Newbie questions re mossberg maverick 88 shotgun

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First of all, welcome! Everyone here has given sound advice. I would recommend some practice ammo so that you can safely practice loading and unloading your new shotgun. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Action-Pro-Shotgun-Trainer-Cartridge/dp/B00RG6RJ32

Be sure to put all live ammunition completely away before you begin to practice with training ammunition.

Mossberg makes a great shotgun and I feel they are vastly underrated. Being a lefty, I love the safety and have shot thousands of rounds out of my Mossbergs with no problems. I have quite a few nice shotguns, but love to grab one of my 590's for trips out to the desert. You can beat them up and they will just keep going.

As other have said, you will need to practice with your shotgun to learn about its pattern at different ranges. You absolutely must aim at your target and a light is very helpful for this. Even though this is an old film, it illustrates why you should understand how your shotgun will pattern at various ranges.



Be safe, congratulations, and enjoy your shotgun.
 
Thanks. Yes, this mossberg maverick 88 seems like a great, reliable deal.
I went to a shooting range last week for my first time practicing - shooting with live ammunition. All I have so far ammunition wise, is a few boxes of Federal 12 gauge, 2.75 ", 1200 fps, 3 gram, 1 and 1/8 ounce, 8 shot clay target shotshells. Its what was available at the store.

Well, I have only shot a gun ( a handgun and a rifle ) one time previously around 8ish years ago. I posted an ad in craiglist asking if someone would be open to showing me some intro shooting tips, and a guy replied - met me at a now shuttered gun range next to the Richmond bridge and I shot his handgun and rifle. For some reason I was apparently relatively decent for a first timer. He seemed suprised I had never shot a gun before, and I kept hitting the center areas of targets.

Contrast that experience now to my first time shooting live ammunition in this shotgun! Holy #($*&!!! This thing actually scares me a bit! A friggin powerful beast and the recoil !! I definitely need to develop familiarity, comfort and facility handling its loudness and strong recoil power!

There is a long awning hanging over where we shooters shoot at this range. It seems quiet low, such that I found myself worried I might accidentally hit it especially if I rise gun upward from power of shooting. I only ended up shooting maybe 6 or 8 shots while there.

Most of the time I was mentally trying to deal with how to smoothly and stably flow from holding shotgun to pulling trigger, staying steady and clear visioned while shooting and through the recoil. It seems like I maybe even go blank for a millisecond as the gun fires! From feeling how strong it is. Im sure this may seem basic and old hat to those of you who are use to shooting shotguns. But its apparently going to be a process of becoming more familiar, more comfortable and stable with it for me. Sadly, so far its a different experience than shooting the handgun and rifle, which I enjoyed and felt fairly, relatively comfortable with.

I actually didnt really enjoy shooting the shotgun, due to feeling unsure about how to handle its recoil and power smoothly. Hoping this will change, improve with practice and mindset.

So far Ive only shot it with the shorter barrel. It is the version that comes with two barrels, a short security barrel and a longer barrel. I think 18" and 28 " respectively?

I think I am partly worried that the recoil may pull the gun upward out of my forward pump holding hand. A couple times I unintentionally moved a half step back when i fired it from the force and not being braced enough. Other times at least I kept my stance, left foot forward right foot backward and a bit out to right. Butt of stock in between my shoulder and right pectoral, a little on pectoral. Which was mildly sore at end.

Planning on returning to the range again tomorrow, Friday or weekend.
 
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I can relate in rehabs to the recoil and loudness; and as I say the percussion shock wave.

For me, 20ga is a lot nicer to shoot. 12 ga not so much. In fact I recently sold my Mav88 12ga after only having shot my Mav88 20ga a cpl times. I still have a 12ga SxS coach gun though.


Make sure your wear good (eye &) ear protection and get yourself a Limbsaver slip on recoil pad. It made a big difference with the Mav 88 12ga I just sold. Good ear protection quieting down the nastiness can help with perceived recoil as your senses arent getting hammered on so much. At least for me.

I'm not a shot gun guy but wanted to get in on some of the fun. In the end, for me, 12ga was a bit offensive and 20ga was much more enjoyable.

I still only dabble in it and can only speak as such and to what my experience has been.
 
danez71 said:
I can relate in rehabs to the recoil and loudness; and as I say the percussion shock wave.

For me, 20ga is a lot nicer to shoot. 12 ga not so much. In fact I recently sold my Mav88 12ga after only having shot my Mav88 20ga a cpl times. I still have a 12ga SxS coach gun though.


Make sure your wear good (eye &) ear protection and get yourself a Limbsaver slip on recoil pad. It made a big difference with the Mav 88 12ga I just sold. Good ear protection quieting down the nastiness can help with perceived recoil as your senses arent getting hammered on so much. At least for me.

I'm not a shot gun guy but wanted to get in on some of the fun. In the end, for me, 12ga was a bit offensive and 20ga was much more enjoyable.

I still only dabble in it and can only speak as such and to what my experience has been.
Click to expand...


Hmmm..?. Yep, I feel you on the percussive aspect too. I may buy a ear muff style noise reduction headphones. Hopefully they alone or in combo with the orange squishy noise reducing plugs will help feel more comfortable shooting the mossberg?.
 
Don't need no stinkin' training---just point and shoot!
BS--- Definitely get some training---He/she can help you on S/D or H/D ammo too.
 
Freedomharmonizes said:
Hmmm..?. Yep, I feel you on the percussive aspect too. I may buy a ear muff style noise reduction headphones. Hopefully they alone or in combo with the orange squishy noise reducing plugs will help feel more comfortable shooting the mossberg?.
Click to expand...

Maybe some if the more experienced can help with this.

I normally use plugs but did buy some electronic muffs. The brand slips my mind right now but common brand and inexpensive. I stumbled across them at Sams club 1 day.

They worked great except......
The problem I run into is that they get in the way of the stock when I shoot.

I've only tied using them on 1 outing so my memory is a little vague if it was an issue with scoped long guns or not.
 
Today I returned to the range. Was my 2nd time there, and my 2nd time shooting my new mossberg maverick 88.
Bought passive noise reducing ear muffs. Razor, passive series elite ultra slim folding muffs. nrr27db. Combined with the foam earplugs, both together definitely helps reduce the noise to a more tolerable level.

Shooting today was overall more comfortable. Actually enjoyed it for the most part. Still some moments of nervousness, apprehension from overthinking before shots. But once I actually shoot it feels pretty good. A bit exhilarating even now. Seems I need to aim a hit high to hit the nearest target set up, with the short barrel and the clay shot Im currently using. Still feel inclined to aim low due to worrying about the wooden roof that angles forward and down over where we shoot, as its bottom edge is only a few feet above where my eye level is. Seems they have it to prevent any high angled shots from going beyond the range limit. There is a small country road and small highway road at edge of the property in Petaluma.

Still only used the short barrel so far. I shot maybe 15 shots today. Finally hit the target on the last one. Others kept going a bit below it.
 
If you are shooting under a roof, the amount of noise and reverberation will double from the shot. Remember bird shot out of a shotgun 7.5, 8's and 9's only carry a couple hundred yards down range before dropping to earth at a 45 degree angle. Buckshot and slugs you need to worry about as they can travel 600 -1200 yards+.
Freedomharmonizes said:
Still only used the short barrel so far.
Click to expand...
The longer barrel may well feel better to shoot, and will put the noise further away from you. It's amazing the amount of noise reduction from a 20" barrel to a 30" barrel on open range conditions.
 
Screenshot_20201002-112111_Video Player.jpg Screenshot_20201002-112013_Video Player.jpg Screenshot_20201002-112055_Video Player.jpg Thanks. It's a partial roof, like an awning. Including photo in this post of it.
Definitely this ammo is not a long range type. Though seems it is possible to hit the closest target with it if I aim higher than I usually was so far.

Hmm..that would be welcome, if longer barrel is quieter and easier to shoot. I was wondering if it would be harder, more recoil to shoot longer barrel . Which is main reason I've not yet used it. I am intending to get and attach a little strap for where my forward gripping hand is on pump lever , so I feel more secure with grip in pump lever when shooting.
 
Once you're comfortable shooting stationary targets you may want to find a local club/range that offers trap, skeet or sporting clays. Trap is generally easiest for beginners to pick up and is loads of fun. It will also develop your skill at defensive shooting.
 
probably already been said, I didn't read all the comments, but your capacity will probably be 4+1, its a very common capacity. Tubes can extent it but I think the Mossburgs barrel IS the endcap, so you would need a different barrel (Remingtons endcaps are just a cover, and can be extended with the same barrel). Yours will almost certainly come with a limiter rod and the tube will only hold 2. This is a federal thing. https://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-hunting-tips/waterfowlers-notebook-keeping-legal Regardless of state law. If your NOT hunting waterbirds, or any other situation unique to you that requires only 2 rounds, as most people are, you can remove the limiter. Mossburgs from my memory use a dowel with some rubber rings, and it may not fall out on its own, but if your limited to 2, and the tube is long enough for more, you can bet its in there.
My advice, get some Walmart Promo 100 round boxes from Remington/Winchester, and run those. If its going to jam, it will jam on those. Before you take it out, read up on how to safely clear that particluar jam. I have seen few Mossburgs with that problem, but they are out there.


Oh, and congratulations, these are excellence shotgun (coming from a Remington guy)
 
Yep, I already removed the wooden rod.

Why would I want to buy and use ammo that it's more likely to jam using?

Anyone installed a hand strap on the pump handle? Looking in amazon for them it seems they are mosty cheaply made, and charging way more than costs to make own strap with webbing and screws and washers?

Any advice what type and size screws and washers to use? I've read there are screws made for going into plastic, which I think my maverick 88 pump handle is made of. Do I have to remove the pump handle somehow before drilling and screwing holes and then screws in? Assuming do
 
Maverick 88=Mossberg 500 when it comes to furniture. There are some mechanical differences, but the furniture is mostly interchangeable, and forends are one thing that is.
 
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