Can my character have a pump action composite bow?

[aramis erak]

In reality, a pump action croasbow is what 5e d&d characters already have.

No one should be able to reload a crossbow and shoot within 6 seconds while dodging attacks.

Actually, it's not that hard for a light crossbow - I've done so, and don't have much training. (I've used crossbows in SCA wars in the 90's.) But it's only doable with light weight crossbows and reasonably strong folk. The advantage over a bow is ease of aim; a bow of same weight can be knocked and fired 2-4 times in the same time as reload, brace, and fire of the crossbow.

 

[CubicsRube]

Actually, it's not that hard for a light crossbow - I've done so, and don't have much training. (I've used crossbows in SCA wars in the 90's.) But it's only doable with light weight crossbows and reasonably strong folk. The advantage over a bow is ease of aim; a bow of same weight can be knocked and fired 2-4 times in the same time as reload, brace, and fire of the crossbow.

Fair. But did you have someone in melee attacking you with an axe at the same time?

 

[aramis erak]

Fair. But did you have someone in melee attacking you with an axe at the same time?

No, I had someone shooting back at me at the time. Several, in fact.

 

[dragoner]

I saw a show on the Chinese repeating crossbow a few years ago and it shot around 2 bolts/second. I forget how many bolts it held and the range was less than a regular crossbow. A few guys with these on a wall were amazing.
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Yes, as usual, the Chinese have already invented it.

There was a display of them at a museum in Indianapolis a few years back, they shot a solid metal light bolt, an individual one didn't look too deadly, then one thinks about hundreds or even thousands at close range and you get a "wall of steel" effect that modern machine guns do.

 

[Maestrino]

In 5e, the new Artificer class can create "repeating shot" ranged weapons now, so I'd say it's already a thing.