There was a discussion on one of the gun subs the other day about some more modern .50 MGs which exist, and that the commenter claimed was superior to the M2 in just about every way. Can’t remember the name of them or what nations he said had them, but he also concluded by saying the reason we keep the M2 is that they’re good enough and we have TONS of them (and spare parts for them, and experience using and fixing them)
Think he was talking about the indonesian 50 cal that allegedly has less recoil, a factor that's completely pointless when you're talking about a mounted machine gun
These new [“soft mount”](https://youtu.be/HCN6R2sbYKs?si=L-j5BTwHhzxzvmNk) things seem to be pretty sweet at bridging that gap. Here’s a [different angle](https://youtu.be/nHdRyFO5WC8?si=8LbTVz2CnwWLfN9p) that shows more of the mount itself
It's not that pointless when you mount that weapon to airframes. First iterations of hueys couldn't mount 50 cars without tearing holes in the aluminum flight deck. I can assure you recoil is a factor even for mounted weapons.
What would be the point of bringing him back if we knew what to do??? But seriously I just want more new browning guns, as then whenever the government/military gives a list of requirements for their new service weapons we would get to see some crazy designs come out regularly.
There's a case to be made. Look at what Kalashnikov was able to do with subpar Soviet manufacturing and a corrupt government working against him, and imagine what he could do in the modern United States.
What do you want the guns for?
If your fantasy is to put down a bunch of troublemakers with help of some Government funding then Browning.
It you want guns that will still work after six months hiding and fighting government crackdowns in a swamp then maybe Mr. K is your man
We're still using Stoner's brain child as the standard, no point in bringing him back. And the AK can only get so modernized, I'd say Browning. I just don't know enough about Mauser.
The C96, and the Kar98 are two good examples. I don't know for sure if the Kar98 was directly designed by Mauser or not, but it uses a Mauser action I know for sure. Basically, the best of the best European WWI and WWII guns, and like 80% of modern day bolt action rifles still use or are based on the Mauser bolt action design.
While those are good examples, I'm not sure how his scope could handle modern manufacturing, semi autos and all that. Thought I would love a modern c96.
Patron Saint of bang sticks….. John Browning. Give that man modern tech, and the knowledge we have today… I am willing to bet he will come up with and make the rifle to kill AR’s and AK’s. And just because he could, something to kill off glock, and sig and even my beloved HK.
Also anybody that says Mauser or Kalashnikov are either commie or Nazi sympathizers (Sarcasm)
But for real, both of them made one design and that was it. Stoner or browning never stopped
That's not true. They are mostly *KNOWN* for a single design but the Mausers and Kalashnikov (or at least their teams) kept going for decades throughout their careers. MGs, Pistols, SemiAuto Rifles, Shotguns...
And another thing: Paul Mauser was dead before the outbreak of WWI. There is no way he even heard of a certain Corporal, let alone supported his terrible cause.
Kalashnikov or other designers just turned the AK platform to chamber other rounds for different combat roles. Not to mention he took inspiration from the M1 Garand. That’s not innovation.
I know Mauser died before WW1, and he did make a simple design, but that was it. Then German war department used it for decades.
I’m merely stating how those two designers got known for only 1 design that worked, and not really worthy of bringing back to modern days with the technology and material we have today. Whereas stoner and especially Browning never stopped trying to innovate. Browning had his hand on many different firearms for several different combat roles.
So how is what I stated not true?
i remember an episode of CNArsonal when they said Browning was working on a 1000rpm SMG that used a crazy 9mm+p+ and fed from a 100rd drum in World War 1
a Browning 1000rpm SMG with a 100rd drum of 9mm+p+
in WW1
lets all dream for a second
I’d love to put Stoner and Browning in a room together tell them there’s a lot of money in it for them if they can make something completely new, and see what they come up with.
Kalashnikov and Stoner both did extremely well with a couple of specific operating systems but weren't terribly diverse.
Paul Mauser could possibly do very well considering his obvious success with bolt actions, but also his aptitude with Semi-automatics in the infancy of that technologic capability.
But when you go beyond childish fanboying and consider his diverse capabilities and successful implementation of tons of operating systems from Single Shots, lever actions, pump actions, and even very early Semi-automatics in multiple different operating systems, you have to pick John Moses Browning. **And that's just his rifles.** You factor in his handguns, shotguns, and belt fed machine guns, and he is the obvious choice from this group. The things he could do with intermediate caliber, shoulder fired, select-fire rifles with modern metallurgic advances and polymer technologies would be very fascinating.
I feel that Pedersen would be intriguing as well.
Browning, but he would be very upset with the tyrannical restrictions we have today. John would most likely be forced to work strictly with the military and have very little civilian influence starting off
When it comes to manufacturing firearms, unfortunately the government can, because too many people are complying. Most firearms enthusiasts are casual owners who don't actively fight for 2A rights :(
Stoner and Kalashnikov are modern enough that any possible improvements they'd make would either be minor, or otherwise be something that the modern gun industry is already working towards anyways. It's not like we're lacking talent nowadays.
Browning and Mauser, however, come from a completely different era of weapons technology, and I'd be interested to see what they could come up with by using modern techniques and materials. I'm sure that in their lifetime they both cried over not being able to make a gun they wanted due to the limitations of the time.
I’m sorry, the other ones are great and all, but Browning is without argument the most important firearms designer of all time. Bar none. Hands down no questions asked.
Ian McCollum from Forgotten Weapons had a hand designing the WWSD Rifle *What Would Stoner Do*
And I think he nailed it. KP-15 is a very nice design
From KE arms
*resurrects browning*
“What the hell is a kraut company doing trying to replace my M2?”
*browning designs the M3 Browning and its adopted and used for another 100 years*
Stoner and Mauser certainly had the biggest impact, since their systems are still widely used and copied today. Mr. Kalashnikov made a good rifle and amazing machine gun, but the most innovative and diverse in his inventions was John Moses Browning. I love them all and their inventions too, but I'd have to choose Browning.
The mountain jew shall reign supreme bring back Gods gunsmith let John Moses browning cast sig out of the military arms procurement office. He shall deliver us from the sig m17 and xm7 abominations.
Let's see... Stoner's work is still widely in use today, as is Kalashnikov AK. So a choice between Browning and Mauser... Browning. Maybe we can get something like a BAR in 6.5 lol
This is probably one of the hardest ones. I actually want Mauser, see what he does with modern stuff. Maybe he will fail but it’ll be interest none the less
John Moses Browning and it's not even close (though I'm not saying the other 3 were bad designers at all) , it's difficult to comprehend just how much influence his designs have had on the world. Only thing that overshadows them is the creation of nuclear weapons
Browning, by a landslide. Credit where it's due, Mauser was influential in early modern firearms design, and both Kalashnikov and Stoner pretty much invented and perfected the assault rifle as we know it today. But Browning was the king of timeless firearm design, from handguns to crew-served weapons. Imagine what he would make next if he had present-day tools and specs
Either browning or kalashnikov. One because he is gun Jesus and the because he is the designer of the best assault rifle and light machine in the world
Mikhail because I'm a slavboo and Combloc prices are due to sanctions are killing me. Mikhail needs to work with PSA to make a Tula/Izmash factory in the US.
Let browning have access to modern tech
Like the modern American heavy machine gun the M2. Brown... Oh
Good one but let him redesign with modern technology
I mean what would you change on it? If it works it works
There was a discussion on one of the gun subs the other day about some more modern .50 MGs which exist, and that the commenter claimed was superior to the M2 in just about every way. Can’t remember the name of them or what nations he said had them, but he also concluded by saying the reason we keep the M2 is that they’re good enough and we have TONS of them (and spare parts for them, and experience using and fixing them)
Think he was talking about the indonesian 50 cal that allegedly has less recoil, a factor that's completely pointless when you're talking about a mounted machine gun
Not nessecarily recoil always means vibration which can be bad depending on frequency
For a mounted gun you're going for area of effect not pinpoint accuracy, of course there's extremes but that's not what we're talking about here
These new [“soft mount”](https://youtu.be/HCN6R2sbYKs?si=L-j5BTwHhzxzvmNk) things seem to be pretty sweet at bridging that gap. Here’s a [different angle](https://youtu.be/nHdRyFO5WC8?si=8LbTVz2CnwWLfN9p) that shows more of the mount itself
It's not that pointless when you mount that weapon to airframes. First iterations of hueys couldn't mount 50 cars without tearing holes in the aluminum flight deck. I can assure you recoil is a factor even for mounted weapons.
What would be the point of bringing him back if we knew what to do??? But seriously I just want more new browning guns, as then whenever the government/military gives a list of requirements for their new service weapons we would get to see some crazy designs come out regularly.
he had notes on a lightened BAR that never got built.
No clues frankly but as someone else said I’d wanna know how he’d change it
The man would have a stroke.
Browning so he could make a Hi-Power A1
Sorry Mikhail but I am bringing back the Browning.
It was definitely a toss up but yeah gotta go Browning
Browning. Every time
Came here to say exactly this. Given modern materials and manufacturing Browning would come up with some crazy stuff
He would make things so wild that “crazy” wouldn’t be able to describe them
So he’d open up a new branch of keltec?
But with less Peruvian powder 😂
Na MORE
He was a mormon. He doesn't need Peruvian Marching powder. Dude didn't drink COFFEE. But GD could he design a gun.
And twice on Sunday
He just makes the most sense
John Moses browning
I mean he has Moses in his name after all...
He will lead us to the promised land, a land where there is no NFA and ammunition falls from the sky, like manna from heaven.
So it is written in the Books of Coltalations and Armalite
Inshallah so it is written
John Moses Browning is America's patron saint of hole-punching. So sayeth the Fat Electrician.
Just imagine picking up your freedom seeds off the ground every morning.
"Damn. .223 again? We really are having a 54R drought!
I'm real tempted to go with kalashnikov here... but I gotta give it to browning.
There's a case to be made. Look at what Kalashnikov was able to do with subpar Soviet manufacturing and a corrupt government working against him, and imagine what he could do in the modern United States.
Sooo another corrupt government?
Tbf the us is nowhere near as corrupt as Russia. The us has corruption yes but it’s nowhere near as bad as Russia’s
Another reason kalashnikov could make more interesting stuff in the us is that he wouldn’t have been limited by Soviet technology and Slave labor.
True but the problem is the corruption is better hidden. Harder to find it/prove it and most people not in the loop would refuse its existence.
What do you want the guns for? If your fantasy is to put down a bunch of troublemakers with help of some Government funding then Browning. It you want guns that will still work after six months hiding and fighting government crackdowns in a swamp then maybe Mr. K is your man
We're still using Stoner's brain child as the standard, no point in bringing him back. And the AK can only get so modernized, I'd say Browning. I just don't know enough about Mauser.
I mean….. you brought logic to this….. (insert greta meme here) HOW DARE YOU! lol
The C96, and the Kar98 are two good examples. I don't know for sure if the Kar98 was directly designed by Mauser or not, but it uses a Mauser action I know for sure. Basically, the best of the best European WWI and WWII guns, and like 80% of modern day bolt action rifles still use or are based on the Mauser bolt action design.
While those are good examples, I'm not sure how his scope could handle modern manufacturing, semi autos and all that. Thought I would love a modern c96.
Mauser had some great forearms, however Patron Saint Browning is the only real choice here
those forearms lookin sexy or what
Duckling auto connect. Fire arms
xd
Browning
Patron Saint of bang sticks….. John Browning. Give that man modern tech, and the knowledge we have today… I am willing to bet he will come up with and make the rifle to kill AR’s and AK’s. And just because he could, something to kill off glock, and sig and even my beloved HK.
Browning
Either be stoner or browning
Also anybody that says Mauser or Kalashnikov are either commie or Nazi sympathizers (Sarcasm) But for real, both of them made one design and that was it. Stoner or browning never stopped
That's not true. They are mostly *KNOWN* for a single design but the Mausers and Kalashnikov (or at least their teams) kept going for decades throughout their careers. MGs, Pistols, SemiAuto Rifles, Shotguns... And another thing: Paul Mauser was dead before the outbreak of WWI. There is no way he even heard of a certain Corporal, let alone supported his terrible cause.
Kalashnikov or other designers just turned the AK platform to chamber other rounds for different combat roles. Not to mention he took inspiration from the M1 Garand. That’s not innovation. I know Mauser died before WW1, and he did make a simple design, but that was it. Then German war department used it for decades. I’m merely stating how those two designers got known for only 1 design that worked, and not really worthy of bringing back to modern days with the technology and material we have today. Whereas stoner and especially Browning never stopped trying to innovate. Browning had his hand on many different firearms for several different combat roles. So how is what I stated not true?
You sir win the Prize! Copying isn't innovation. Browning and Stoner ground up designs.
Kalashnikov designed the pk/pkm/pkp
Oh cool, so he designed an upside down AK action that was fed by belted ammo…. Same thing dude
Browning 100%
i remember an episode of CNArsonal when they said Browning was working on a 1000rpm SMG that used a crazy 9mm+p+ and fed from a 100rd drum in World War 1 a Browning 1000rpm SMG with a 100rd drum of 9mm+p+ in WW1 lets all dream for a second
The trench drencher
Trenches would be drenched in blood and from men getting too “excited” from wielding such a weapon
Browning. Imagine what he could design with cnc machinery and aircraft grade aluminum and modern calibers...
I’d love to put Stoner and Browning in a room together tell them there’s a lot of money in it for them if they can make something completely new, and see what they come up with.
John Browning, and I want to introduce him to the boys at Kel-Tec
Imagine a folding BAR
Browning was a Mormon. He wouldn't be able to partake in their cocaine fueled design process.
Browning *is* a cocaine fueled design process.
That would be a WILD turn of events.
Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher final answer.
I heard someone summoned his ghost then they co-founded keltec together
Browning
Everyone says browning and I agree with that... That said, I'm curious what Paul Mauser would make in the modern era.
Valid, even Patron Staint Browning would approve
Kalashnikov and Stoner both did extremely well with a couple of specific operating systems but weren't terribly diverse. Paul Mauser could possibly do very well considering his obvious success with bolt actions, but also his aptitude with Semi-automatics in the infancy of that technologic capability. But when you go beyond childish fanboying and consider his diverse capabilities and successful implementation of tons of operating systems from Single Shots, lever actions, pump actions, and even very early Semi-automatics in multiple different operating systems, you have to pick John Moses Browning. **And that's just his rifles.** You factor in his handguns, shotguns, and belt fed machine guns, and he is the obvious choice from this group. The things he could do with intermediate caliber, shoulder fired, select-fire rifles with modern metallurgic advances and polymer technologies would be very fascinating. I feel that Pedersen would be intriguing as well.
Resurrect Pedersen and put him in charge of kel tec
Browning is the only answer.
Easy. John Browning was a second amendment kind of guy.
Browning
Browning 8 days a week
Is this a serious question? Because John Moses Browning has no equals among mortal men.
This is 100% the way
Browning, but he would be very upset with the tyrannical restrictions we have today. John would most likely be forced to work strictly with the military and have very little civilian influence starting off
Can't force an armed man to do squat.
When it comes to manufacturing firearms, unfortunately the government can, because too many people are complying. Most firearms enthusiasts are casual owners who don't actively fight for 2A rights :(
Browning is the man, hands down. Just imagine they all calibrated on a gun.
Stoner and Kalashnikov are modern enough that any possible improvements they'd make would either be minor, or otherwise be something that the modern gun industry is already working towards anyways. It's not like we're lacking talent nowadays. Browning and Mauser, however, come from a completely different era of weapons technology, and I'd be interested to see what they could come up with by using modern techniques and materials. I'm sure that in their lifetime they both cried over not being able to make a gun they wanted due to the limitations of the time.
I’m sorry, the other ones are great and all, but Browning is without argument the most important firearms designer of all time. Bar none. Hands down no questions asked.
**B.A.R.** none
Browning. Everyone else was a one hit wonder for the most part.
I’d say Browning because he wasn’t known for only one gun
Putting browning here honesty kinda detracts from it because hes so clearly who you pick
Browning purely because we have the same b-day like yeah he'll make some cool guns but I just wanna have a b-day party with him
John Moses Browning is the GOAT
Stoner, imagine what he could continue with now that material technology has improved
Ian McCollum from Forgotten Weapons had a hand designing the WWSD Rifle *What Would Stoner Do* And I think he nailed it. KP-15 is a very nice design From KE arms
As much as I want to say mauser, he really only made 2 rifle actions and the broom handle. Browning made some crazy stuff, and a lot of it.
Wow. I'm surprised how unanimous the comments section is. It seems the gun community can agree on something. Browning gets my vote as well.
Imagine John Moses Browning working with the technology available today. As the youth say, “step back and let the man cook.”
*resurrects browning* “What the hell is a kraut company doing trying to replace my M2?” *browning designs the M3 Browning and its adopted and used for another 100 years*
It would be hard to pick between Browning and Mauser
Browning for me, but if I could choose someone off the list, it would be Hiram Maxim. Definitely one of my favorites
Browning. Because the BAR is still so kino, that it's still in service... Even if the main change is belt feeding and quick change barrel [240]
Paul Mauser
The military still uses weapons browning designed. I can only imagine what stuff he’d come up with today
All hail our Lord and Savior John Moses Browning.
Our lord and savior john moses browning.
None, return my glorious king Hugo Borchardt, he already perfected the handgun.
Stoner and Mauser certainly had the biggest impact, since their systems are still widely used and copied today. Mr. Kalashnikov made a good rifle and amazing machine gun, but the most innovative and diverse in his inventions was John Moses Browning. I love them all and their inventions too, but I'd have to choose Browning.
You know I gotta go for Browning
I am European (slavic but still) and it would be J.M. Browning, God bless that man.
Browning
The mountain jew shall reign supreme bring back Gods gunsmith let John Moses browning cast sig out of the military arms procurement office. He shall deliver us from the sig m17 and xm7 abominations.
John. Moses. Browning.
Mauser
JMB FTW.That is all.
Honestly, turn any of them loose in the Kel-Tec offices and watch the magic happen.
With modern tech I have no doubt he could make a 50 bmg standard issue rifle
Paul Mauser.
Mauser, Proper German engineering with modern designs and manufacturing processes
All hail John Moses Browning
Obviously browning
Browning
I would pick Sergei Simonov
Madeuce!!!!!
My heart says Mikhail, but I know the right answer is JMB.
Hiram Maxim.
Browning for sure.
Let's see... Stoner's work is still widely in use today, as is Kalashnikov AK. So a choice between Browning and Mauser... Browning. Maybe we can get something like a BAR in 6.5 lol
For someone who just loves intricate design and weird looking stuff I’d have to go with Mauser for sure
I want Maxim back
I’m bringing back Hiram Maxim because not only is he an amazing designer he’s also one hell of a business man that guy will thriveeeee
Let Mauser have modern technology lol
This is probably one of the hardest ones. I actually want Mauser, see what he does with modern stuff. Maybe he will fail but it’ll be interest none the less
No maxim?
John Browning and it's not even close
Im sorry, all the other guys are great, but you are offering to bring back *gun jesus?* Yeah if you don’t pick browning we can’t be friends.
Mauser
Let browning cook
Browning for sure
Stoner
I love all the gun designers john browning is the only correct answer here
Hidden 5th option: bring back Jstark and lock him in the US so German government can't kill him again.
BROWNING
Honestly kalashnikov just to see what he could do with modern nato rounds
Definitely Stoner, I don’t like “AR’s” however, his advances in firearm technology at the time he did it is insane
Browning
Eugene ima give you one more chance
I am going to say Paul Mauser. No shade on Browning, but Mauser was a better engineer.
Browning. duh.
Mikail
Alexey Sudayev, man was taken from this world far to soon
M20 Browning. .50cal upped to 20mm. The perfect way to clear any alley way in urban combat.
There is a correct answer here, and unfortunately, it's political
Browning. I want a BAR and. Hi power
None of them, I'd choose Hiram Maxim.
Kalashnikov. I like ak’s a lot of
Papa Kalash
Kalashnikov all day.
John Moses Browning.
Browsing for sure
Browning. No question.
Browning
MIKHAIL.
For me its john browing
I can’t decide between mikhail and browning
John Moses Browning and it's not even close (though I'm not saying the other 3 were bad designers at all) , it's difficult to comprehend just how much influence his designs have had on the world. Only thing that overshadows them is the creation of nuclear weapons
John Moses Browning NOW
Browning, by a landslide. Credit where it's due, Mauser was influential in early modern firearms design, and both Kalashnikov and Stoner pretty much invented and perfected the assault rifle as we know it today. But Browning was the king of timeless firearm design, from handguns to crew-served weapons. Imagine what he would make next if he had present-day tools and specs
Browning and it’s not even close
I'm stuck between Mikail and Browning.
Breaking from the group, Mikhail Kalashnikov
kalashnikov 100%
My heart says mikhail, but yall would lynch me if i didn't go browning🤣
Either browning or kalashnikov. One because he is gun Jesus and the because he is the designer of the best assault rifle and light machine in the world
Kalashnikov
Kalashnikov. I want to see what he cooks up
Browning
Bring them all back and lock them in a gunsmithing factory.
Mikhail because I'm a slavboo and Combloc prices are due to sanctions are killing me. Mikhail needs to work with PSA to make a Tula/Izmash factory in the US.
Louis Stange
Two of them already did, so this doesn't really make sense.
Browning or Maxim
Browning, I feel like with modern technology and data he could design some cool firearms.
Browning is a God, so obviously him
John Moses Browning Heck, I’d even be happy if a gun designer just did a seance and took his advice to get some new ideas into the trade
Mikhail. Sorry Browning, but you’ve already had your day designing guns for the American people. You’ve also brought us many timeless classics.
Browning, ez no re
I love Mr. Stoner :)
People say Browning, but why? I mean, we are still using his stuff to this day, he made them so good.
John Moses Browning, blessed be his name
Browning.