Rifle trajectory

Question
A friend of my (ex-infantry) and I (ex-squid) had a bit of a discussion this AM about "high powered" rifles and the trajectory of their bullets.

He said: That a bullet fired from a high powered rifle "rises" as it leaves the barrel due to the forces involved.

I said: That there was no way that the bullet could rise from the angle from which the bullet was fired.

I also stated that with the barrel level to the ground that a round fired would hit the ground at the same time as a bullet dropped from the same height wind factor and terrain withstanding.

There is no money on this argument and no blood will be shed regardless of your answer.

Thank you for your time.

Answer
When you look at an external ballistics chart, the reason that the bullet "rises" is because it is aimed that way.  There is no aerodynamic force that causes the bullet to rise.  The scope or sights are adjusted to aim the barrel to hit somewhat high at a first, shorter distance, becoming on-target at a specified second distance, and showing the drop at a specified third distance.  If the barrel was instead, aimed parallel to (a flat area of) the earth, the bullet would start out flying parallel, and then continuing to drop, hitting the ground at the same as would a second bullet being dropped at the time the first bullet was fired from the rifle (as you stated correctly).

Hope this helps!

Dave