Maverick 88 Questions

[D.B. Cooper]

I'm thinking about buying a Maverick 88 as a short term gun to A.) replace my aging, vintage Winchesters, the newest of which is almost 60 years old, and B.) hold me over until I can buy a new production Ithaca 37, which is what I really want.

They market an "All-Purpose" 88 with a 28" barrel and a 5 round magazine and a Security with a 20" barrel and a 7 round magazine. Supposedly, the Mavericks will accept and use any Mossberg or Maverick barrel.

Questions:

1.) Do the Maverick hunting barrels have screw-in chokes (accu choke)? (I expect the 20" barrel to be a fixed cylinder bore.)

2.) Will the 28" barrel from the 5-shot "All-Purpose" install on to a receiver and magazine tube from the 7-shot Security? (And yes, I know that it's illegal hunt waterfowl with a magazine of more than 2 shots. With either gun, I will have to drop a dowel rod behind the follower to reduce magazine capacity.)

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Nevermind. I think I just answered my own question. (I guess jumped the gun on posting here.)

Looking at replacement barrels:

They all have a piece attached to them that looks like they thread into the magazine tube, and they all specify magazine tube size.

Replacement barrels cost $20 less than an entirely new gun.

 

[badkarmamib]

The 28" barrel that I had used Browning Invector chokes, if that helps.

 

[Old Shooter]

To do the barrel swap you will need to change the magazine tube and may, or may not, have to change the magazine spring also. The magazine tube may be fastened in with the use of some sort of thread locker fluid but with some use of a heat gun or maybe even a hairdryer it should come off without too much trouble. Don't use thread locker to install the new tube as the installed barrel holds everything in place. I have not seen any of the guns sent with two barrels and I "suspect" that they may not use the thread locker since the intent is to change the barrels and magazines as desired, I could be wrong.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

To do the barrel swap you will need to change the magazine tube and may, or may not, have to change the magazine spring also. The magazine tube may be fastened in with the use of some sort of thread locker fluid but with some use of a heat gun or maybe even a hairdryer it should come off without too much trouble. Don't use thread locker to install the new tube as the installed barrel holds everything in place. I have not seen any of the guns sent with two barrels and I "suspect" that they may not use the thread locker since the intent is to change the barrels and magazines as desired, I could be wrong.

That's an impractical solution. If I have to remove the 7-shot mag tube from a Security Pump receiver, and install a 5-shot mag tube to be able to install a 28" barrel, I might as well just buy a second shotgun.


The whole purpose here would be to have a 7-shot mag tube under a 28" barrel which won't be achieved by putting a 5-shot tube on a Security Pump gun. I think the only way to do that is to remove the barrel locking screw and tab from a 28" barrel and have it welded back on several inches down the barrel so as to make room for the 7-shot magazine tube. That, too, is impractical, as the gunsmithing costs alone would equal more than the cost of simply buying two shotguns.

The only practical solution is for me to suck it up, give up on having a 7-shot magazine, and buy the shorter (18.5") barrel to use on the 5-shot All-Purpose gun.

 

[Old Shooter]

Might be better off to buy a Remington 870. I BELIEVE You can change barrels with no problems and the mag extensions will work no matter what barrel length you are using. Used 870's go for reasonable prices in my area, maybe same or similar cost as a new Maverick 88.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Might be better off to buy a Remington 870. I BELIEVE You can change barrels with no problems and the mag extensions will work no matter what barrel length you are using. Used 870's go for reasonable prices in my area, maybe same or similar cost as a new Maverick 88.

Yeah, but then I'd own a Remington. LOL =)

 

[danez71]

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=31014

This is a 12ga 5+1 shot combo with an 18.5 open cylinder and 28 inch barrel with removable multi choke.

I'm pretty sure you only get 1 modified choke. It uses the Accu Chokes. All the Mavericks Im familiar with (which isn't saying much) are the AccuChokes and interchangeable with the Mossbergs.

MSRP of $259.00. Quite the deal, imo.

I don't think you can get what you want in 7+1 shot with out shelling out a lot more money and maybe even having to customize

 

[D.B. Cooper]

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=31014

This is a 12ga 5+1 shot combo with an 18.5 open cylinder and 28 inch barrel with removable multi choke.

I'm pretty sure you only get 1 modified choke. It uses the Accu Chokes. All the Mavericks Im familiar with (which isn't saying much) are the AccuChokes and interchangeable with the Mossbergs.

MSRP of $259.00. Quite the deal, imo.

I don't think you can get what you want in 7+1 shot with out shelling out a lot more money and maybe even having to customize

I think you're right.

BTW, those Mavericks go for $229 at my local box store.

 

[LoonWulf]

The Maverick 88 i had was exactly the same as 500 except the safety was on the trigger guard, and the pump was one solid piece. This was about 4 years ago, and they may have changed them since, i dont look at shotguns as often as i do rifles.

Like the 500 the barrel has a lug and screw that goes into the front of the magzine tube. So to use the longer mag tube on the 28" barrel you would have to either have the lug moved on a stock barrel or have one made with the longer lug location.
The stock barrel on mine used the accu choke, so did the cheap 20" Chinese replacement (which i still have and only shot a couple times cause it had issues), as did the 24" upland 500 barrel I eventually installed.
everything on the 88 is for the mossberg 500, except the optics mount...that came of a marlin 336.

 

[MAKster]

Buy the Maverick with 28 inch barrel. You can buy a 18.5 inch barrel for around $90. The extended mag tube version is less versatile because of the way the 500 and Maverick barrel screws into the mag tube.

 

[nulook45]

To answer your question no you cannot use the 28 inch barrel with a 7 shot tube the 7 shot tube does however have a very rare hard to find vent rib 28 inch barrel as well as a 20 inch cylinder bore <easy to find> barrel the 88 barrels are made in Mexico the 500 barrels are made in U,S,A, and ACUChoke barrels use mossberg ,winchester , and browning invector choke tubes i hope this helps

 

[EMT40SW]

I am going to make a radical suggestion. I recommend a 20 ga Maverick 88 or Mossberg 500 with a 26” barrel then get a 18” barrel from Mossberg for $80. I have two 500 in 20 ga, then a Mossberg 590 & Rem 870. The 500 are great in 20 ga but too light in 12 ga. Just my experience but every one that shoots my 20 ga 500 ends up getting one & not in 12 ga. Oh yeah search the pawn shops. I found a 20 ga mossy 500 combo with 26” & 18” barrels used in a local pawn shop for $180 out the door.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I inherited an 88 with both barrels, the longer one takes choke tubes the short one is a cylinder bore (I think). If you weren't in Alaska I could make you a great deal, it seems like a model that you can't put an extended magazine on.

 

[schotzfyred]

The Maverick 88 with 28 and 18.5 inch barrels go for $230 here......and I'm about to pick one up this week.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Go out and find a post war Ithaca M37, they never wear-out.
That gun will handle better than most and 2 3/4 inch shells will do almost anthing.

 

[shoobe01]

Mavericks are older versions of the Mossberg 500, sold under a different name to differentiate them. They are entirely interchangeable. Only differences I know of are:

• Single action bar. The pump handle will usually come with the other action bar actually cut off, the bolt parts are the same with both action bar slots, and the receiver usually has no hole for the other action bar, but that's it and it's very strong, you don't need both sides.
• Crossbolt safety, instead of top of receiver sliding switch. Not worse, just different.

The Mossberg 500 / Maverick 88 has a blind mag tube. It screws into the receiver (usually not especially locked down, so easy to remove) and has a solid threaded cap on the end with a threaded hole.

The barrels have a solid steel extension and captive nut:

When the barrel is properly inserted into the receiver, this lines up, you just push back ever so slightly and turn the nut till it stops. The nut has a ball detent so clicks, and also cannot fall off when firing.

Mossberg 500 / Maverick 88 guns come in 5 and 7 (or 6 and 8 if you think that way) shot variants. *I think* pretty much all barrels are offered in both mag tube lengths but me, I'd just get the 6 shot one and not worry about it. Not that many fewer shells, and the reduced weight out front makes it easier to handle even in short barrel configuration so it's easier to reload as well.

 

[Skgreen]

Single action bar. The pump handle will usually come with the other action bar actually cut off, the bolt parts are the same with both action bar slots, and the receiver usually has no hole for the other action bar, but that's it and it's very strong, you don't need both sides.

Not sure about yours, but my 88 (~5~ yrs old) has both action bars.

Current 88's have the grip / sleeve / action bars as one assembly that's not meant to come apart. Action bars do not 'pivot' independent of the sleeve.

My 500, (~2~ yrs old) has a sleeve with the forward end threaded to enable you to change the grip. The action bars 'pivot' independent of the sleeve and are spring loaded.

 

[98Redline]

The other posters have covered most of the differences so far however there is one thing that hasn't been pointed out yet.

The crossbolt safety on the Maverick 88 tends to work better if you have a pistol grip stock where the top tang safety on the 500 tends to be better for a more traditional stock. Also if you happen to be left handed, the safety location on the 500 is just a bit more convenient.