when a person fire a rifle it is advisable to hold the both firmly against the shoulder rather than a little way from it to mimise the impact on the shoulder explain why.

The best first place to try on general questions like this is google.

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A rifle has a "kick back" feature that happens when the bullet is fired. A person can be injured by the "kick back" of the gun that pounds into their shoulder or soft tissue when they fire the gun. You put the gun at a spot of great strength to "buffer" the backwards motion of the gun when fired : )

But oobleck's answer is better as you may want the "scientific" explanation, not just the back woods gun owner answer : )

When firing a rifle, it is advisable to hold it firmly against the shoulder to minimize the impact on the shoulder for several reasons.

Firstly, holding the rifle firmly against the shoulder allows for better stability and control over the weapon. When the rifle is tightly pressed against the shoulder, it creates a solid and stable shooting platform. This reduces recoil, allowing the shooter to maintain better control over the weapon, leading to improved accuracy.

Secondly, by holding the rifle tightly against the shoulder, the impact forces are better distributed across the body. The shoulder is better equipped to handle and absorb the recoil energy generated by firing the rifle. When the shoulder is in direct contact with the rifle, it acts as a cushion, further reducing the impact and distributing the recoil forces throughout the body, minimizing the strain on the shoulder joint.

To further understand this concept, it's helpful to consider Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the bullet is fired from the rifle, it creates a force pushing backward, commonly known as recoil. If the rifle is not held firmly against the shoulder, the recoil force can cause the rifle to move backward abruptly, leading to discomfort, pain, or potential injuries to the shooter.

In summary, holding the rifle firmly against the shoulder when firing helps with stability, control, and distributes the impact forces evenly, reducing the strain on the shoulder and minimizing discomfort or potential injuries.