Question about my new Maverick model 88

[Lakers2012]

Hi everyone,

My wife suprised me with a Maverick 88 18.5 inch barell 12 gauge for christmas. Although it is a very basic and inexpensive shotgun I have been suprised by mostly positive accounts of its durability.

After I assembled the barrel I figured out that this thing had a wooden dowel in the magazine tube that limited the shell capacity to two. to get rid of this nonsense I quickly removed the barrel, dumped out the dowel and reasembled the gun---however in my haste I removed the barrel with the pump forward, and tried to attach the barrel with the pump forward. After a minute of fiddling with it I realized that the pump had to be back to reattach the barrel.

This may seem silly but does anyone here think that I could have damaged the shell extrators or another bolt part by attempting to attach the barrel with the pump forward? When I attempted to seat the barrel this way i did it with pretty minimal pressure a couple of times before realizing my error. Visually the extrators look fine and they extract unspent shells without a problem (I havent fired this gun yet)

Again i dont mean to be paranoid here but just want to make sure I didnt this home defense tool up right after the mrs. got it for me.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I SERIOUSLY doubt the 88 is damaged, but the easy way to find out is to go shoot it.

Plenty.

Pumps, heck, everything in our lives should be built like pumps.

The alloy framed pumps like the Mossbergs may possibly not last as long as a steel frame like the 870, but we will not live long enough to find out unless we shoot way more than most will.

Working life on an 870 is about 250K rounds. Best guess, at least 50K and that is pessimistic for the 500/88.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Hang onto that "dowel" as it has a purpose if you plan on hunting with your gun. Check your regulations as to magazine capacity for some game.

 

[Miked7762]

The locking lug kept the barrel from even touching the face of the bolt. There's zero chance the extractors were damaged.

 

[pingpingping]

No worries, that gun is fine.

 

[Bobson]

I removed the dowel from mine when I got it about a decade ago, too. That 88 has served me very well, never had a single problem with it. Enjoy yourself.

And I agree your shotgun should be fine.

 

[Lakers2012]

thanks for the replies

 

[jonnyc]

I recently got an 88 and I really love it. Mine came with a 28" barrel and I use it for trap. I got an 18.5" bbl. for the house. A good, solid, versatile, inexpensive bit-o-kit. As posted above, keep the little stick in case anyone invites you out hunting.

 

[evan price]

No problems. You can't get the barrel in far enough- without letting the locking bolt drop down- to cause any damage as long as you didn't chuck it in a vice and starting hitting it with a hammer or something (lol).

 

[1madss]

Just be ready to replace the factory recoil pad. That thing is HARD! I went with a Limbsaver and it makes good deal of difference.