Buckshot with Maverick 88

[Thethickster]

Recently Purchased a Maverick 88 Field model and checked the choke and it says MOD. on it. Am I able to use buck shot loads for this shotgun. thanks. If so which kind? I am new to 12ga and choked tubes.

 

[Bobson]

I hope so. I've got a Maverick 88 with a modified choke too, and I just bought several boxes of 3" 00-Buck.

Giving you a bump so someone with more knowledge can chime in. I didn't even consider that it might not be safe to shoot...

Also, welcome to The High Road.

 

[Steve C]

You can shoot buckshot through any shotgun choke. The modified is probably the best choke for down range pattern with buckshot as the larger pellets may be deformed more in the tighter full choke. Pellet deformation causes greater pattern spread.

Slugs are not recommended for full choke barrels and should be shot in modified or more open improved and cylinder. Sabot slugs are designed for rifled choke tubes or barrels.

 

[Thethickster]

Thanks for the reply Steve C, I just wanted to make sure, I am new to 12ga shot guns and chokes, I just didnt want the shotgun to blow up in my face or blow up the end of the barrel. I bought the shotgun mostly for home defense, I know it might be too long but, I want to give burglars a good kick in the arss. Ive been practicing with Winchester Super-Target 2 3/4in,1 1/8oz, 7 1/2 shot rounds and she fires great right out of the box. Just wanted to make sure I could use 00 buck shot with this rifle in case my wife and I find ourselves in a nasty situation. Lots of burglaries in our area, Our strategy is ill move in with the G17 with tac light and she will back me up with the shot gun with 00 buck shot.

Thanks for the bump Bobson.

 

[Hunterdad]

Please read the manual that came with the gun. It will explain what is or isn't safe to be shot out if it.
It honestly frightens me that people posts these kinds of questions.

 

[Thethickster]

i looked over the manual like 4 times and it doesnt mention buck shot. That is why I posted. I needed to make sure for safety of myself and who ever is shooting it.

Its not like im asking if I can shoot a .45 Colt round out of an Factory .410 shotgun. Which I know can be done and know how to do it.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm going to assume you're young and don't have an extensive background with firearms, but why would you think you can't shoot buckshot in it?

Yes, you can. I've been shooting 3" No 1 buckshot, with an occasional 000, 00, and No 4 buck thrown in for good measure in my Sears/Mossberg 500 (same as your Maverick) with a modified choke for about 40 years. They won't hurt a thing. Persoanlly I think 00 is vastly overrated but that's beside the point. The Maverick is sort of light isn't it? Three inch buck loads might make you think it's going to kick your brain out, but it won't hurt the gun.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

Slugs are not recommended for full choke barrels and should be shot in modified or more open improved and cylinder.

You can safely shoot slugs through any fixed choke. Optimal accuracy is through the more open ones (usually IC). Shooting sabots through a full choked gun is not a safety issue either, just an exercise in futility as they will not stabilize and may not separate from the sabot. I went hunting with a guy who was armed with a full choked Browning A5 that he never cleaned and insisted on shooting only Reminton Copper Solids through it. They tumbled like heck but seemed to make a 4 inch group at 50 yards consistently. Only time you may have trouble is with a collet style adjustable choke that is set on full. The only slug thqat I know of that will give you a safety issue through a choked gun is the Brenneke Golden Slug (or whatever they call it now). It is a full bore slug that doesn't have any ability to compress through a choke and is designed for rifled barrels.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Buckshot today is a different animal than it was even a few years ago. For inexpensive or name brand 'standard' buckshot loads, a MOD choke might deliver the best available patterns. With 'premium' loads, MOD is likely too much choke and may deliver more open patterns than a CYL or IC choke would. But any buckshot load suited to your chamber length should be safe to fire.

Patterning a variety of loads will give you the answer as to which patterns best...

 

[Thethickster]

CajunBass Im 26 years old Ive never owned a 12ga or any other shotgun with a choke. I own a Glock G17,Star Firestar .45ACP, Glenfield model 30a,Mossberg .410, Marlin .22 Magnum Bolt Action.

Ive never owned a shotgun with a choke I am new to this I am admitting this, I dont want to inconvenience anyone, I just want safe shooting. I know it seems like a dumb question for all the so called "Pros" but hey arent we all here to help each other out.

 

[CajunBass]

Ive never owned a shotgun with a choke I am new to this I am admitting this, I dont want to inconvenience anyone, I just want safe shooting. I know it seems like a dumb question for all the so called "Pros" but hey arent we all here to help each other out

.

Nope. I didn't think it was a dumb question, just a newbie one, that's all. The same kind of question I'd have asked when I was your age...well, maybe a little younger, and my grandfather and my uncle would have picked on me about asking. That's all.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The only dumb question is the one you DON'T ask...

I'm a retired reference librarian, I spent 30 years helping people find answers to all sorts of questions. It's not a big deal - nothing to worry yourself over. Just push on with your education.

 

[Thethickster]

heh no biggie CajunBass just that, Im not a hunter Im just trying to look out for the well being of my 3 kids and wife. I just needed a clear answer, so I guess 00 buckshot it is for burglar extermination.