EB's reflection of archery

[cunctator]

I have read some figures from trials with a reconstructed ancient composite bow. An arrow with a lenght of 0,9m and an amour piercing pyramid shaped iron head was used.

An arrow with a mass of 50g had an initial velocity of ca.~ 51 m/s. So the kinetic Energy of the arrow was (Ek=0,5*m*v²) ~ 63 Joule directly after it was fired.
The arrow was fired in an arc of 40° in a plain. The range was 188m, and the remaining kinetic energy on impact was still nearly ~ 50 Joule.

This figures are not typical for all kinds of arrows. The max range and the remaining kinetic energy very much depends on the shape and mass of the arrow.

An arrow shot on a scutum style, leather covered plywood shield at a
distance of 5 m penetrated the shield, but remained stuck into it.
The arrowhead was 0,32m behind the shield. So basically a
scutum could beware a legionaire from beeing killed.