Got a new toy yesterday.....

[22luvr]

I bought my first shotgun yesterday; a Mossberg model 88 12ga pump "Maverick." $159 at WalMart. At that price, I just couldn't pass it up. It has a full-length barrel and I wanted something that was versatile enough to protect family, household, shoot flying game and if necessary, 4-footed game also.

It looks fairly simple with few moving parts and if I sound like I know less than nothing about shotguns, that's about right.

I'm 57 and have shot all sorts of rifles and handguns but think I firred a shotgun ONCE in my life about 45 years ago.

I got a couple of boxes of '00' buck, some sabots and a whole case of birdshot to practice with.

How does one clean one of these units??

Now to find someplace to test it out.

What else?

 

[Dave McCracken]

There should be a manual with the takedown procedure spelled out, 22. The thread, Cleaning 101, is intended to help folks like you.

One suggestion....

Before firing that first shot, find a competent entry level instructor and get a lesson or two.
Trust me on this.

And enjoy, shotguns are lots of fun when properly employed...

Feel free to ask any question you have, the only dumb ones are those that do not get asked.

BTW, the Floating Thread at the top about Breaking In New Pumpguns may help.

 

[22luvr]

Thanks for the advice, Dave

I plan to do just that: go to a competent instructor, especially on hitting moving targets. There is a lot of open land here in my area so my son and I are going to print up "Patterns 101" and see how things sort out.

My friends have been bugging me for a long time to get a shotgun because I'm positive they are both essential and fun.

 

[makdaddy03]

I had a Maverick awhile back. but traded it in for a Winchester 1300. Im much happier with it. The Maverick just jammed and failed way to often for my liking. So I decided that it had to go.

 

[Dave McCracken]

"Essential and fun" is a good way to describe shotgunning, 22. Get instruction, use light loads, and then BA/UU/R....

 

[foghornl]

The "Maverick" line is Mossbergs entry-level value priced shotgun group. MOST of the Mossberg 500 parts and accessories will fit the Maverick 88 within guage and magazine capacity.

I bought my Maverick 88 in 1991, never had any issues with it. Goes BANG! every time I mash the trigger.

 

[SASS#23149]

The Mavericks are a great buy,i've had mne for years.alwasy goes BANG when triggeris pulled.\

I"d start with those bird shot loads,then hang onto your hat for the 00 loads.waaaaay to hot for this cowboy,a load of sixes will do anything I need to do.

takedown is very easy for cleaning;
unload gun,and open the action.
unscrew the knurled nob on the magazine tube,and slide off barrel.Anything further is probably unneccesary.

did urs come with screw-in chokes? the one I was at Wallys did.I was gonna buy it but NOBODY on night duty had any idea how to sell one,or if they even had one.

for home defense you can buy a shorter mossberg barrel,or cut a longer one off...but NOT shorter than lega...I go 19" just to be on the safe side.

Have fun,and watch out for those buckshot loads.!

 

[22luvr]

Hello Sass:

Thanks for the reply. Yes, mine has threaded choke inserts. Also, I'm looking forward to shooting some good heavy loads. I'm not recoil sensitive in the least. It oughta be fun.

It has a double-bead sighting system. I would assume that you put the smaller bead behind the bigger bead at the front of the barrel and "pull da trigger. Right?"

 

[Dave McCracken]

22, trust me on this. Use the lighter stuff until you're used to shotguns. Then move up.

Even if you're the epitome of Manly Men and leave the range fragrant with fresh Testosterone, you'll do better starting off with loads lighter than Max Dram howitzer shells.

Use the two beads to get used to seeing the barrel lined up in your peripheral vision, but LOOK AT THE TARGET.

HTH....