Maverick 88

[stuckinsocal]

I'm looking into acquiring a Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun in a trade deal. How does it compare with the Rem. 870 and Mossberg 500?

 

[dak0ta]

Similar to the M500, except for the safety location which is a cross-bolt style behind the trigger. The action tube assembly is welded to the fore-end so you cannot swap them out as easy like the M500. Barrels are also not ported like the M500 field barrels.

Rem 870 has a steel receiver as opposed to the aluminum alloy of Mossberg/Maverick. Depending on whether you get Wingmaster, Police, or Express, you will get varying levels of finish and fit.

Personally owning both an Express and current M500, I prefer the M500 to the Express because of the weight and ergonomics. I like the 870 as well, but I'd go with a Wingmaster instead of the Express, so I plan to eventually own both, and you will too one day.

All in all, this isn't a question of which one, but "when" will you own a Mossberg and Remington. It's like an itch, you buy one, and you hear about the other after your purchase, and to cure the itch, you obtain both...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Deciding on which to buy, a Rem 870 or Moss 500 is like deciding whether to buy a Ford or Chevy pickup. Both are great, both will do a good job. It depends upon which you like better.

I own and shoot Mossberg shotguns while my son like Remington shotguns better. Nothing wrong with either IMO. The Maverick shotgun is a really low end shotgun, I wouldn't buy one. If you want to go with Mossberg buy a Model 500.

 

[stuckinsocal]

Thanks for the replies. I grew up using an 870, so I'm pretty familiar with it and how it works. I've also used a few other Mossberg shotguns as well as a Winchester 1300. But I've never fired the 88 before. I know some parts aren't interchangable with the other Mossberg shotguns. Are they easy to obtain if needed? If I do end up getting the gun, I won't be paying anything, it'll be a trade for another gun so price isn't an issue if that's what you're refering to, AACD. If it's not, why don't you recommend it?

 

[RandKL]

If it's not, why don't you recommend it?

Any time someone suggests a 500 over a Mav, 95% of the time, anyway, they don't really know the diff but they heard someone say that somewhere so they think they look smart by repeating it.

Buy the Mav and be happy with it. It's a fine gun.

And parts-wise, ALL 500 parts will fit your gun as is except the forearm furniture by itself. It fits, too, if you change the forearm action slide tube to a 500 as well. All of your parts fit a 500. Both use the same barrels etc.

rich

 

[dak0ta]

I don't trigger guards will swap due to the safety.

 

[jae011]

i had a maverick model 88. it was the best shotgun i had. i could always hit more dove and clays with that one than any of the other ones for some reason. i regret getting rid of it.

 

[RandKL]

I don't trigger guards will swap due to the safety.

They swap perfectly fine. A Mav trigger guard installed into a 500 works as is on the Mav safety. If you add the missing safety connector to the Mav trigger guard, you'll have two functioning safeties in the 500. A 500 trigger guard swapped into a Mav leaves no safety.

rich