Maverick 88 vs. Remington 870 Express 3-½'' Super Magnum

30-06'in

30-06'in

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Maverick 88 vs. Remington 870 Express 3-½'' Super Magnum

I have been thinking of picking up a new shotgun, mainly just for clays but would also like to take it for deer on my property. Now my question is are mavericks any good on reliability? For only $220 seems like it cant be beat wheres the Rem is aroun $399? So my question is should i anti up and get the Rem?
 
There is nothing wrong with the 88. it's essentualy a mosberg 500. It will do the same job. Will last a long time if treated properly. After you buy the 88 a time will pass.Eventualy you'll get the chance to try an 870. And then you'll kick your a$$ for not ponying up the extra few bucks for the 870!Have see this more than once. The remignton may be the last shotgun you ever have to buy! they is a reason million's of these things have been sold! Just my opinion.
 
Trust me the Maverick is a good deal, but bang for the buck go with the 870...I found the maverick to be sloppy on the pumps guide rails...

870 has more support and longer running praise.
 
copeland said:
Trust me the Maverick is a good deal, but bang for the buck go with the 870...I found the maverick to be sloppy on the pumps guide rails...

870 has more support and longer running praise.
Click to expand...

I agree, every 88 i`ve played with or shot has `wobbled` or felt loose and sloppy when racking the pump.

Go to a gun shop and both with both side by side.
The 870 just feels much more solid.
 
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My cousin bought a Mossberg 535 ATS from SIR last year. He loves it cuz it's 3-1/2" chamber, but he just confessed to me that he wants a Remington for his next shotgun. He said he just loves the feel of mine more than his. I fired one of the older Mavericks myself. Only had one guide rod @.@ and that damned thing kicked so freakin' bad... was also doing a bit of a fun shoot and the forend broke where it attaches to the guide rod, so yeah, even though they're inexpensive... go with the 870, you'll love it and it'll love you right back
 
I have an 88, Ive put atleast 1000 rounds through it. I bought the 28" smooth bore and the 24" rifled slug barrel for it and it works great. I keep the slide greased to help make it smooth. I've only shot an old 870 wingmaster which didn't feel any better. But I've shot a real 500 and it felt much better. I would imagine the 870 is of a higher quality in feel and function.
 
If you want to match Mossberg quality with the 870 Quality step up to the Mossberg 835 or higher model Maverick.

I have a Mossberg 835 Field 28" VR w/24" rifled, bought used at an auction for under $150! Even has engraved receiver and nice wood.

I have a hand me down 1987 First year Remington 870 3"M Express. I'd much prefer the 835 to the 870.

I also have my moms Moss Lakefield 500 20g from 85/86. Nice and smooth but I think its a wobbly POS.
And with the 88's and 500's you cannot clean your Mag tube inside without applying heat (torch) to your reciever and being gentle enough to not crush it unscrewing it.!
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Campfireprophet said:
There is nothing wrong with the 88. it's essentualy a mosberg 500. It will do the same job. Will last a long time if treated properly. After you buy the 88 a time will pass.Eventualy you'll get the chance to try an 870. And then you'll kick your a$$ for not ponying up the extra few bucks for the 870!Have see this more than once. The remignton may be the last shotgun you ever have to buy! they is a reason million's of these things have been sold! Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Well said. I agree
 
i would look at the mossy 535 about the same price as the others but a way more soild gun i love mine have shot many deer and turkeys with it as well as geese and ducks thy come with three barrels as well not near as sloppy as the 500s DUTCH
 
30-06'in said:
I have been thinking of picking up a new shotgun, mainly just for clays but would also like to take it for deer on my property. Now my question is are mavericks any good on reliability? For only $220 seems like it cant be beat wheres the Rem is aroun $399? So my question is should i anti up and get the Rem?
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind there are more shotguns out there than a mavrick 88 and an rem 870.

Go and look at all the different models/makes out there. All manufactures have bottom line and top line models in their inventory....maverick 88 being a line of shotgun by mossberg and low on the totem pole, mossberg has dozens of different styles of shotgun within every model. There are also dozens of different 870s out there as well....

Remember there are lots of people that swear by the gun they own simply because they haven't tried anything else.
 
Campfireprophet said:
There is nothing wrong with the 88. it's essentualy a mosberg 500.
Click to expand...

I disagree. the quality between the two is worlds apart. I have a 500 and was looking at a maverick 88 as a budget addition. I went the other way, now I'm looking for a 870 to pair with my 500...

an 88 is in a budget category all on it's own.
 
I have a maveric, Its seen neerly 1000 target loads, 100 3"buckshot, 100 2-3/4 buck, 50 3" magnum slug, 300 2-3/4 slugs and has never had even a hint of trouble. Its great because its so cheap so I couldnt give a crap if it gets wet, muddy, falls in a mud puddle or dropped on the ground. It takes less than two minutes to unthread the barrel retainer, pop out the 2 trigger group pins, drop the trigger group, hammer, magazine locks, pull out the slide and bolt, no small parts to lose. wipe the mud or sand out and pop it together. It feels just as tight as any 500 ive had in my paws and infact I find 500 slide have more torsional twist around the mag tube than the maverics. Not to mention they are friggin light for back packing, noticably less than a winchester defender. Mines the short 18.5 barrel version with a folding wire stock by the way. Trust me, getting a good cheeckweld on that wire stock for aimed slug shooting with mag slugs leaves a bruise after a few shots. The maveric may not be as nice and tight as a pricey gun but that extra clearance also helps it function reliably when its dirty. One flaw though is the shell lifter doesnt cradle the shell and close off the ejection port and I have had a few shells hit the dirt when chambering a round with it canted to the right side, but when do you ever do that in real life.
 
i have a maverick 88 and have had no problems with it. its seen about 5000 rounds of target load and about 200 rounds of assorted 3in mag slugs and 2 3/4 slugs / buckshot. still feels the same as the day i bought it. i do clean the action every time i have it out and i clean the barrel every 2nd to third time out.
 
I have a 535 ATS & an 88. No probs with either. I had an 870 and like all good things Remington it rusted at the slightest hint of moisture, heck, the kids NEF 20-ga is more rust resitant. I paid over $100 to have it blued properly.
 
i have an 88 as well and love it. If your hunting it is one of the lightest shotguns around and thats why i love it. I carry it all day walking my uncles property for birds and dont get tired. He is always #####ing about carrying his over/under. It does kick hard because it's so light but I put a sock full of 9mm cast bullets in the stock for shooting slugs and that makes a huge difference. You will not be dissapointed with the 88. the 28 inch version with the choke tubes is the one i got and I love it shooting trap as well. I love beating the old guys with their 2000 dollar over/unders, and seeing the look on their faces when I tell them my gone cost $240 delivered. The best part is I don't have to buy a hard case for it, or worry about it bouncin around in my trunk. Prolly one of my favourite guns, and also the cheapest.
 
Both the 88 and the 870 have their advantages ad disadvantages. I for one would avoid the 88 and think that the better finished 500 is a better comparison to the 870. On the plus side for the Mossberg is that all parts can be swapped out without recourse to a gunsmith. This isn't important to everyone, but for those of us out in the sticks, easy parts replacement has its own appeal. On the negative side the Mossberg's magazine does not allow one to strip the tube, and if the gun it out for long periods of time in poor weather you know that water will make its way in there. While neither gun is what I'd call slick out of the box, it takes less effort to get the 870 there, although my 590 is as good, and an 88, it isn't a 590. Mossberg's synthetic stocks are on the long side, so unless you intend to purchase a shorter stock (I don't know if its possible to shorten the 88's plastic furniture) you might get a better fit with the 870, unless your knuckles drag on the ground when you walk.
 
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