the rifle is a gun with a stock to brace against the shoulder and a barrel with twisting grooves. the grooves are called rifling and make bullets spin as they fly through the air. rifles are made to shoot many different sizes of bullets using different amounts of gunpowder. rifles are usually made to be able to hit targets at long ranges. modern rifles are made for many different purposes. some are made for hunting animals. some are made for soldiers to use in war. others are made for police to have in case they need them. some rifles are made for target shooting.