(5 August 2013, 18:00)Steve Wrote: In my inexpert opinion fighting should be avoided if at all possible, but if unavoidable should be quick and decisive. I can see situations where a "pistol crossbow" will give someone a false sense of security and confidence that is totally incompatible with the actual capacity to end the fight.
I totally get where you're coming from with this Steve. I feel that the confidence is based on ideas PRE-SHTF. When something actually happens, and there are 2 people charging at you, all hell in their eyes, bricks flying at your head, and stuff like that, most weapons, without instant stopping power, and RAPID reloading, are going to be pointless.
It's all good causing harm to a person, but thing of it this way, you're starving and you see a guy who blatently has food, or is looking delicious as food, and you have a family to feed, yes a crossbow bolt is going to fricking hurt. It might even kill (not too likely, to be honest, because getting a clean shot off under stress, and under danger of rocks thrown at them), but in all likelihood, damage that is survivable will be inflicted. You may get a serious injury, and you may even get killed, but more than likely you'll survive. Problem is, the crossbow dude just became a meal, or lost all his rations. Poor guy.
The truth is, we're all coming to this concept with fantasy style ideas in our heads. Until things are tried and tested, there is no way we will know how effective they are...unless we've used them and can say for sure. For example, I know a shotgun will put a person down faster than a crossbow. I also know which is fastest to reload (I'm thinking the pump shotty). We know this because this is a tried and tested tool.
Looking at the wars that used crossbows. They usually caused people to bleed out. Yeah, it sucks, but people can still remain 'battle effective' 50% of the time. As much as crossbows are ideal for hunting, for stopping power, especially a crossbow pistol, I'm not a huge fan. Better a CB pistol than nothing, but there are MANY much better options available. I'd actually rather take an air pistol, with a drum magazine, over a crossbow pistol. With the pistol, faster shots, and you can really screw up someone's face! Can't see, can't fight (a handful of sand in someone's face can make this enjoyable blind opponent situation too). It won't matter if a few shots miss, because you have plenty more, and rapid reloading too. CB pistol, you miss, and you're in a world of hurt. Panic when reloading (no telling how you'll honestly be until the time comes...please note, unlike films, people do not rise to the occasion, we default to our average high stress training practice session) and you could really be screwed.
Quick note, no high stress training, means no idea how you'll cope.
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