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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ Let me show you its features! Ha ha ha $\endgroup$
    – infinitezero
    Commented Feb 15, 2020 at 12:13
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    $\begingroup$ Relative to the "AR class weapons" part, the 15 rounds-per-second fire rate of an AR is unnecessary in a crossbow; the (much slower firing) AK family of weapons is much more effective at killing. The reason why the U.S. uses fast-firing guns is that Congress insists on using 5.56mm rounds, which are much less effective than the 7.62mm rounds used by AKMs. Crossbow bolts are much more powerful (more weight = more impact force = more damage/penetration) than even 7.62mm NATO rounds, so even 3 bolts/second would probably be overkill in non-suppression fire situations. $\endgroup$
    – In Hoc Signo
    Commented Feb 15, 2020 at 15:52
  • $\begingroup$ Firstly, crossbow bolts are much, much slower than rifle rounds, and have a tiny fraction of the muzzle energy. A crossbow firing a 400 grain bolt at 400fps will have under 200 joules of muzzle energy, while an M-16 has over 1600 joules and even a 9mm handgun has 400-500 joules. While the crossbow bolt might be better at piercing kevlar than the pistol because stabs tend to go through those, it will do absolutely nothing to hard ceramic or steel trauma plates. $\endgroup$
    – Richard Smith
    Commented Feb 15, 2020 at 16:09
  • $\begingroup$ And while energy isn't everything and larger projectiles may be more effective at transferring their energy. However, the crossbow bolts travel so slowly that they likely act more as a knife stab than a bullet. While even a pistol round will cause massive shock and has stopping power behind it, while even small rifle rounds can cause massive internal damage and large exit wounds, a crossbow bolt does not have enough speed or energy to actually create such shock and unless you get a headshot, will pretty much only kill by causing blood loss. $\endgroup$
    – Richard Smith
    Commented Feb 15, 2020 at 16:11
  • $\begingroup$ And in fights, many people who have been stabbed report barely feeling the pain at the moment, so your bolts are going to be terrible for actually stopping people who are trying to kill you. $\endgroup$
    – Richard Smith
    Commented Feb 15, 2020 at 16:12