It's trash. Almost completely unusable. Less ammo, less DPS, no straight-pull. Not even a NV scope to be a saving grace. Everything that it can do, AM7 does better, at worst requiring a laser attachment. It really needs some extra juice to be worth getting.
Dps is roghly same in close range. It really could use straight pull bolt as build in. Shortbow is cqc anti max gun. I know super niche. It OKish for new players just so they dont spend their certs on archer. Not deffending it. If you have archer just stay with archer.
I got mine as an alert reward drop before it was switched to a purchasable. I tried it once, and quite frankly it was terrible. I was glad I got something 'unique' but it's just a joke more than anything else. The only good part of it is that you can put lower x zoom optics on it.
It fires faster with the same damage. the lower mag is a killer though. I would have taken sharp damage drop off (like 40m for max damage or something) if we could have a better magazine. That derringer pistol is puzzling too honesly. Its max damage only applies up to 2m and drops to minimum at like 30m
I got the Shortbow using the new currency. Using it have been real fun so far, I love how everything I shoot at either focuses on me or runs away. I've also managed to get some kills with it, it's in my vehicle driver loadout from now on, I imagine Archer must be even better. Got the 2X sight and the laser sight for it.