Crossbow v mail

[Erpingham]

So, you've got your mail shirt and your gambeson.  How effective would that be against a typical military crossbow at short range (say 12m)?

Andreas Bichler has done some tests and packaged them in a polished Youtube video to show you.  He also, inter alia, shows you loading a crossbow with a belt hook.

For those don't know of Bichler, he is one of the main authorities on crossbow reconstruction. 

Fair warning for those of a delicate disposition - he shoots at a genuine 16th century mailshirt in one test.

There are some useful numbers in the video (draw weights, impact energy) for those interested in such things (like me  )

[Imperial Dave]

12 metres.....ouch