Reloading ranged weapons

[dreaded_beast]

I'm a bit confused about reloading ranged weapons.

Is it a free action, move action, or standard action?

I read 2 different things from the 3.5 PHB regarding Ammunition and Ranged Weapons, so I am a bit confused.

 

[Christian]

Check the weapon descriptions-if it doesn't say, it's a free action, limited only by the character's number of attacks. Reloading a bow or repeating crossbow is a free action. Reloading a sling or light crossbow is a move action; and reloading a heavy crossbow or a repeating crossbow's magazine is a full-round action.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Drawing ammunition from quiver, case, or pouch is a free action. Actually getting an arrow, bolt, bullet, stone, or shuriken into your hands is no problem.

Bows and shuriken are then just used as an attack. Crossbows and slings, however, require the bolt, bullet, or stone that you drew as a free action to actually be loaded into the weapon... and that takes a move action (for slings, or light or hand crossbows) or a full round action (for heavy crossbows).

The reload time for crossbows (but not slings) can be reduced with the Rapid Reload feat.

-Hyp.