Who invented the rifle?

Marin le Bourgeois developed the first flintlock gun, which is the predecessor to the rifle. Captain Patrick Ferguson of Pitfours, Scotland is known for inventing the first breech-loading rifle, which was used by the British Army in the American Revolutionary War in 1777.

The Winchester rifle is widely considered to be the earliest repeating rifle, invented by John Moses Browning, who is known as "the father of modern firearms." He also invented the Colt 45 automatic and the pump shotgun. John Moses Browning's goal was to improve the speed and reliability with which multiple rounds of ammunition could be fired.