Browning Arms

John Moses Browning didn't just design guns -- he designed the DNA of every modern firearm you'll touch. The 1911 in your holster, the shotgun in your truck, even the .50 BMG that's been hammering targets for over a century -- all Browning designs.

When you buy a Browning today, you're getting 145 years of firearms engineering wrapped in some of the finest production quality coming out of Japan. Yeah, Japan -- and before you roll your eyes, Miroku builds guns that make Belgian craftsmen jealous.

The company started in 1878 when John Moses was 24 and cranking out lever-action designs in his Utah shop. By the time he died in 1926, he'd given us the Auto-5, the 1911, the BAR, and the Hi-Power. Not a bad resume.

These days, Browning operates under FN Herstal, with most production happening at Miroku in Japan. That partnership started in the 1960s and turned out to be the smartest move they ever made. Japanese precision manufacturing meets American design heritage.

• •Timeline of John Moses Browning's major firearm innovations that still influence modern designs

The rifle lineup centers around the X-Bolt series -- their flagship bolt-action that's been refined over the years into a solid hunting platform. You get a 60-degree bolt throw for faster cycling, a three-lever Feather Trigger that breaks clean, and a free-floating barrel. The X-Bolt Pro steps it up with a carbon fiber stock if you want to drop some weight and add some dollars to the price tag.

The BAR Mark III is their semi-auto hunting rifle -- not to be confused with the military BAR that John Moses designed. This one's gas-operated and chambered in everything from .243 to .300 Win Mag. Good choice if you want fast follow-up shots on game.

Shotguns are where Browning really shines. The Citori over/under has been their bread and butter since 1973. It's the O/U that most hunters and clay shooters cut their teeth on -- reliable, well-built, and priced between the cheap stuff and the European exotics that cost more than your truck.

The A5 brings back that distinctive humpback profile from the original Auto-5, but with modern Kinematic Drive technology. It's an inertia-based system that cycles everything from light target loads to heavy waterfowl magnums without adjustment.

For pump guns, they still make the BPS with bottom ejection -- handy if you're left-handed or just like having empties drop where they won't hit your shooting partner.

Pistols are a smaller slice of what they do. The Buck Mark .22 is probably their most popular handgun -- solid choice for training or plinking. They brought back the Hi-Power in 2023 with some modern updates to John Moses's 1935 design.

Here's something that trips up buyers: most Browning firearms are made in Japan by Miroku Corporation. Some folks see "Made in Japan" and think they're getting shortchanged on an American brand.

Those people are wrong.

Miroku's quality control is exceptional -- better than what most American factories were putting out when production moved overseas.

The wood-to-metal fit on their shotguns is consistently tight, and their machining tolerances make other production guns look sloppy.

Hand-fitting and hand-engraving on the premium models, CNC precision with hand-finishing on the working guns. It's manufacturing the way it should be done.

• •Miroku's manufacturing process combining CNC precision with traditional hand-finishing techniques

For semi-auto shotguns, the A5 goes up against Super Black Eagle. The Benelli is lighter and runs on pure inertia, while the A5's gas/kinematic system gives you softer felt recoil.

Bolt-action rifles put the X-Bolt against Tikka T3x. The Tikka probably has a smoother action out of the box, but the X-Bolt's trigger is cleaner and both will shoot better than most hunters can hold.

• •Customer service can be slow when you need warranty work
• •Consistent complaint across multiple years
• •Warranty processing times longer than industry average

The BPS pump shotgun isn't what it used to be -- recent production runs show some quality decline compared to older models.

Pricing has crept upward across the lineup. Some Citori configurations are pushing into custom gun territory, which makes you question the value proposition.

Browning occupies a sweet spot in the firearms world -- premium quality without the European price tags, classic designs updated with modern manufacturing precision. The Miroku partnership was brilliant and produces some of the finest production guns you can buy today.

The Citori remains the gold standard for mid-priced over/unders. If you're looking at O/U shotguns under $3,000, this should be on your short list.

The A5 captures the soul of the original Auto-5 while actually functioning reliably with modern ammunition.

John Moses Browning's design legacy adds real value here -- not just marketing fluff, but actual engineering principles that still work 100+ years later. When you handle a Browning, you're touching firearms evolution.

The Japanese manufacturing stigma is outdated nonsense. Miroku builds guns that would make the old Belgian craftsmen proud.

Sometimes tradition is worth preserving, even if it means crossing an ocean to find craftsmen who still care about getting the details right.

If you want a shotgun that'll outlast your grandkids or a rifle that groups tight out of the box, Browning delivers. Just don't expect budget pricing -- quality costs, and they charge accordingly.