Poll: Greatest Firearm of John Moses Browning

[pigiron]

The 1911 is the brightest star in John Browning's portfolio. I don't need to talk it up, it's already been done. It's the "been there, done that" handgun. It is the reason any gun guy knows who JMB is. If this fantastic firearm had not been adopted by the military, followed by acceptance of the shooting public, JMB would probably not even be as widely known as Arthur Savage or Bill Ruger. (Two great firearm designers in their own rights)
What I'm saying is, the 1911 drew the attention to him, then everyone saw what a genius he really was.
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(ok, i voted)

I'm certainly going to sign up for a CMP 1911 if that ever happens.

 

[whiskeybill]

I would not presume to quarrel with the well presented arguments that the other posters on this thread have made.

Still, I have a lot of respect for the 1885.

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Indeed, his single shot rifle is what got Winchesters attention in the first place. If not for that, who knows how his fortunes may have gone? There is a big difference in what Browning himself thought of what his most successful gun was, and what others may think. They were all superlative designs.

 

[PaulB47]

Another vote for the 1885.

 

[DunRanull]

The thread posted up about the Hi-Power got me to thinking......"What was John Browning's greatest Firearm achievement?"

My vote would be the M1911 followed by the 1894.

E

Yepper.. the man was a genius, but those two creations are the pinnacle. At least for civilians.. the military might see things a bit differently.

 

[Jamie6.5]

I'd be willing to bet if you asked combat aviators from all sides of WWII and Korea it would be the Ma Deuce.
Nothing shreds like like a full battery of 6 .50s blazing from the wings of a Mustang, Corsair, Jug etc.
The reliability and firepower of the great M2 has been deployed constantly and consistently for almost 100 years, starting in 1921.

It's a phenomenal weapon that has enabled the militaries of dozens of countries to kill personnel and destroy vehicles, aircraft, boats, ships and other enemy materiel in astounding numbers. From the air, the ground, and the ocean.

Don't get me wrong, I love my HighPower, and the 1911 is the boss of the pistol world.
But the Ma Deuce has reigned as king of the heavy Machine guns for too long, and been too effective to not grant it its rightful place at the top of the list of achievements by John Moses Browning.

Just my humble $.02

 

[EPS]

I haven't voted... I'll just hang out on the fence for a while and add fuel to the fire so I don't get too chilly.

One thing that's always fascinated me was just how the early gunsmiths had to be part blacksmith to even have metal to start with. Then, how the heck did they machine and cut the metal? That borders on mystical to me.

I spent much of my youth in eastern Oregon. What kid (boys, anyway) didn't know what a Winchester 94 was? It's what almost every boy I knew wanted and was the rifle they were most likely going to use. I still have mine. It's actually a Winchester Model 1894, not a 94. Was "the" deer rifle for several generations.
Kinda hard to vote against the 1894 in any guise, ie, 1894, Mod 65. Mod 94.

When I started getting into rifle reloading, I started with the 45-70. I ended up with a Browning copy of the 1885, which is THE gun JMB started with. Without this gun, Winchester never would have traveled west to see what the commotion was about. I've drooled over every 1885 I've ever seen, even the later Browning and Winchester "copies".
Kinda hard to vote against the gun that started the whole "JMB is God, thing"...

I'm not a shotgunner and have zero military experience. I know the Auto 5 is revered, especially the Belgian guns. The BMG 50? it's not revered, it's feared! I've always thought the HiPower was really cool, partly because BHP are my initials, but I've never warmed up to the 9mm and the 40 BHPs aren't easy to come by. Every one of these is a viable weapon. If any one of these, and other, JMB guns were a real POS, they would not have a following.

But,

The 1911 is the brightest star in John Browning's portfolio. I don't need to talk it up, it's already been done. It's the "been there, done that" handgun. It is the reason any gun guy knows who JMB is. If this fantastic firearm had not been adopted by the military, followed by acceptance of the shooting public, JMB would probably not even be as widely known as Arthur Savage or Bill Ruger. (Two great firearm designers in their own rights)
What I'm saying is, the 1911 drew the attention to him, then everyone saw what a genius he really was.
View attachment 380760
(ok, i voted)

That's true I always thought how did they rifle the barrel 's in the old day's ANDY COULD PROBLEY ANSWER THIS The move from smooth bore to rifled barrels

 

[EPS]

Before I look like a complete idiot I think it started with the shape of the bullet then went from there but the rifle of a barrel was probably a lot of work back in the old day's mmmmmm probley why only certain guy's got a gun with rifled barrel

 

[Andy54Hawken]

That's true I always thought how did they rifle the barrel 's in the old day's ANDY COULD PROBLEY ANSWER THIS The move from smooth bore to rifled barrels

On page 2 of the general firearms thread etrain posted "Old Film- How rifles used to be made in -Colonial Times" ... Its well worth the hour to watch!

Long story short ... Lots of drilling , cutting and polishing on a hand operated rifling machine...

As a side note rifling has been around since the 1500's or so... Lots of different experiments in just what type of twist and rates , how deep the grooves etc...
Andy

 

[MrMillspecer]

I have been lucky enough to own three off the list.

A Belgium A-5 12 gauge with a poly-choke . This was my first serious bird gun I had bartered a Reminder 700 adl in 223 at around age 15. My hunting partner had an Ithaca auto and my father had a Browning B2000 he traded a Wing Master on. The A5 was always the most reliable gun of the autos. And the square receiver just lined up for me. Just a great shotgun to me and still my favorite. I shot many, many birds with it hunting private farm property around Meridian Idaho. With the poly choke it was almost like cheating. One I wish I would have kept it. But I just don't hunt birds enough these days to get another.

The Hi power was a nice pistol. I purchased it from the same guy I purchased my Kimber 1911, didn't plan on buying it but he offered it to me at a price I could not resist. If my memory is correct I got them both for around $700. I was thinking I would go up to $600 on the Kimber. But he offered me a fantastic deal on both. And kept his wife happy.
It was a very nice pistol but was into 1911s and at the time 9s did nothing for me. I traded it straight across for a Springfield Loaded black stainless 1911. That I still have.

I have owned three 1911s. Kept my favorite two . To me they are the most accurate , thin, ergonomic, powerful, works of art I have ever shot. They will never leave my collection without a fight.



5 shot 1 1/2'' group at 50' standing with a 1911. Ya some luck, and the best I've shot.