I'd say it balances out, but it's a long way down that SHTF road.
Crossbow accurate and can be left loaded ready but slow to load even with a cocking rope, but are relatively low maintainance too especially recurve versions.
Recurve bow takes much more practice to be as accurate but is faster to load, simpler and one can be improvised.
Either way no one becomes as good as a Robin Hood/Johnny Rambo without alot of practice and arrows/bolts aren't cheap, and either way there's fun to be had in the here and now, I'd start where you can afford and keep going, if you are into Archery, Shooting, or Catapulting, try everything especially if you have a friend who can let you have a go on theirs
I have a strategy, it's not written in stone, nor can it be, this scenario has too many variables, everything about it depends on those variables, being specific is not possible.
