Maverick 88 yes or no?

S&WM&P40

New member
After running a search of the forums I only found three posts talking about the 88 so I will ask. Other then the 88's parts being made in Mexico and put together in the USA and the fact that the Maverick being Mossberg's cheaper step child. Would you trust it with your life? Not looking to hear about how Remington is better and that mossberg sucks. Just looking for facts of how many people have/have owned a 88 and would trust it for things that go bump in the night. Found a brand new 88 for 198 never been used plan on having my local gunsmith install the mossberg ghost ring site set and a few other things.
 
NO! to be fair I had an older 12g mod 88 that was perfect. but.......
last year my cousin bought the home defence model 88 it fired 5 or 6 times then nothing but clicks
he returned it to the store and they had a gun smith fix it.
2nd range attempt it fired for me 3 or 4 times. I hand it to him,he reloads, click. after jacking and trying each shell nothing. I tried it fired once than FTF.
he returned it again, the owner took the gun out back and same thing FTF. so thinking it must be the ammo he tried several different brands of ammo all to the same effect. that was the last we saw of that one!
 
The Maverick 88 is a very popular shotgun here in NM. I've sold a few and had no complaints from repeat customers. As stated before it is a less expensive version of the Mossberg 500. It was made in Mexico but is now made in the USA. Having played with a couple here and in other shops it looks like a good solid investment for sporting or defensive use. I'm not sure I would pick it for extensive use such as live pigeon, trap, skeet, or sporting clays or an Argentina dove shoot. I judge a gun by the numbers produced and how many times I have to work on it. With the numbers produced of the 88 I haven't seen but a few in for repair.
 
I've fired three of them, ranging from brand new to used hard. I have never heard from their owners of any failures, or experienced any for myself.

The nice thing is that it is cheap, relatively speaking. So if it turns out to be a dud, you aren't out all that much. Put it through the wringer and see how it holds up. If it fails, get it worked on. Once you are confident in it, keep it next to your bed.
 
i have one in my closet next to my 500 and 590a1. i like it. i just dont get to shoot it as much as id like to. i hate feeding 3 shotguns in one session. but i havent had any issues at all with it. nor has my brother with his. ive never had any issues with mossberg in general. but hell, just shoot the snot out of it. id trust mine to my life if i had to.
 
I've heard that the parts (or some of them?) are made in Mexico, and then it is assembled in the US. The only major differences from the 500 of which I am aware are the location of the safety (not necessarily a bad thing) and the cheaper, one-piece pump. I haven't heard any complaints about the 88, and it's definitely cheaper. The only other thing I might be concerned about is the quality of the casting, as compared to the receivers that are 100% US-made, but I have no reason to believe there's any difference.
 
I would buy a used Mossy 500 first

I would pick up an older used mossberg 500 before a new maverick 88...That is just me
 
Yeah I have decided to go with a 870 express tactical with ghost ring sights and a scope rail for about 400-500.
 

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