Equipment standards - Ranged weapons

General

Ranged weapons include handbows and crossbows used for combat archery, throwing weapons, and mock gunnery gear (such as rubber band guns).
The maximum propulsive force is measured using the weapon's primary means of creating propulsive force to the projectile.
Bows, mock gunnery gear and the like must have a mechanism where the propulsive force can be easily measured by a marshal on the field, using equipment that is readily available in the Society (e.g., a bow poundage gauge).

Handbows must have a draw strength of 20 lb (9 kg) or less at 28 inches (71 cm) of draw.
A handbow's draw strength is measured at 28 inches (71 cm) of draw.
If a handbow is not designed to be drawn to at least 28 inches (71 cm), then it cannot be used in rapier combat.
Compound bows or non-period aids (e.g. non-period sights, spring/flipper rests, plunger buttons, clickers, modern string release aids) are not allowed.

Crossbows must have a draw weight of 450 inch-pounds (518 kg-cm) or less.
A crossbow's draw weight is calculated by taking the poundage of the bow measured at the lock, multiplied by the distance (in inches) from the front of the string at rest, to the front of the string when it is in the cocked position. In the SCA, we refer to this measurement as "inch-pounds", which is not to be confused with units of torque. A metric measurement of kilogram-centimeters (kg-cm) is allowed.
Modern pistol grips are not allowed.

A rubber band gun, or similar device that fires flexible projectiles which use the elasticity of the missiles to propel the missiles, must have a draw strength of 30 lbs (13.6 kg) or less per missile at its draw length.

A ranged weapon that falls outside or between these categories can only be used with the permission of the Kingdom Rapier Marshal or their designated representative.