Ricochet vs. Recoil — What's the Difference?

A concern for shooting safety.

Directly related to the firearm's operation.

Influenced by angle and material.

Backward movement of a firearm upon firing.

Observed with various projectiles.

Affects shooting accuracy.

Can change projectile path unpredictably.

Result of firing mechanics.

Bouncing off a surface after impact.

Can be managed with practice and equipment.

A ricochet ( RIK-ə-shay; French: [ʁikɔʃɛ]) is a rebound, bounce, or skip off a surface, particularly in the case of a projectile. Most ricochets are caused by accident and while the force of the deflection decelerates the projectile, it can still be energetic and almost as dangerous as before the deflection.

Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the rearward thrust generated when a gun is being discharged. In technical terms, the recoil is a result of conservation of momentum, as according to Newton's third law the force required to accelerate something will evoke an equal but opposite reactional force, which means the forward momentum gained by the projectile and exhaust gases (ejectae) will be mathematically balanced out by an equal and opposite momentum exerted back upon the gun.

To rebound at least once from a surface.

To spring back, as upon firing.

The act or an instance of ricocheting.

To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.

(military) A method of firing a projectile so that it skips along a surface.

To fall back; return

An instance of ricocheting; a glancing rebound.

The backward action of a firearm upon firing.

To rebound off something wildly in a seemingly random direction.

The act or state of recoiling; reaction.

(military) To operate upon by ricochet firing.

A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.

A rebound or skipping, as of a ball along the ground when a gun is fired at a low angle of elevation, or of a fiat stone thrown along the surface of water.

The state or condition of having recoiled.

A glancing rebound

(firearms) The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.

Spring back; spring away from an impact;

An escapement in which, after each beat, the scape-wheel recoils slightly.

(intransitive) To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.

To retreat before an opponent.

To retire, withdraw.

(of a firearm) To quickly push back when fired

To start, roll, bound, spring, or fall back; to take a reverse motion; to be driven or forced backward; to return.

To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing, alarming, or the like; to shrink.

To turn or go back; to withdraw one's self; to retire.

To draw or go back.

A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking; as, the recoil of nature, or of the blood.

The state or condition of having recoiled.

Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when discharged.

The backward jerk of a gun when it is fired

A movement back from an impact

Draw back, as with fear or pain;

Spring back; spring away from an impact;

Spring back, as from a forceful thrust;

Shooters manage recoil through proper stance, grip, and sometimes using firearms equipped with mechanisms or accessories designed to reduce recoil.

While some factors influencing ricochet can be anticipated, the exact path of a ricocheting projectile is often unpredictable.

Generally, heavier firearms absorb more recoil, resulting in less felt kick for the shooter.

Knowing how ricochet works is vital to prevent accidental injuries or damage by predicting and avoiding conditions that lead to deflection.

While recoil can be reduced through firearm design and accessories like recoil pads, it cannot be completely eliminated due to the laws of physics.

Hard surfaces, shallow angles of impact, and the type of projectile can increase the chance of ricochet.

Ammunition with heavier projectiles or higher charges can increase the force of recoil experienced by the shooter.

Yes, hard, flat surfaces are more likely to cause ricochet compared to soft or angled surfaces.

Yes, any projectile, including stones or thrown objects, can ricochet if conditions permit.

A recoil pad is an accessory attached to the stock of a firearm to absorb and distribute the force of recoil, reducing the impact on the shooter.