Mossberg Maverick 88 Security Pump-Action Shotgun – 12 Gauge – 20”

Description
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Mossberg Maverick 88- The Maverick® 88 Security Pump-Action Shotgun from Mossberg® provides homeowners and campers with a serious firearm for personal defense. The 88 Security comes equipped with a synthetic fore-end and full-length buttstock with a thick, ventilated recoil pad. A fixed cylinder bore choke delivers optimum shot patterns for engaging targets at close range; and the extended tubular magazine holds maximum rounds for barrel length. The 88 Security design incorporates dual extractors that take a solid grip on the cartridge’s rim, dual action bars to ensure reliable cycling of the action without binding or twisting, and an anti-jam shell elevator. The bolt locks into a barrel extension by means of a top lug to provide solid steel-to-steel lock up. The ambidextrous, top-mounted safety is highly visible, and convenient to reach without moving the shooter’s trigger finger. The simplistic design of the Mossberg Maverick 88 Security Pump-Action Shotgun makes fieldstripping easy by tapping out a single pin.

Reliable firearm for personal defense
Full-length synthetic buttstock
Ventilated recoil pad
Extended magazine
Fixed cylinder bore
Dual action bars
Dual extractors
Mossberg Maverick 88 Review: Big Shotgun, Big Value
Naturally, I was skeptical about the quality of the Maverick 88 due to its low price tag, but after doing some digging, my fears were mitigated. One of the main reasons their price is lower than the 500’s is because of it contains several components made in Mexico, whereas the “higher quality” Mossberg’s are made exclusively in the U.S. At first glance, the 88 looks nearly identical to the shotguns in the 500 series, but our goal here is to differentiate these guns and see if the 500’s are worth the extra money. Mossberg Maverick 88

Mossberg Maverick 88 Specs
Model: 31010, All Purpose Maverick 88.
Gauge: 12 GA.
Overall Length: 47 ¾”.
Barrel Length: 28”.
Action: Pump.
Capacity: 5+1.
Chamber Length: 3”.
Sight: Bead.
Stock: Synthetic.
Length of Pull: 14 ½”.
Overall Weight: 7 lbs.
Price: Around $225.
Mossberg Maverick 88 Build
One of the first things I noticed about the Maverick 88 was its black synthetic stock. Granted this is your run of the mill shotgun stock, but after using the 590’s FLEX 6-position stock, I miss the ability to adjust. I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of the 88’s components are replaceable. For owners of a Mossberg 500 series shotgun, many of your 500 parts can be switched onto the Maverick 88, including barrels, mag tubes, and even stocks. Mossberg Maverick 88

In terms of their durability, the Mossberg 500’s may have the advantage. The Mavericks feature steel bluing, whereas the nicer 500 models have sturdier finishes and more resistant coatings.

Nevertheless, both of these Mossberg’s are outfitted with a positive steel to steel lockup to boost their durability. To promote smooth operation, Mossberg added an anti-jam elevator to the 88, as well as twin action bars. Another great performance booster on both of these guns is the dual extractors, which keep their operation fast and efficient.

Mossberg Maverick 88 Shooting & Performance
To ensure the 590’s reliability, Mossberg added an anti-jam elevator and twin action bars which basically guarantee a smooth and consistent action every time. The Maverick 88 is surprisingly powerful and accurate, yet fires with very little kick back. Some of the other qualities which contribute to its efficiency are its relatively lightweight build and easy to use sight system. Altogether, Mossberg’s (near) century of weapons engineering has culminated in a user-friendly pump action that cycles well and is a blast to shoot.

Considering all of these factors, I recommend the Maverick 88 for novice shooters who are much younger or older. With that in mind, low price tag and versatility make this Mossberg a great option for a secondary home protection weapon, and even as an extra companion for hunting upland and waterfowl.

Mossberg Maverick 88 Magazines & Accessories
You might read a lot of conflicting information about the capacity and magazines of the Maverick, which is mostly due to the fact that there are several different options. For starters, many of the 88’s have a 6 round mag tube (5 in the tube and 1 in the chamber). However, some of the models come with a 2+1 capacity out of the box. Mossberg Maverick 88

In general, it’s not so easy to extend the mags without minor gunsmithing, but there are options. If you remove the wooden dowel in the magazine tube, which should only take a few minutes, you can increase your capacity to 5+1. Nevertheless, if you load 3” rounds, you’ll be limited to 4+1. The Mossberg Maverick 88’s are really easy to load, which in turn offers faster shooting.

Like the 500 series, the Maverick 88’s have a lot of aftermarket options, just not to the same extent. That being said, many of their components are interchangeable with the corresponding Mossberg 500 parts. There are a few necessary upgrades to the Maverick, but with their low price tag, it’s worth investing some extra cash into them. I’m a huge fan of CombatHunting.com’s collection of accessories; it’s basically a one stop shop for all of your Mossberg shotgun aftermarket needs.

First and foremost, I’d pick up the Maverick 88 Micro Green Dot with Picatinny Rail Mount Base. However, many of the 88’s don’t have pre-drilled holes on top of the receiver, but that’s an easy fix. The next accessory to mull over is a new stock; I loved the 6-position Tactical stock with AR-Style Recoil Pistol Grip. Besides for coming with dual-sided QD sling attachment points, this addition to your Maverick will boost your shooting game tremendously. If you want to abandon the stock and stick with a pistol grip, read on.

Why To Use A Pistol Grip With The Mossberg Maverick 88
Before I explain the advantages of using a pistol grip on your Mossberg Maverick 88, you should know that many people still prefer either the traditional or Magpul grips. To start with, a pistol grip generally means that there’s no stock on the buttend, which can lead to serious injury if you’re not careful. You can easily break your nose or jaw, so it’s not for newcomers to shotguns. One of the main area that a pistol grip limits you in is the use of high power loads. They’re not designed to handle them and can therefore hurt your wrists, tire you quickly, and wreck your handling.

One of the major benefits of pistol grips is that they make your shotgun more tactical by offering a more compact build. Due to this, the Maverick becomes a great addition to personal security in more confined areas places such as a car or truck. Since you lose out on the stability of the stock, it’s crucial to purchase a forend grip. If you’re interested in going down to pistol grip route, Mossberg offers a FLEX conversion kit.

Conclusion
The Maverick 88 is a surprisingly impressive shotgun. Mossberg has a longstanding reputation for producing some of the best firearms in the world, so I can assure you that this is no ordinary budget shotgun. While the 590 and perhaps the 590A1 are better weapons, the Maverick 88 is perfect for what it’s designed for. I highly recommend the 88 as a starter

Mossberg Maverick 88: The Best Home Defense Shotgun You Can Buy?
Is this the best shotgun to defend your home or property?

Almost every pump-action shotgun enthusiast is familiar with the Mossberg 500.

But for the average person, it’s just a pipe dream to ever imagine owning one. Enter the Mossberg Maverick 88 Shotgun: essentially the same gun, but at an affordable price.

The Mossberg 500 is famous for its usefulness in home defense, and the Maverick 88 brings that same usefulness to the table in an affordable way. Let’s take a closer look. Mossberg Maverick 88

Accuracy
For a lightweight shotgun, the Maverick 88 is surprisingly accurate and well-balanced! The fixed cylinder bore choke allows for optimum shot patterns at close range. In fact, when I fired four buckshot rounds, they all hit dead-center in the target. The accuracy of this shotgun isn’t something you’d find on any pump-action.

Reliability
Reliability is never really an issue when it comes to pump-action shotguns. They’re known to be extremely reliable, especially when used for personal defense.

If used right, the Maverick 88 will never jam or fail in any way. You need to make sure you use the proper, recommended ammo and you need to rack the gun completely, or else it won’t pick up the next round.

For added reliability, it features dual-action bars to guarantee reliable cycling without any binding and an anti-jam shell elevator. It promises a smooth, consistent shot every time. In fact, when I tested it out at the range, everything operated properly and smoothly—just like the Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter.

I cycled through three loads with total reliability. This is pretty characteristic of a pump-action shotgun, however, so that’s not really a surprise.

Handling
The Maverick 88 is extremely user friendly, it cycles well, and it’s a lot of fun to shoot! The pump is ribbed for easy and secure gripping. The dual extractors keep everything nice and efficient. And the simple brass bead up-front sight system is fantastic.

The stock is comfortable to shoot, and a spring-loaded button on the left side of the shoulder stock’s hinge allows you to fold or extend the stock (it can be fired from either position).

However, the Maverick is kind of challenging to disassemble, and you’ll need tools to do so. The good news is you don’t need to break it down often. Pump-actions don’t really need to be cleaned on a regular basis. The only thing you need to worry about cleaning is the barrel. Mossberg Maverick 88

Trigger
The Maverick’s trigger is a smooth-faced, steel bow trigger. It breaks around 6 lbs., a bit heavy but not too bad, and the pull itself is very nice. It’s housed in traditional polymer housing with a rounded trigger guard, and the cross-bolt safety is located right in front. This is the main difference between the Maverick and the 500—one of the only parts between the two that isn’t interchangeable. The safety is ambidextrous and highly visible, making it easy to reach without moving the trigger finger.

Magazine & Reloading
My Maverick has a capacity of 5+1, 4+1 if you’re using 3” shells. Some come with a capacity of 2+1, but you can increase this by removing the wooden dowel in the magazine tube. As mentioned before, it also features dual extractors. Loading the magazine is simple and quick, which allows for faster shooting!

Length & Weight
The Maverick 88 has a barrel length of 28” and an overall length of 48.5”. Unloaded, it weighs around 7 lbs. It’s a relatively lightweight gun, letting you point accurately and hit targets easily.

Recoil Management
As with any defensive 12-gauge shotgun, the recoil is a lot. The full-length buttstock and thick, ventilated recoil pad keep it manageable, but the manual operation doesn’t really do much to reduce recoil. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using any 3-inch magnum loads. But with this gun, you wouldn’t really need them anyway. Mossberg Maverick 88

Price
The MSRP for the Maverick 88 is about $250. Typically, pump-actions are the cheapest type of shotgun, and this one was manufactured specifically to be a bargain version of the Mossberg 500. Although the materials used are cheaper, no reliability or quality is sacrificed. It’s perfect for someone looking for a reliable, quality shotgun at an affordable price.

My Verdict?
The Maverick 88 is reliable, rugged, inexpensive, and powerful. It is the perfect choice and an excellent value for anyone looking for a home defense gun on a budget. Here are some of its best features:

Incredibly reliable
User-friendly and simple to use
Amazing accuracy and usefulness for home defense
This is no ordinary budget shotgun. It’s ideal for home defense, offers extreme power, but won’t break the bank.