Maverick 88 or interstate arms defender?

Not sure if it matters to you, but the Interstate shotgun in made in China by Norinco. It's also sold as the Hawk 982 and the same manufacturer makes the H&R Pardner Pump.

And the Maverick is made in the USA by a division of Mossberg.

In considering future parts availibility, I would go with Mossberg.

Mossberg Maverick 88

Carl N. Brown said:

In considering future parts availibility, I would go with Mossberg.

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These Chinese clones of the Remington 870 will accept 870 parts with the exception of the barrel. The barrels won't interchange as the clones magazine tube is longer than the 870 because they are 5 round magazines versus 4 rounds for the 870.

Ive had both and while both performed admirably i like the Hawk 982 far better mostly because of the fantastic ghost ring sights.

Norinco usually makes pretty good guns,for the price. Maverick 88 pumps are great guns, Ivehad one for ten years and it is pretty much the best new firearm I ever bought. Maverick are not american guns, mostof the parts are mexican and they are assembled in the u.s. That is why they cost less. Norinco might be harder for repair later. Ghost sights can be added to shotguns, and the maverick is very interchangable with mossberg 500. Buy the mexican gun.

Mossberg makes a .410, I don't know if it will be a Maverick specifically.

Given identical prices I'd go with the Mossberg - IMO the only real draw to the Chinese guns is their comparatively low price. You might also try haunting your local pawn shops to see if you can score a deal, especially just after hunting season ends - I picked up my 870 a few years back for $190 OTD.

I bought a Mossberg Maverick 88 with the 28" barrel a few years ago. The 500 barrels will fit the Maverick so I picked up a 18.5" barrel. Use the 28" for hunting and the 18.5 for HD. Has been GTG so far.

I've had a couple Chinese guns, Norinco SKS's, and they ran fine. I kind of miss one... but the point is I can't imagine that they can't make a functional shotgun.

Still, why wouldn't you buy the Mossberg? I can't think of any reason to not choose the 88 in your situation. Or maybe better, see what the used market turns up and maybe you can lay hands on a good Mossberg 500 in the same price range. I picked up a 18" for $150 once at a gun store.

Mav 88.

My first gun was a Mav 88, still have it, still shoot it. They are a Mossberg product, as from what I've read, raw materials are shipped to Mexican factories where some of the parts are made. Then the parts are shipped to Texas, where along with Made in the USA parts, the Mav 88 is assembled.

They are fully interchangable with Mossberg 500 parts, with a few excpetions. The Mav safety is a triggerguard cross bolt, the Mossberg is on top of the receiver. Safeties, and subsequenty the fire control group, can not be interchanged. The fore end on the Mav88 is molded to the action rails, but the entire thing can be swapped with a Mossberg 500 set of action rails, giving you options for different fore ends. Barrels are 100% interchangeable. My Mav came with a ribbed 28" accuchoke barrel, and it currently sports a 18.5" Mossberg barrel.

I have two, no problems from either. Friend has two 870's He has had problems chambering and ejecting. We both shoot cheap WW stuff.

Good choice. Strangely enough, Mexico has a pretty good reputation for those firearms they have manufactured. The guy on The Box Of Truth site cut his 28 inch ribbed barrel down to 19 to save money and it looks pretty good, a Mav 88.

popper said:

Friend has two 870's He has had problems chambering and ejecting. We both shoot cheap WW stuff.

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Winchester ammo is well known to cause hang-ups in 870s. Tell your buddy to switch to Federal or Remington shells (nominal, if any, price in crease) and he should be good to go.

get an 870... i shoot the cheapest shells walmart has... never have any hang ups.... this is the older model express

I'd definately go with the Maverick 88, because it is higher quality and has much more aftermarket parts available.

If you plan on shooting 3" magnum slugs or .00 buck in the 88 before you purchase the shotgun you might borrow someone's mule and get him to kick you everyday for a month just to toughen yourself up!

The 982 has a decent set of ghost ring sights from the factory. Most any accessory that will fit an 870 will fit the 982, except for unmodified Remington 870 barrels (the 982's magazine tube is one round longer than the 870's, an advantage IMHO). I have several 981 (bead sight)/982 (ghost ring sight) and Pardner Protector guns as well as a bunch of 870s. So far it seems as if the ChiClones are holding their own. Of course it'll be 60 years before we really know if they hold up as well as 870s generally do. But I took my gunsmith an 870 Express and a 981, and we field stripped them both and he file tested the metal in various parts in each. He was more impressed with the metallurgy in the Chinese copy than in the original.

I admit my bias, I like 870s better than any Mossberg pump save the 590s. But I don't see any real shortcomings of the 982, if that's the only other choice on your list.

fwiw,

lpl

Seeing as how I prefer mossberg over remington I would go with the 88. After being an armorer for my dept. I have seen too many broken stocks on 870's because they get bound up and won't eject a spent shell w/o being smacked on the ground. I have never had that problem with a mossberg. Plus you can use any 500 barrel on the 88.

The Hawk shotgun takes my vote anytime of the day. Unless its a Mossberg 500 , then i may take it.