@Yadokari
B. In comparison of Accuracy between bows, crossbows and arquebus, Arquebus inaccuracy are overstated because it is usually compared to later firearms, instead of compared to bows. Skilled gun shooters can shoot with acceptable accuracy - the reason of inaccuracy in that era is mostly lack of training. Most gunners of the time aren't given time nor gunpowder nor target practice. The training soldiers were given were mostly shooting drills for cohesion and reload time - not even trained to aim, but point to a specific enemy line at command. That's why hunters made great sharpshooters in the age of musketry, even without their rifles.
That's for individual accuracy. However in Battlefield context, soldiers shoots in mass volleys, making it less relevant. This is why shooting drills were emphasised than target practice. Again, early gunpowder soldiers weren't trained to aim. One disadvantage of blackpowder weapon in this regard compared to bows, is the gunsmoke forming a fog hindering visibility.
D. Bows and Crossbows are also affected by rain, even if less so than gunpowder weapon. Strings need to be kept dry for ideal performance, but crossbows can't be strung and unstrung as easily as bows. Bows of the time with its natural material do not perform well when wet, especially composite bows which are glued together. Crossbow which uses steel prods (Chinese Crossbows uses composite prods) isn't as prone to this.
F. No.
450lb crossbow, 4.5 inch powerstroke, shooting 60g bolt at 42.4m/s yielded 54J
1000lb crossbow (need windlass to span), shooting 96g bolt at 47.9m/s yielded 110J
From:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSNNSh4Fuh8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHnZo6ELEV0
I use this as the benchmark for arquebus
https://ptu-biuletyn.pl/resources/html/article/details?id=156326&language=en
2 monme (7.5g bullet) at 200m/s yielded 181.5J
4 monme (15g bullet) at 220m/s yielded 363J
6 monme (22.5g bullet) with 220m/s yielded 544.5J
Arquebus are much more powerful
G. Depends on the crossbow type and poundage. The lighter models that can be spanned with hand, spanning belt, or goat's foot lever are quicker. The heavier ones which need Windlass or Cranequin roughly have the same reload speed.
Again, this reload rate also depends on the troops' training level and skill. Guns, like bows, need well-trained soldier that can calmly reload and shoot even under stress of battlefield danger.
That's why I disagree if someone says "guns need less training than bows" no, gunners too still some need training to be effective in the battlefield, transition to gunpowder can't be boiled down to one simple reason.
@NazrinMaus
Windlass make reloading what you called siege crossbows not needing lots of strength. It's relatively much lighter if you have 78:1 mechanical advantage
@Huapollon
At least she can use her back and stomach muscles and both arms together for crossbow.
The Nara Imperial Army was using Crossbow due to the Japanese copying anything Chinese in the Taika Reforms, including the centralized Imperial Army. Crossbow is one of the cornerstone of the Chinese standardized and mass-produced weapons and equipment. The rise of the Samurai clans and regional feudal armies ended this trend as the Japanese Emperor actual power and authority waned. Actually, the return of professionalized mass Ashigaru armies in the Sengoku Jidai is suitable for return of crossbows, but that in that time Arquebus already existed so they just used that.