Law of Inverse Recoil: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Firearms depicted in films and television seldom (if ever) demonstrate realistic recoil action (ironically, it is usually more realistic in comedies, or when used for comedic effect). The practical reason for this is because blank-firing prop guns have no projectile, meaning very little mass is pushed out of the barrel, hence minimal recoil (Newton's third law) -- it is not true that they have none, however, or they would not even be able to cycle their own action. No matter what type of small arms are used in fiction—even fully-automatic, high caliber ordnance and heavy gauge shotguns—the shooter will not so much as flinch.

 

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* In the final chapter of ''[[Macross]] Plus'', when struggling against Sharon Apple and other threats, Myung has the common sense to arm herself with the submachine gun of a fallen guard (by itself, quite a rare occurrence) but wastes almost the entire magazine when she tries to use it in full-auto, being overcome by recoil and spraying bullets everywhere. She gets a few shots in the right direction, however...

* Seras Victoria in ''[[Hellsing]]'' notes after becoming a vampire that she barely feels the kick on a huge gun, demonstrating her new super strength. She later gets an even bigger gun and can fire it with ease.

* ''[[Sin City]]'' monologues sometimes refer to the sensation of recoil but it's minimal.

 

 

* Averted in ''[[Aeon Entelechy Evangelion]]'', where Shinji while piloting Unit-01 tries to use a High-Velocity Assault Rifle one handed (the other hand was busted) and fail. Being written by the physics student helps.

* All guns in ''[[Spelunky]]'' push the player back a few pixels, which can easily drop one off the edge on the slippy ice surface.

* Justified in ''[[StarCraft]]''. Terran [[Powered Armor]] compensates for recoil automatically (see Literature, above).

 

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