Expressed in physics terms, recoil can be calculated from the weight of the rifle, the weight of the bullet and the weight of the powder charge, plus the velocity of the bullet. These factors allow the rearward velocity of the rifle to be calculated in feet per second. From this velocity, plus the weight of the rifle, recoil energy in foot/pounds can be determined.

Felt recoil is a function of actual recoil plus the factor of stock design. The ideal stock design for minimizing felt recoil would be one in which the center of the bore extended was centered on the buttplate of the rifle, which is roughly the case with M-16 type weapons. Any deviation from this causes the force of the recoil to be diverted upward, so that to the shooter's cheek is punished, in addition to his shoulder.

The problem is that rifles designed solely with recoil minimization in mind do not point well and require a sight line well above the bore(again like the M-16), so a compromise must be made. The ideal stock is one which positions the rifle so that you are looking straight down the sights when you shoulder it rapidly. In other words, the perfect rifle stock is like a shotgun stock. When you achieve this ideal shape, then is the time to start altering the felt recoil by adding weight to the stock or subtracting weight from the bullet and/or the powder charge.