<P> Designed by John Browning , the M1911 is the best - known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design . The pistol was widely copied , and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols . It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as USPSA , IDPA , International Practical Shooting Confederation , and Bullseye shooting . Compact variants are popular civilian concealed carry weapons in the U.S. because of the design 's relatively slim width and stopping power of the . 45 ACP cartridge . </P>
<P> Designed by John Browning , the M1911 is the best - known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design . The pistol was widely copied , and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols . It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as USPSA , IDPA , International Practical Shooting Confederation , and Bullseye shooting . Compact variants are popular civilian concealed carry weapons in the U.S. because of the design 's relatively slim width and stopping power of the . 45 ACP cartridge . </P>
who made the first 1911 semi automatic pistol
who made the first 1911 semi automatic pistol
John Browning
John Browning