[bfivyvysj]

You can't imagine why a quick succession of bolt fire might be more advantageous than a slow reload?

[zadikian]

I mean how is it actually faster if the rate limiting step is the same. People are claiming it was 2-3X as fast.

[Someone]

Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybolos, at least some of these used a windlass to rearm. That may explain part of the speed difference over one using a separate lever or one that’s rearmed purely by hand.

These weapons also may have given up on some firing power for firing frequency.

[zadikian]

Yeah, I was thinking maybe the entire speed advantage was the windlass and had nothing to do with the auto bolt feeder.

[eucyclos]

Maybe it's harder to deal with ten projectiles in a minute followed by a nine minute reload than one a minute for ten minutes?

[ithkuil]

Even a short surprise can be crucial in an ancient battle, where breaking formation can be fatal

[b112]

Breaking a calvary would be very powerful. And horses are a larger target.

[zadikian]

I'm not even considering the magazine reload time, just the time between shots assuming a full mag. That's 10 recharges either way, as shown in the videos. It's not like a machine gun where the energy is in the powder.

[goodpoint]

Very likely.