Sold my 500, will a Maverick 88 disappoint?

[wild cat mccane]

Hello,

I just sold my Mossberg 500 28" wood shotgun for lack of use. I am wondering if a Maverick 88 would be a noticeable step down for someone who went from a little use 500?

I will be up $100.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Not really, the 88 will serve well. They are solid shotguns and will run well from HD to hunting.

 

[Scooter22]

Why didn't you just buy a 18" HD barrel for it. You can get them for around 100.00 bucks. Best price I've seen on a Mav 88 is 179.00 around the holidays. The 500 is put together better. Plus you have the thunb safety on the 500 insted of the side push on the 88. I looked at a 88 a couple years ago when looking for a dedicated HD shotgun and got a H&R Pardner Pump Protector. A 870 copy. Much better IMO than the Mav.

 

[SOAB]

I am currently Working with 3 maverick 88's, and hope to be posting a review soon(once I hit 500 rounds through each gun, I'm very close to that goal too). To be honest, you probably won't see a difference. If you have any specific questions, I don't mind answering them.

I have owned 3(two at first, and the third was a replacement gun) pardner pumps in the past. 2 had to be sent in for repair(one was so messed up, I had to get a replacement; the first repaired gun, and the replacement ran fine after they were returned) YMMV. If you opt to buy an 870 clone, just look for a used 870 instead(heck I saw a new 870 express on sale for 250 at my local sporting goods chain). You'll save yourself a lot of hassle.

and again If you have any pardner related questions let me know.

Hope this helps.

 

[WhiteFoot]

I've had an 88 for about 10 years now, I usually put 2 cases and a few boxes in it a year (one of steel and one in lead) and have yet to have any real problems with it. I've been VERY impressed with it. I'd love to pick up another one. I really love that gun. Especially since I bought new for about $150. Great guns IMO.

 

[WestKentucky]

I had an 88 for several years. The hardest thing to get used to is everything feeling like a 500 but with the safety in the wrong spot. For defense, I like the 88 better because it's difficult to accidentally move the crossblock as opposed to the 500s open and easy to accidentally move safety. For defense you want to know what your workin with, and be able to rely on it. You can rely on an 88 all day long.

 

[bannockburn]

Never had a Mossberg 500 so there was no relearning curve when it came to where the safety was located. Have had my Model 88 for many years now; still running as strong as ever with nary a problem to report.

 

[Sunray]

A Maverick 88 is a low end entry level M500. Difference is pretty much the stock material and the MSRP. It'll do nicely.

 

[1KPerDay]

If you sold your 500 for lack of use.... why buy a nearly identical 88?

I'm confused.

 

[wild cat mccane]

Hey Provo

Good question. While I only used it once at the clay range in Bountiful, fun!, I did like the idea of owning a shotgun. The 28" was just too big for me.

Thinking of the 20" 8 shot.

 

[SOAB]

Hey wild cat mccain, take a look at my thread: maverick 6 or 8 shot?

There were good points made about magazine size there, so it may be worth it to take a look at.