Which Cheap Shotgun?

I don't have experiance with either but I recommend the Pardner Pump because its a Remington 870 clone and can take most Remington parts besides the barrel.

Keep an eye on slickdeals, there are plenty of good deals on the Pardner Pump as well as other, similar, inexpensive shotguns.

You can swap barrels with Mossberg 500s on the Maverick 88.
Thats the only reason for my vote.

I wouldn't buy a cheap shotgun, but inexpensive doesn't have to mean cheap. Either of the guns you listed should serve you well, neither is cheap, but both are inexpensive.

The Maverick is a cheap shotgun, but it works darn well. I no longer have one since I replaced it with a Mossberg 590, but it did the trick. I have a good friend with a Pardner, he never put the amount of rounds that I put through my Maverick, but it has held up so far. I don't think either one will fail you, but my love for Mossberg is no secret so im recommending the Maverick.

Another option is the new Stevens pump guns, they seem to offer a lot of options for the money.

That said, I paid $300 for my used 590. If you can get a deal on a good 590/500/870 then id say go with the real deal. But for basic use the clones will do the trick.

If $ 200 is cheap , then get the IAC 982 , its a Chicom made with ghost ring rear sights. Many excellent reviews on that one as well. Been imported for a very long time.
But if $300 is still cheap, get the new Winchester Super X pump shotgun. They are a lot nicer in my opinion.

I'm in a similar boat, but also wavering between 12 and 20 ga. For me it will be used for skeet and house use. Walmart has a Maverick in 20 for $177 and a Mossberg in 12 for $217. My question is about barrel interchangeability. Can a Maverick (either 12 or 20) use all Mossberg and Rem. barrels?

The only thing the Maverick gives up to the Mossberg 500 is the position of the safety.
Only a real cocern to a lefthand shooter.

Another thing to consider is the weight of the 2 shotguns in the OP question. The pardner is a heavier gun which equals less recoil, the maverick 88 is a lighter weight and kicks like a mule. I would prefer the heavier of the two, but YMMV depending on your use for the gun. Both are a quality piece, you can't go wrong with either one.

I voted Pardner Pump -870 Clone.

As far as performance, quality and ruggedness, it's tough to beat for the price -and then some.

I've run mine hard with full power buck and slugs and never had any issues.

You can follow any disassembly/field-stripping/cleaning procedures that are on the web for the 870.

There was a detailed test and comparison done a while back between the Pardner Pump and the actual 870 and the two guys running the test came to the conclusion that it was actually better and more rugged than the 870 in certain aspects.

Regardless, for $170 (some places, sometimes) you can't go wrong with it for a basic utility pump shotgun.

The biggest complaint you will hear is that it's not made in U.S.A.

If you want cheap, I've got a single shot 10 gauge that's perfectly functional, but butt ugly.

Mossberg Maverick 88

I would vote for the Maverick I have had this shotgun for three years without any problems. It is a reliable gun with great out of the box accuracy. As far as the recoil I have three of my daughters ages 8,10,11 which all shoot this shotgun with ease and they are very small girls. I have shot rifled slugs from 100yds consistently with 2"-3" groupings. For the money I really do have a lot of respect for the Mossberg Maverick and there is a huge aftermarket due to the fact that parts are interchangeable from the mossberg 500. I do not know anything about the other shotgun so I can not compare the two but I do know that I love my Maverick and it is a great no frills weapon. Semper-Fi

My vote went to the Mav 88. It's a Mossberg product, not a clone. It is, for most intents and purposes, a Mossberg 500. The barrels are intercahngeable, as well as most part other then the safety. Mav 88 uses a crossbar safety like the Rem 870, while the Moss 500 has it top mounted on the receiver.

It's made in America by an American company, using some parts that were made in Mexico of american material.

My vote went to the Mav 88. It's a Mossberg product, not a clone. It is, for most intents and purposes, a Mossberg 500. The barrels are intercahngeable, as well as most part other then the safety. Mav 88 uses a crossbar safety like the Rem 870, while the Moss 500 has it top mounted on the receiver.

It's made in America by an American company, using some parts that were made in Mexico of american material.

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Just for friendly debate, and as usual correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the Maverick 88 started out as a 'Clone' of the Mossberg 500 and was being built in Mexico at that time and sold in the U.S. with great success.

This led Mossberg to buy the company and designate/build a manufacturing facility in America in order to continue the steady sales and now has their name on that same original product.

Edited To Add: After a little further research, this info doesn't 'exactly' appear to be correct.

Here is an article that clarifies for anyone interested. You decide.

5th post from the top posted by TxGun.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-382263.html

I am in the same boat. I am looking for a cheapo shotgun also. I'd use to scare aware all the crows in the yard, go shooting clays every once in awhile, and have it under the bed in case someone busts in during the night. Academy Sports has the H & R for 179 and the Maverick for 188. What would you guys think?

Pardner, hands down. I've been using one for waterfowl the last 5 years and have beaten the piss out of it and its still going. I've owner 2 mossbergs, a 500 and 535 and had nothing but problems with both.

+1 for the Pardner Pump.

Mine's actually laying across my lap as I type this. I picked it up used for $98 lock, stock, and barrel(Pun may or may not be intended. Check local regulations.)

At that price, I figured, why not? I gave it the Tacticool treatment, just because I could. Door breaching choke for the 870, Sidesaddle shell holder for the 870, Saddle-type scope mount for the 870, heatshield for the 870. Cheapo Tasco red dot sight from Wallyworld.

Awhile back it held up, shot-for-shot, against my Landlord and his Remington 887, in a friendly "Mess stuff up" shootoff using some trash one of his old tenants left behind. It's accurate enough with rifled slugs out of the 18.5" barrel for hunting hogs if I feel so inclined, and it doesn't complain about the cheap bulk shells, or the 3-inch 00-Buck I keep in it for HD purposes.

Will a more expensive shotgun be better? Maybe, I don't know. I like it the way it is. It's heavy, ugly, takes a beating, and stays in the corner of my room at night, just in case.

It'll take almost every single piece of 870 you dare throw at it, except for the barrel. The receiver was a smidge wider on mine than the 870, so I had to modify the inside of the scope mount for it to fit, but it does work. Other than being wider, everything 870 lined up and worked just fine.

One thing that was remarked upon by the people I let handle my shotgun is that it's heavy for a shorter shotgun. Lots of steel to it. It soaks up the recoil really well, and the weight is comforting....

...except for the 4 or 5 times I hoofed it up and down the creekbed by my house when it was dried up. After 3 miles or so that shotgun on your shoulder gets heavy.

I can't say enough good about the H&Rs. The short barreled ones are really nice. I have the 28in and two of my bros have the 18inch barrels. All three of us love 'em. The only complaint I have is that the finish isn't very moisture resistant. Plan to keep a sheen of lube on it if you plan on getting it wet and not wiping it down immediately.

Oh, danged things are heavy too. Out of the firearms I own, the Pardner would definitely take the most abuse. It has the feeling of being completely indestructible.

The only thing the Maverick gives up to the Mossberg 500 is the position of the safety.
Only a real cocern to a lefthand shooter.

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You just push it in the same direction you would with your left hand.