Again I cannot speak to the compound crossbows but I have yet to meet the man who could reload even a very light draw crossbow from a prone position. Yet yes you can fire a shot from that position if it is already loaded and a trigger type crossbow. The old lever action ones are a bit harder to position yourself to aim and fire from a prone position.
Your blog's last four entries don't register on my links section now. That's weird.
Pioneer: Not sure about the mysteries of blogger....but I like the price.
Per the prone position, I think my general thinking was that if you were in a situation to reload under duress, you were going to be in a bit of trouble in any case- unless you happen to be in a formation with a couple of thousand other bowman. The record of bows by themselves in melee situations is problematic. Too many people survive for too long full of arrows/bolts, for that to work well.
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