Newbie questions re mossberg maverick 88 shotgun

Freedomharmonizes said:

Although some refer to shotguns as just point and shoot, it seems and from videos I've watched have heard that they can be used with some precision out to a point. And I'm not a fan of keeping my face right up against the gun when firing due to recoil and how some peoples teeth & face have been injured from recoil.

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If your face isn't on the stock, you will more than likely get some cheek slap; if you are trying to shoot it like a rifle and crawl up too close, you will get some cheek slap. Shotgun fit is different than a rifle; as to experts on the internet, most are very wrong; take evertything with a HUGE grain of salt.

I finally found a maverick 88 after months of searching. Shot 75 rounds through it yesterday. Man that was fun! Great gun from what I can tell so far!

Freedomharmonizes said:

Congratulations! Is it the version with a short and long barrel? They seem like great guns!

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Mine is the security model. It has a 20” barrel and holds 8 rounds.

A few things on shotgun use----these are all my opinions(which may differ from others)

First--hold the gun firmly in the cup of your shoulder---not away from it----and roll with the recoil as opposed to letting it smack you. Even the heavy magnum loads will be hardly noticeable when you do it right. Make sure you get the stock to fit you right.

Skip any do-dads on the forearm--they'll just get in the way when things are happening fast

At household ranges--10 to15ft---most any shot size other than the smallest bird shot is going to inflict a nasty if not killing wound----at close distances the shot charge will still be in effect one solid projectile and will have to be aimed. Take your gun out plinking--try soda cans or fruit to see what I'm talking about---and remember to pick up the mess.

I also have the 8 shot Security model. I've also been shooting shotguns for nearly 50 years---49 to be exact.

Well, it's not a Trap gun, but shooting at moving targets is what shotguns were designed for and still do best!

Freedomharmonizes said:

Im pretty comfortable with my maverick now. Especially with the added vertical grip, which makes it much more comfortable and secure. Getting a bit bored with the straight static set distance paper target range option at the range in a nearby town, though.

I visited a different shooting range a few days ago, that also has clay targets thrown by a machine. Initially it was confusing to use. Or maybe more precisely stated, the instructions on how to approach and use it were very vaugely provided by person there. But after I did a round of it, I like it more than the static set distance target option. Only issue - its a long drive over an hour away one way from me. I found another option with similar clays option, a bit closer but more expensive. I may try it soon.

Just realized the basic range in Petaluma does have a clay option, as I saw a couple shooting with one throwing individual clays with a hand held contraption. Just need to meet and share a relationship with a healthy woman into doing this with each other now. !

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Petaluma tells me CA; here's a list of shotgun clubs in CA:
https://www.claytargetsonline.com/california/

The Maverick is a fun gun but it's not a trap gun. I used one once for a round of trap. At the 16 yard line I squarely hit the first target. I then proceeded to miss most of the rest. I usually shoot 19-21with a modified/improved modified choke. I think with that gun I hit four? The one I was shooting had a cylinder bore choke. Not the best.

Mossberg must have fired up the Maverick making machine. On 11-2 I bought a new 18" Maverick for $250. The shop I bought it at had about 40 available in 18 and 20". Their second shop about 12 miles away had 40 more. When I got home with it I checked GB and there were a lot of them available from different sources. Of course they were buy now for $350 or starting bid $300. I've had both Mossberg 500"s and Mavericks before, and prefer the Mavericks safety placement in front of the trigger guard.The finish is better on mine then my last Maverick and the stock seems sturdier and is predrilled for a swivel post.

I have 3 Maverick.. 12ga Security Pumps 20inch barrels , placed in my house .. all have had 100 + rounds of standard pressure 00 Buck ran through them ... to check function.. bought them 3 or 4 years ago from KYGUNCO.. for $180.00 ? a piece shipped..
money well spent...looking at one right now (Den)

A point of view from the Peanut Gallery, ergo, a voice from the presumed minority : I positively hate vertical handles on a pump shotgun. I don't think they are any faster than the "stock" forearm and they snag on anything and everything they're being dragged from. Gimmicks of the first order, imo.

As others have opined, never assume that the sound of a pump shotgun chambering a round will cause anyone to flee the scene in abject terror; especially a meth-head who's senses are already muted by the drug. All the sound of shucking the pump might do is to alert the criminal of your presence and location: "Hear my gun? I'm over here."

For self-defense in the close quarters of a typical residential domicile, I like my gun stuffed with #4 Buck; a good compromise in terms of more, albeit smaller (but way bigger than birdshot), pellets to the torso of a home invader and at the same time, addressing the concerns of excessive penetration in small environs having skinny walls.

mokin said:

The Maverick is a fun gun but it's not a trap gun. I used one once for a round of trap. At the 16 yard line I squarely hit the first target. I then proceeded to miss most of the rest. I usually shoot 19-21with a modified/improved modified choke. I think with that gun I hit four? The one I was shooting had a cylinder bore choke. Not the best.

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I shoot one round of Trap a year, after leagues are over, with my 18" Cyl. bore Ithaca 37. I got 18/25 this year with it, which isn't all that bad. I pop the straightaway/light angle birds right out of the house at about 20 yards; it's the hard angle birds that drop my score. I'm usually at 32-35 yards with them, and that open choke barrel has a pattern that's about 35" at that point, and is not very dense.

Shot some slugs through my maverick 88 today at the local range. Wasn’t bad at all. I think my stance has improved a lot now to the point where the recoil is not uncomfortable at all, even with slugs. They sure do a lot more damage that the .22 I was firing too haha!

cdahl383 said:

Shot some slugs through my maverick 88 today at the local range. Wasn’t bad at all. I think my stance has improved a lot now to the point where the recoil is not uncomfortable at all, even with slugs. They sure do a lot more damage that the .22 I was firing too haha!

View attachment 958831 View attachment 958832

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Nice. That's the same Maverick model I bought. I still haven't gotten to the range yet to try it out. Time has been tight and my shoulder has been bothering me.

Hopefully soon

Ok just a clarification here. The OP might be confused by everyone chiming in as if all Maverick 88's are the same gun. It's not a model number. It's a product line. It tells you nothing about the barrel length or the magazine capacity. So I'm not clear on people saying "it's not a trap gun." My son shoots trap using a Maverick 88 with a 28" barrel and a modified choke (outscoring his old man with a fancy walnut stocked Beretta autoloader).

The Maverick 88 is a budget version of the venerable Model 500 (made in a different factory, has a much different forend so you cannot swap out the forend as easily, and most importantly the Maverick has a cross-bolt safety button on the trigger guard and does not have the famous ambidextrous tang safety). Specs are readily available on the Mossberg web site. The most common configuration holds 5 + 1 (5 rounds in the magazine, one in the chamber) and there are Model 500's and Maverick 88's with extended magazines and shorter barrels for home defense use - you have to know which one you have because the barrels will fit only the proper magazine size.

Most states limit hunting with any rifle or shotgun to 5 rounds in the magazine (plus one in the chamber). Waterfowl hunting will be restricted to two in the mag so there's a dowel or plug that fits in the magazine (I cringed when I read the OP say it's in the 'barrel' so please be careful about the terminology and learn to use the firearm safely). While we're on the subject, there are some autoloaders that have a long plug to limit the magazine to only one round, plus one in the chamber so you never have more than two shots for skeet or sporting clays.

And by the way there's no shame in using a slip-on recoil pad especially for lighter guns like the polymer-stocked Maverick 88.

And by the way there's no shame in using a slip-on recoil pad especially for lighter guns like the polymer-stocked Maverick 88.

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While no shame, but those are typically not the best as they tend to move around while shooting.

Bob V said:

I'm not clear on people saying "it's not a trap gun." My son shoots trap using a Maverick 88 with a 28" barrel and a modified choke (outscoring his old man with a fancy walnut stocked Beretta autoloader).

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One can shoot Trap with a Maverick 88, that does not make it a Trap gun. Mossberg tried to make a trap gun out of the 500 back in the late 70's & early 80's, by adding an adjustable stock and high rib. They were not well received. The gun is too light for any more than casual trapshooting. An attempt to shoot serious Trap leagues or competition with one would only lead to frustration, this I know from experiences with a field model Remington 870, a gun much better suited for use as a Trap gun. (and indeed, the Trap models of it, 870TA, TB, and TC are legendary, while the Trap version of the 500 is mostly forgotten.)

I shoot Trap with my 18" barreled cylinder bore Ithaca 37 occasionally, too. I would not call it a Trap gun.

Bob V said:

While we're on the subject, there are some autoloaders that have a long plug to limit the magazine to only one round, plus one in the chamber so you never have more than two shots for skeet or sporting clays.

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Having shot the various clay sports since 13 years old, I've never heard of this. There is no production magazine limiter for that. No reason to make one either, they aren't required. There are several 2 shot autos made specifically for these games (or upland hunting in the case of the Browning Twelvette) such as the Beretta UBG-25, made for FITASC and Olympic Bunker shooting with specific rules that require a break-open action, or the Ljutic Bi-Matic for Trap. The AR-17 was a two-shot semi auto shotgun made most for Armalite salesmen to take potential AR-15 customers out to the range as a 'product demo' gun.

Bob V said:

Ok just a clarification here. The OP might be confused by everyone chiming in as if all Maverick 88's are the same gun. It's not a model number. It's a product line. It tells you nothing about the barrel length or the magazine capacity. So I'm not clear on people saying "it's not a trap gun." My son shoots trap using a Maverick 88 with a 28" barrel and a modified choke (outscoring his old man with a fancy walnut stocked Beretta autoloader).

The Maverick 88 is a budget version of the venerable Model 500 (made in a different factory, has a much different forend so you cannot swap out the forend as easily, and most importantly the Maverick has a cross-bolt safety button on the trigger guard and does not have the famous ambidextrous tang safety). Specs are readily available on the Mossberg web site. The most common configuration holds 5 + 1 (5 rounds in the magazine, one in the chamber) and there are Model 500's and Maverick 88's with extended magazines and shorter barrels for home defense use - you have to know which one you have because the barrels will fit only the proper magazine size.

Most states limit hunting with any rifle or shotgun to 5 rounds in the magazine (plus one in the chamber). Waterfowl hunting will be restricted to two in the mag so there's a dowel or plug that fits in the magazine (I cringed when I read the OP say it's in the 'barrel' so please be careful about the terminology and learn to use the firearm safely). While we're on the subject, there are some autoloaders that have a long plug to limit the magazine to only one round, plus one in the chamber so you never have more than two shots for skeet or sporting clays.

And by the way there's no shame in using a slip-on recoil pad especially for lighter guns like the polymer-stocked Maverick 88.

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If you take a look at any of the OP's vids and pics on the 3rd page of posts you'll see he has the 5+1 18" barrel model. Not a 28" barrel. What he's trying to do is a mystery to me. Vertical fore grip with a pull out bipod on 18" smooth bore shotgun? I't not a sniper rifle. The more you hang on a HD shotgun the more clumsy and heavy it gets.

He didn't want to get one that would pop off like the first one he got. He found the Grip Pod one, and I told him it is top quality, because it is. He liked the ergonomics of pumping with the vertical foregrip. Doesn't float my boat either, but that's what he wanted. If you'd read the whole thread you'll note I talked him out of a whole lot of other stuff he was thinking of that wouldn't help, so give him a pass on the Grip Pod.

BlueHeelerFl said:

Nice. That's the same Maverick model I bought. I still haven't gotten to the range yet to try it out. Time has been tight and my shoulder has been bothering me.

Hopefully soon

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It’s a fun gun to shoot! Lots of power, cycles rounds great, looks good. For the money it’s well worth it. Hopefully your shoulder gets better soon.

If the recoil bothers you a nice Limbsaver recoil pad would help I’m sure. I put one on my double barrel and it’s much nicer now. But I’ve found the built in recoil pad that comes on the maverick 88 does a good enough job for me.

Gotcha. Glad you got it set up like you want.

Just another reason why this old geezer enjoys THR as my 'go to' firearm site. I'm in the market for the very same Mossberg Maverick 88 in the field and security combo. Great and useful info everyone, helped me to make the purchase decision.