I heard that before and after just getting my first one for the heck of it - I agree.
It was a great range toy where I was able to blow up some soda cans , water jugs, and launch old fire extinguisher 30 feet into the air after hitting it with a 3” deer slug.
but :
-shooting any kind of 3” shells, even just the game load ( didn’t have any buck shots) was unpleasant and painful. Left me bruises on my upper biceps ( not sure how - I was expecting them on my shoulder, if any). When I shot that same load from my hip I almost dropped the gun, I was probably not holding it tight enough, also got some temporary wrist pain , which also reminded me of somebody’s statement that shooting it with pistol grips it would be even more painful and they ( pistol grips) are the probably the worst solution for the shotgun bc of the way they transfer recoil to the wrist.
- the gun has a 20” barrel, too long for home defense maneuvering, and also I would probably be shocked by the blast in confined space ( that is why I am not keeping 357 in bedroom safe either).
- it is a matter of practice, but I had a few of those famous short strokes at the range, where gun would not go to a full battery after new shell was loaded into the chamber . Someone said that for beginners semi auto shotguns are better , but they also cost more, they are heavier , and more finicky to ammo.
I have to admit that 2.75 shells are much more pleasant and I can work with them without saying “ouch, this hurts” after each shot.
Again, I like the gun, (it is a Maverick 88) it is very light , but it is more a range toy than it may be a practical use to me ( I am not a hunter either).
It was a great range toy where I was able to blow up some soda cans , water jugs, and launch old fire extinguisher 30 feet into the air after hitting it with a 3” deer slug.
but :
-shooting any kind of 3” shells, even just the game load ( didn’t have any buck shots) was unpleasant and painful. Left me bruises on my upper biceps ( not sure how - I was expecting them on my shoulder, if any). When I shot that same load from my hip I almost dropped the gun, I was probably not holding it tight enough, also got some temporary wrist pain , which also reminded me of somebody’s statement that shooting it with pistol grips it would be even more painful and they ( pistol grips) are the probably the worst solution for the shotgun bc of the way they transfer recoil to the wrist.
- the gun has a 20” barrel, too long for home defense maneuvering, and also I would probably be shocked by the blast in confined space ( that is why I am not keeping 357 in bedroom safe either).
- it is a matter of practice, but I had a few of those famous short strokes at the range, where gun would not go to a full battery after new shell was loaded into the chamber . Someone said that for beginners semi auto shotguns are better , but they also cost more, they are heavier , and more finicky to ammo.
I have to admit that 2.75 shells are much more pleasant and I can work with them without saying “ouch, this hurts” after each shot.
Again, I like the gun, (it is a Maverick 88) it is very light , but it is more a range toy than it may be a practical use to me ( I am not a hunter either).