Intact Qin Crossbow

[Swampster]

Found with the Terracotta warriors
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1742671/qin-dynasty-crossbow-found-chinas-terracota-army-site-may-reveal-secret
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3004149/2-200-year-old-crossbow-powerful-modern-day-assault-rifle-discovered-Terracotta-Warriors.html
http://www.ecns.cn/2015/03-20/158884.shtml

They appear to be comparing maximum crossbow with effective AK47 range.

[Erpingham]

They appear to be comparing maximum crossbow with effective AK47 range.

800 m. range would be a spectacular feat and use some complex engineering to control the power required.  Be intersting to see what they come up with.

[Patrick Waterson]

It would also need ammunition which could carry the energy over that distance, which is the real stumbling-block.

And the given range for an AK47 is a bit pessimistic - Dave Beatty can confirm from personal experience that an AK can reach to 1,000 yards (or metres in his case) and still knock down a target.