Medieval European crossbow vs .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)
A medieval European crossbow had a reference effective range of about 80 metres; the .50 BMG cartridge, about 1.8 km, more than twenty times as far. Both figures are effective ranges, not the maximum distance the projectile can travel, and the crossbow figure is an approximate historical estimate. The leap sums up seven centuries of ranged-weapon evolution.
Both lines start at the same point. Each interval multiplies distance: this is not a trajectory or geographic route.
.50 BMG (12.7×99mm) reaches about 22.5 times farther than Medieval European crossbow
Medieval European crossbow *
80 m · reference effective range
Approximate effective-shot reference, not maximum flight distance.
.50 BMG (12.7×99mm)
1.8 km · reference effective range
Reference effective range; maximum ballistic range is much greater.
Full scale
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* Estimate, variable figure or condition-dependent envelope. It does not indicate accuracy, effectiveness or effects.
Figures used and how reliable they are
- Medieval European crossbow*: 80 m. Approximate effective-shot reference, not maximum flight distance.
- .50 BMG (12.7×99mm): 1.8 km. Reference effective range; maximum ballistic range is much greater.
* Medieval European crossbow: estimated or disputed figure; it does not come from a verifiable official data sheet and should be read as indicative.
Related comparisons
Compare any other pair in the projectile range comparison, with its full method. More context: Weapons · Military history · All tools
Sources / References
- Royal Armouries and The Metropolitan Museum of Art bow and crossbow catalogues.
- U.S. Army public technical manuals for small arms and artillery.
- BAE Systems and KNDS public sheets for the M777 and CAESAR.
- NATO public ammunition standardisation material.