Why did people not use crossbows during the age of muskets?

by t0f0b0

It seems to me that using crossbows would be more efficient than using a cumbersome, slow to load, inaccurate, musket. Why didn't they use them?

Mimirs

If your starting premise is that muskets were largely useless, then it would make sense to wonder why they were used. I guess I'd start by asking why you're assuming that - it's rare that armies use weapons which are ineffective.

thinkablepatter

I'm curious as to what location and time period your are specifically referring to. If I recall correctly, the English and the longbow slaughtered the French and their slow to load, and ineffective crossbows.