With regard to distance and ability to hit, another consideration is the deliberate overstating of these in the texts. These were a form of propaganda, to either show off individual heroism, or show what a group of hard-asses they were. There are texts that talk about lead glandes melting in mid air from the friction!
  It would be the same as some texts saying that someone was cleaved in half from head to breastbone.(In armor!) Ever try it? Examples like that show up frequently in many historical battle narratives.