HEAVY Medieval 1250lbs Windlass Crossbow - TESTED in Slo-Mo
Why Worldbuilding Stack Exchange recommends it
Worldbuilding Stack Exchange answerers point people to it as a concrete real-world example of how powerful a heavy windlass crossbow can be when reasoning about weapon performance in fictional settings.
Recommended by 0 people across 0 different months, 2018 to 2020.
What it is
Tod of Tod's Workshop demonstrates a replica medieval military crossbow with a 1250lb draw weight, spanned by a windlass. He tests its rate of fire, shows slow-motion footage of the shot, and measures distance, with bolts flying over 200 yards.
Cited in 1 Wikipedia article, including Arbalest.
What people said
Cites Gustavo · 2018-06 · Worldbuilding Stack Exchange · on “Post-apocalypse ammo”
May suggest keeping a quarrel of bolts for crossbows. Some heavier siege crossbows can pack 1200lbs. They make a sound comparable to small firearms and have quite the recoil. Almost a gun with dirty cheap technology. this is Tod's xbow. 1250lbs! [this video] [LINK] Also the Repeating Crossbow 10 Shoots of dirty cheap ammo vs a musket. Chu ko nu, [LINK] Reserve your precious bullets for decisive battles, the rest can be resolved appliying crossbow fire at leisure.
Cites puppetsock · 2019-08 · Worldbuilding Stack Exchange · on “What would be the strongest "realistic" bow draw weight with ubertech?”
Bow, crossbow, windlass? Here's a guy playing with a windlass with a 1250 pound draw force. [this video] Another guy on youtube demonstrated a crossbow that could put a bolt several cm into an oak plank.
Cites Halfthawed · 2020-03 · Worldbuilding Stack Exchange · on “So, how do you ground a dragon?”
Ballistae and Crossbows Ballistas are too cumbersome and crossbows are too weak. This isn't actually true, though. Ballistae aren't cumbersome, or even difficult to build. A Roman ballista was made almost entirely from wood and could be put on wheels to aid mobility. Honestly, a dedicated team of three soldiers could break one down and put one up within minutes. You can build one yourself. [LINK] Not to mention that they're pretty accurate even at range. If you get ambushed by a dragon, no dice, but if you're hunting a dragon, you can rig up a modified cart to house your ballista that can be set up it thirty seconds once you sport the dragon. Sure, you won't be able to transport the cart thr