Having hunted with both, I would argue with that characterization.
Because of aerodynamic drag crossbow bolts run out of energy very rapidly. I would not shoot anything bigger than a turkey out beyond 50 yards. Also my scope only has dots set for 20, 35, and 50 yards. Without a rangefinder, a crossbow is pretty useless outside 25 yards.
If purely talking smoothbores, muskets can still fire rifled projectiles like the ones fired in smoothbore shotguns used for deerhunting. This significantly extends their accurate range well beyond 50 yards.
Modern, rifled barrel muzzleloaders are highly accurate well beyond 100 yards. If I wanted to know how far one can push that accuracy, I would ask WR.
You probably know more than me on this subject, I had read before posting that the newer muzzle loaders are pushing close to 200 yards of accuracy, crazy Is it true though that on average most people can reload a crossbow quicker than a muzzle loader?
Quicker crossbow reload, yes. I would say about 2:1 or 3:1.
That is for someone strong enough to directly draw the string with a cocking string by hand.
If they have to use a windlass, it might even the odds for the muzzleloader.
With a great deal of practice, one can load a muzzle loader in about 20 seconds. It probably varies a lot with a crossbow depending on the power and design of the weapon, and of course, the strength of the operator.
So you could fire 100 muskets with one hand and be eating a bacon and tomato sandwich with the other–and below, the shrieks of wounded zombies, or mailmen.
My inlaws grow tomatoes every year. They come in with green ones that they call zebras. The taste is incredible. They’ve got all sorts of funhouse types that I’ve never seen anywhere.