In terms of function, reliability and durability is the Mossberg any better than a Maverick? I read somewhere that the Maverick is the same basic design (other than some small changes like crossbolt safety and forend hardware) but is made from parts manufactured in Mexico. Is the Mossberg actually any less reliable?
Mossberg 500 (base model) vs Maverick 88
- Thread starter 762shooter
- Start date
My brother has a 500 and my first shotgun was an 88, They both work very well and havent had any trouble with either. My brother used his 500 for four years before buying a 935. I used my 88 2 years of heavy hunting before moving on. The differences are as you stated. The 500 has a nicer finish on the bolt and a gold coloured trigger but thats just appearance. I think you would do well with either.
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- Location
- nanaimo, bc
ford/mercury...... not much difference, probably made in the same place. i have a moss 500 zmb, nothing fancy about it, works great. ive never heard of someone dissappointed with the 200$ price tag.
archerynut
Regular
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
I have taken my maverick 88 out to the sporting clays course on 3 different occasions. each of these trips uses up at least 75 rounds, sometimes more. I still havn't had to clean my 88 and don't feel I need to, even after 3 trips as it still racks smoothly and positively. for the price, it just cannot be beat! the plastic trigger group(trigger itself is steel)does not seem to detract from the operation of the gun, even in cold weather, which is the only outdoor condition my 88 has seen. I'm not a big guy, so the length of pull is just at the outer limits of what I find workable/comfortable. but still, I find the gun very accurate. have been looking for a hogue forend/stock set to reduce the LOP slightly. my gun has the 18.5" bbl
shotgun-bob
CGN Regular
- Location
- vancouver island, b.c.
i've had several mossberg and mavericks (short/long barrels, all the different goodies)...the newer mavericks have dual bars (older had single, not that i had any problems)...pistol grips go on the maverick (crossbolt safety)..show me a better pump for the price!!
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
There is a world of difference between the 88s and the 500s that I've seen, and I have trouble believing that anyone who claims little difference between them have handled both. The assumption might be that there is little difference, as both a based on the 500 action, but the reality is somewhat different. The 88 used a cross bolt safety, which doesn't matter much except to someone who shoots ambidextrously, but in my experience the 88 action tends to be gritty and stiff, and the LOP is too long for anyone except an orangoutang. For that matter the 500s tend to be on the long side, but not as bad as the 88. Its much easier to shorten a wood or good quality plastic stock, than it is to shorten a cheap, flimsy, plastic stock. That plastic stock will really pound you if you light up a magnum load in that light little sucker, and the long LOP will make it seem worse, bang your shoulder and brusie your cheek . . . and I'm a guy that liked to shoot a hot loaded .416 Rigby prone. The good news is that you can't work the action quick enough to do it again before recovering. If you are in a multiple target scenario, the drill is to fire at a target then cycle the action as you roll onto the next one. With an 88, that is almost impossible due to the effort it takes to cycle the action. IMHO, the purpose of the 88 is for a security company that has a reason to have its people dressed up, but don't intend them to actually shoot anyone.
- Location
- Airdrie, Alberta
I have a 500 "Persuader" and it's a fantastic shotgun! Never had an issue of any kind. I also have an 88 with a pistol grip, awesome gun for the money, never had an issue, function is the same as the 500. I always recommend the Maverick 88.
