Anybody remember the Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle?

[Alex]

This weekend I traded a used Kimber Ultra Carry to my dad for his near new condition Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle and an old Zouave reproduction he had. I'm familiar with the Zouave, but have little knowledge about the Browning. My father traded for it some years ago and never really used it, his knowledge of the rifle is limited as well. Can anyone give me some background information on it? It's a very nice Hawken style rifle with browned steel furniture and barrel, walnut stock with two barrel wedges, buckhorn adjustable sights, and pewter nosecap. It is also 54. It also has a single set trigger on it which is kind of unusual I think. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[Iggy]

You betcha!!

Outstanding rifles.. IIRC they had a Green Mountain cut rifled barrel..

Back in the good ol days a feller would durn near trade his squaw for one of them..

They were too nice a rifle to compete with the Chinese copies of Italian imitations from K-mart and DGW.

They were the poor man's custom rifle of the late 60's and 70's

Hang on to that sucker!!

 

[TerryBob]

I don't know a darned thing about it but would love to see a picture of it. It sounds pretty interesting.

TerryBob

 

[RCL]

Nice stuff............

 

[mete]

When they were made most said that's way too expensive ! After they stopped making them people realized that they were far better than other guns on the market and well worth the price . That's how life is , good stuff costs money.

 

[BigG]

I only examined one up close and personal, but it was a beaut!

 

[Alex]

I had it out to the range the other night, but didn't get a chance to shoot it. I'm one of the instructors for a 4H sponsored blackpowder class for kids that goes through the summer. We needed extra rifles for the students to use, but most of the kids were too small to handle the weight of the rifle so It didn't get put to use yet, maybe next week. Anyway, thanks for the info, does anyone have any information on the twist for this rifle. I suspect it is a roundball twist.

 

[smokemaker]

What a great looking rifle. Hope it shoots as good as it looks. I seem to recall reading that the Browning mountain rifles were 1-66" twist for round balls, but don't quote me on that.

 

[tex_n_cal]

I know there was a Browning Centenial version - I think Jonathon was JMB's father, and Brigham Young's gunsmith on the Mormon trek to Utah. Theyt are very nice rifles, well made, in the Hawken style.

 

[El Hombre]

Hello,
Sorry to reopen an old thread, but I just came across this.

Yes, I remember the JBMR, they are great guns. They were made from 1977-1981 and offered in .45, 50, and .54 caliber. I think they were made by Miroku in Japan. The .45 was recommended for deer, the .50 elk, and the .54 for moose. The .54 saw the least production and are very hard to find, so I'd say hang on to the one you have.
The recommended loads for the .54 were:

ball diameter: .528-.535

ball weight: 220 gr

powder charge: 100-150gr ffg or fffg

approx muzzle velocity: 1600-2010

The .54 had a 1 in 66 twist.
recommended for patched round balls only

The trigger is a rather unique single set trigger. The standard trigger pull should be @ 4 1/2 pounds. The set trigger is activated by pushing the trigger FORWARD and then the trigger pull is reduced. The amount of the set trigger weight is adjustable by the screw behind the trigger, it is adjustable from two pounds down to two OUNCES!

Browning no longer has parts or services these guns, although owners manuals are still available.
Deer Creek Products in Waldron, Indiana 765-525-6181 has all available replacement parts except for stocks. They even have different barrels (in the white) so you can change calibers if you like.

 

[JPM63US]

I chime in on this old thread also . . . the Cabela's in Michigan has one in the used gun area. Asking $600 for it. Looks like it is worth it.

JPM

 

[Ranald]

OOOO, doggies! Now THAT'S a RIFLE! <covet, covet> Yes I remember these, and would give a lot to have one, NOW. Couldnt even come close to one, back in the day. Practically had to give blood to get a T/C Hawken, in those days. Trade the squaw for one? Heh. Take the Teepee, too.
{It's a very nice Hawken style rifle} quote. You deal in understatement, friend.
You have a real treasure there... take care of it and pass it on well-used when the time comes.

 

[Chubbo]

JMB Mountain Rifle

Hi, Alex
I have a .45 cal. version of this rifle. My rifle has brass fittings. I tried to get browned fittings for it a couple of years after I got mine, but browning no longer had replacement parts, for it. I much prefer the browned fittings, but I am glad that I have the rifle, even with the brass fittings. I won several matches over the years that I shot with it. The trigger is one of the best designs, I think, that have been made. Browning's recomended loads are 70 to 90 grains of FFg or FFFg powder with ether .438-445 round ball, in the.45 cal. 175-180 grains of FFg or FFFg with a.490-.496 round ball for the .50 cal. ans 100-150 gr. of FFg-FFFg powder with a 220 gr. round ball for the .54 cal. The bbl. twist is one in sixty six, and intended for round balls The load that I used for target, was 45-50 gr. of FFFg with a .445 round ball. I used pillow ticking material for the patch. My rifle is capeable of shooting better than anyone that I know, can shoot. It still looks almost as good as it the day that I got it. I wouldn't take all the tea in China for it. I am to old to shoot it as well as it is capable of shooting, but it one of my favorite rifles in my collection.
Chubbo

 

[El Hombre]

Chubbo,
See my post above on where to get replacement parts.
I have one in each caliber, but the 45 is the one I hunt with, they are sweet guns. Browning was a few years ahead of the demand when they made these, By the time the blackpowder revival took off they were out of production. It's too bad.