"Study: Medieval arrows were as damaging as gunshots" Topic

"A recent study found that one of the most powerful medieval weapons, the English longbow, was so forceful it could create wounds as bad as from modern gunshots. The bows, revealed a team of archaeologists from the University of Exeter in the UK, could break long bones and were key to military victories like the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

This news looks to settle the long-standing debate about the impact of these weapons. No longbows from medieval times have made it intact to the present day, making their true strength somewhat of a mystery. It's also rare to come upon signs of trauma from arrowheads…"
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Amicalement
Armand

"as bad as from modern gunshots" begs the questions of cartridge and range. There are worlds of difference between .22LR and .50BMG and 10 yards vs 1500+ yards.

The study linked to from the above link doesn't seem to include any comparison with firearms except a comment about spinning projectiles.

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Of course I don't want to be hit by any of the above or arrows.

I remember a TV documentary from awhile back which did comparative testing.

Result one was that the longbow arrow (a long-rod penetrator similar to modern Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot) was more effective than the current British army bullet.

Result two was that English jacks (the quilted body armour commonly made of 24 layers of fustian) were comparable to modern body armour in protection levels.

The upshot, it appears, is that the British army should return to longbows and jacks!

Barry

E=MC2
One causes blood loss.
One causes blood loss and shock.
There is a reason we use guns vs. bows.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand