[NCffp163]

Hi ya'll,

Does anyone have or has knowledge about the Maverick 88 shotguns? Am looking to add a H/D sg to my collection. Would perfer syn. stocks. Or does anyone have some better suggestions.

thnx,
Eric

[Fred Fuller]

Hi Eric, welcome to THR.

My suggestion is that you try shooting several of the popular HD shotguns before you buy your own. That way you can base your choice on your own experiences and preferences rather than just opinions.

For example, my own preference is for the Remington 870. That opinion is shared by several million other shotgunners but you might not agree. The only way to know is to try it for yourself.

The Maverick is likely to be one of the lower priced guns available. Don't let price alone drive your decision, there are other issues involved as well. And nothing will let you explore those intangibles like fit and feel more than some range time with various guns.

Ask around among your friends and acquaintances, see if they can arrange for you to shoot their guns so you get a chance to try several makes, models and gauges. Most likely people will have Mossberg 500s and 590s, Remington 870s, Winchester 1200/1300s, Benelli Novas, or something of the like. Give as many of them as you can a try before buying. You'll be better off in the long run,

lpl/nc

[TheOtherOne]

I have a Maverick 88. All the plastic does make it feel a little cheap, but I've shot it alot and have had ZERO problems with it. I like it. The safety is useless where it is, so I just never put it on safe.

When I bought it a couple years ago, I thought it was basically suppose to be Mossberg's budget line. I paid just under $200 for it and now I've found out that actual Mossberg 500's are under $200 at Wal-Mart.

http://www.layitlow.com/x/Guns/HomeDefense-47-40-27-88.jpg

[Onmilo]

Maverick 88 shotguns are assembled in Eagle Pass Texas using Mexican produced components.
The guns are The Mossberg Gun Companys low end budget line.
The Model 88 guns are as well made as the Model 500 guns but feature trigger guard mounted safety as opposed to a top tang safety.
Early Model 88s featured a single slide rail but this was changed to a dual slide rail in 1990.
The forend slide tube assembly is cast directly onto the forend so if you ever wish to change the forend you will have to replace the whole forend slide tube assembly.
Trigger groups are an assembly that will not interchange between Model 88 and Model 500 guns but all other parts, including barrels, will.
These are good guns for the money and I personally choose them over any Chinese made product.

[Plinkerton]

I have a Maverick and an 870. I much prefer the 870 in every way. The maverick is definitely not a bad gun, and has yet to give me a problem. The 870 just feels so much more solid, etc. I have the HD model 870, so it's quite similar to the Maverick. They look almost identical, save the shorter barrel on the 870.

If I had the extra cash, I'd buy the 870 in a heartbeat, but the Maverick isn't a piece of crap by any means.

[Gabby Hayes]

Pretty she ain't, but my Maverick 88 works every time I try her, and I don't worry none about dings and scratches to the finish. They're inexpensive enough that you don't have to worry about letting one bang around in the trunk or truck bed. Leave it loaded in the closet for months on end. The Mossberg 500 might be a better choice if you're fussy about the location of the safety, or an 870 Express if you like Remingtons. But for a good, entry-level knockabout gun that you don't have to worry much about, the Mav-88 is a great deal.

[Okiecruffler]

I bought one a while back, reciever first from a fella who got abit too wild with a hacksaw (measure twice, cut once). Put a short barrel on it, gave it a spraypaint parkerize job, even got a dreaded pistol grip to play with. I've run everything from light target loads to slugs thru it without a hick-up. Actually had it at my bedside for awhile, but this old dog can't learn new tricks. The wife shot it and declared it to be the equal of her Mossy but far below her Ithica and Browning.
I don't think it's in the same class as the 870, but there ain't no flies on it either.

[foghornl]

Owned & operated a Maverick 88 for 15 years. Not fancy, but works as designed.

While I really like the looks of the classic Rem 870 Wingmaster, the Maverick 'fits' me better.

[Dave McCracken]

As a dyed in the wool 870 fan, let me say something here.

Much as I like 870s, I've not heard much bad about Mossberg 500s or these Po' relations. And if there was much bad, I would hear about it.

Some folks I've known and whose opinions I trust own and love them.

I wouldn't use one as a hardcore clays gun getting a thousand rounds a month or more. Otherwise, no downside I can think of.

As a group,the Mossies have bad triggers,but they're amenable to improvement. The same can be said of most new shotguns.

The lack of bling to add on may be a downside, but let me say this again.

In trained hands,a short barreled pump shotgun right out of the box is an awesome close range weapon, perhaps the best of all.....