Mossberg 500 Style Forend or Maverick 88 Style Forend?

[twofewscrews]

Hi,

I own a Maverick 88 and am considering switching over to a Mossberg 500 forend.
My main reason for considering this is that I have been told, although I can't remember where, that the Moss 500 forend is smoother to rack then the Mav 88.

I'm not worried breaking the forend on the Mav 88 as I don't intend to use it in super cold conditions, which is really the only situation I've heard it break in, and the 88 style forend is cheap and easy to find if/when it does break. The 500 style costs more but is still readily available.

So for those of you who own or are familiar with both the Mossberg 500 and the Maverick 88, is the racking action actually smoother with the 500 forend?

Does switching from the 88 style to the 500 style offer any functional advantage?

I don't consider being able to switch out one forend for another a functional advantage, I mean sure you could take it from a skeet/hd gun to some kind of tacticool monster (shotcard, rail on the forend, rail on top, speedloader stock thing, optics, laser, light) but the odds of me using that tacticool gear in a HD situation or in general is so slim that I don't really consider tacticooling it functional but rather fanciful.
But hell, that just my humble opinion. You do what you want with your guns and I'll do what I want with my guns. God damn I love America.

 

[shoobe01]

I have had like 6 of these, worked on a few more, and am entirely unaware of what you mean. As far as I have encountered, literally the same part between the two, the 500s (now) have 2 action bars, the 88s have one action bar. If you buy an 88 forearm, the left side one is either not installed or (once) actually cut off. In package, from the factory!

There are two lengths of forearm, both inner tube and the outer plastic, but I think that was a change at a date cutoff. Not sure if both were originally used on both the 500 and the 88, but both would work, don't feel much different in the hand.

Following to see if I have missed something major here.

 

[twofewscrews]

I have had like 6 of these, worked on a few more, and am entirely unaware of what you mean. As far as I have encountered, literally the same part between the two, the 500s (now) have 2 action bars, the 88s have one action bar. If you buy an 88 forearm, the left side one is either not installed or (once) actually cut off. In package, from the factory!

There are two lengths of forearm, both inner tube and the outer plastic, but I think that was a change at a date cutoff. Not sure if both were originally used on both the 500 and the 88, but both would work, don't feel much different in the hand.

Following to see if I have missed something major here.

I'm referring to not only the action bars but also the forend and the resistance the one encounters when racking a round.

The 500 has an action slide assembly, a metal tube with action bars, that the forend goes on.
https://www.mossberg.com/store/action-slide-12-gauge-6-3-4-blued-12362bl.html

On the 88 this is all one piece. The 88's action bars are pinned into the forend.
https://www.mossberg.com/store/forearm-action-assembly-12g-blued-12354bl.html

I've been told that the plastic 88 version encounters more friction when being racked then the 500 version. The 500 version is supposed to be smoother, at least according to some.

 

[shoobe01]

This must be a recent-ish change as I haven't encountered it. Googled and indeed the "assembly" you linked is no longer just the plastic bit already assembled onto the metal slide, but it's really just a solid plastic thing. Okay.

(Also, some forums show people getting one-piece plastic on new 500s and two-piece with steel on 88s, so it may not be so entirely clear cut a division between product lines.)

Hmm... not sure I like it. Would need to examine one in detail.

So, I have no idea which is better and you can ignore me now.

 

[MAKster]

Pinning the action bars to the plastic forend is one of the ways they reduced the cost of the Maverick. This isn't new. They are even now using this design on some of the lowest price 500s sold at the big box stores. Doesn't make financial sense to replace the pinned version with the traditional separate metal tube version unless it breaks. And even then buying a replacement pinned version will be less expensive. Just chalk it up to the long term trend of manufactures reducing costs by using plastic instead of metal and pressed fit parts instead of threaded parts.

 

[amd6547]

I’m a long time Mossberg 500 owner and fan…
If I were to acquire a new Mossberg/Maverick with the bars pinned to the forend, I would for sure change it to the old style. I think it’s more durable, for one thing.
Second, there are better Forends to switch out to, like the Hogue overmold, or the Magpul, either of which I prefer to the standard OEM.
I’m currently using the Magpul, and like it a lot.
BTW, my “Mossberg” was made in the 1960’s for Western Auto, with their Revelation brand on it. It lived a hard life as a security company riot gun before I bought it at a gunshow for $75 yrs ago. Still going strong. I added the 20” barrel/magazine tube last year, after I found them cheap on eBay.

 

[twofewscrews]

View attachment 1006268 I’m a long time Mossberg 500 owner and fan…
If I were to acquire a new Mossberg/Maverick with the bars pinned to the forend, I would for sure change it to the old style. I think it’s more durable, for one thing.
Second, there are better Forends to switch out to, like the Hogue overmold, or the Magpul, either of which I prefer to the standard OEM.
I’m currently using the Magpul, and like it a lot.
BTW, my “Mossberg” was made in the 1960’s for Western Auto, with their Revelation brand on it. It lived a hard life as a security company riot gun before I bought it at a gunshow for $75 yrs ago. Still going strong. I added the 20” barrel/magazine tube last year, after I found them cheap on eBay.

I could see the old style being more durable, but is it smoother? Why do you prefer aftermarket forends?

 

[amd6547]

I could see the old style being more durable, but is it smoother? Why do you prefer aftermarket forends?

Smoother? If I hold the barrel upright and push the slide release, it will drop open by itself. Smoothness has never been a problem with any M500 I’ve shot or owned.

As for why I prefer other forends. I was using the Hogue short buttstock for a while, and it came with the matching Forend. I came to find I really liked it, as it gave a really solid grip for the pump hand, both for working the action, and to apply some forward pressure to mitigate recoil.
When I decided I liked the feel of the Magpul buttstock, I looked around for deal, and found a used one, which again came with the matching forend. I find the grasping grooves again give a good, solid grip for the pump hand…especially after I added a Tractiongrips stick on. The Magpul also makes it easy to add an M-lok light mount.

 

[danez71]

Hi,

I own a Maverick 88 and am considering switching over to a Mossberg 500 forend.
My main reason for considering this is that I have been told, although I can't remember where, that the Moss 500 forend is smoother to rack then the Mav 88.

I'm not worried breaking the forend on the Mav 88 as I don't intend to use it in super cold conditions, which is really the only situation I've heard it break in, and the 88 style forend is cheap and easy to find if/when it does break. The 500 style costs more but is still readily available.

So for those of you who own or are familiar with both the Mossberg 500 and the Maverick 88, is the racking action actually smoother with the 500 forend?

Does switching from the 88 style to the 500 style offer any functional advantage?

I don't consider being able to switch out one forend for another a functional advantage, I mean sure you could take it from a skeet/hd gun to some kind of tacticool monster (shotcard, rail on the forend, rail on top, speedloader stock thing, optics, laser, light) but the odds of me using that tacticool gear in a HD situation or in general is so slim that I don't really consider tacticooling it functional but rather fanciful.
But hell, that just my humble opinion. You do what you want with your guns and I'll do what I want with my guns. God damn I love America.

I forgot to reply to this before.

I converted a 12ga Mav 88 with the 1 piece corn cob forend to the Mossberg style.

I did it because the longer Moss forend allowed me to not stretch out ao.much and made it much me comfortable for me. I have shorter arms.

I had initially helped the Mav slide a little smoother with some white litium grease and it did help a little.

As I remember it, the Moss was a little smoother than the Mav but it also rattled more.

I hope that helps.

 

[CDMCKY]

I have a Mav. 88 12 ga. tactical, with a birds head grip that I carry
in the trunk of my car for the "what if's". It has a 14 round bandolier
shoulder strap which weights the front end down nicely, making it
less "jumpy". I have a Moss. 500 too, and they both seem pretty
smooth to me.