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Thread: LongBows and Archers

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  1. #1

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    ^ good post, just a note - the 20 arrows thing is both possible, and not really an extreme... it just requires experienced archers - if you practice something for years, you get good at it - good enough that it's hard for ppl who aren't experienced to find it believable... ie: if you presented a medieval person with an automobile and boasted that you could take it thru a windy road @ 80 mph, being that they'd have difficulty operating it at all - they'd be skeptical of your claim, which to you on the other hand is simply everyday life

    and yeah, they would'nt have to keep that rate of fire up for long usually... the survivors of that type of treatment usually decide to run away and live to fight another day
    Drink water.

  2. #2

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    in mythbusters they used a .30 cal with a standard ball round if im not corrected. if the projectile descended and reached 320 fps it would only have had 34 ftlbs of energy.

    i think the weight of a musket ball was 3/4 of an ounce or roughly 330 grains so if it reached 320 fps it would have about 75 ftlbs of energy so descending projectiles lethality would depend on the weight of the projectile and its ability to penetrate. 34 ft lbs is about equivalent to a 22 cb while 74 would be equivalent to a 22 short i think which neither would penetrate plate armor.but they would still smart though.

    dont know about the arrow though because of the drag on the fletchings.

  3. #3

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    That's the one Mad Cat. I can't remember what terminal velocity they measured. But the bullet had 2 inch penetration against desert soil. Don't seem like a lot to me. By their estimation it's not enough to penetrate unprotected skull. We should have Adam and Jamie do the arrow vs plate armor bit.

    There's another problem with high-low shooting, unless it just happens naturally as a result of archers in the back rank shooting that way to avoid hitting the archer in front, in order to have the effect desired the 2 angles must be separated by quite a wide gap. This means the enemy must be darn close for it to work. When the enemy is far away the high trajectory and low trajectory would be almost the same.

    With heavy arrows even when shot from heavy bows, the 60m low angle I would estimate to be about 25 degrees. Which means the high angle would be around 65. All they have to do is angle their shields up a bit and it'll catch both arrows. It's only about 30-40m where the high and low angle separate a lot. By that time I would think the enemy would begin marching at double speed if not already charging your line.

    My angle estimations are based on modern recurve equipment with arrows travelling at 212fps.

  4. #4

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    this idea is like the technique self propelled guns are using in fire missions. namely one round is launched at a very high angle and then a round is fired at a lower angle. and they hit the target at the same time. and it is done from the same gun tube.

    its probably possible for a archer to do that but it would be inaccurate and the distances involved would be make it completely different than what they do with artillery.

  5. #5

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    Quote Originally Posted by mad cat mech
    its probably possible for a archer to do that but it would be inaccurate and the distances involved would be make it completely different than what they do with artillery.
    The distance involved is still enough that the technique wouldn't apply to firing on a single individual. Forget raising a shield, you'd have time to simply step away from the point of impact.
    propa·gandist n.

    A person convinced that the ends justify the memes.

  6. #6

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    I saw on the History Channel a program about bows etc. A fletched arrow spins in the air similar to a rifled bullet.
    What affect would trajectory have on that? I would think it would spin faster in descent at a higher rate of pitch. Does anyone know?

    Interesting topic regardless...

  7. #7

    Default Re: LongBows and Archers

    One would think that the spin is related to arrow speed and shape of the fletchings. I have used feathers and spinwings on mine, the difference between the two is huge. The maximum rpm should happen right after the arrow leave the string. This is the highest velocity the arrow will have. But yes, if shot at extreme angles like straight up. The spin should slow down at the top, you can see this clearly with fluflus with them huge feathers, then as it plunges back down to earth it would pick up more spin but not more than at the beginning.

    @Mad Cat: I've seen that on one of the channels, this gun from one of the European countries I forgot which, can fire 6 rounds at 6 different angles and have em all land on the same spot at the same time. Pretty cool stuff.

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