Mossie Maverick 88 for clays?

A

archerynut

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hey gents. my questions surrounds the use of my maverick 88 and its suitability for dusting clay pigeons. I have the 18.5" bbl model. I am aware of a longer barrel that is available for this particular shotgun. I bought the maverick firstly cuz of the great price and the excellent reputation they carry on this forum. a nurse I work with at the hospital has a fabarm that he also wants to take out for clays, and we are both wondering how the guns are going to work? are we going to be frustrated when we keep missing, or is it just a matter of altering the lead distance and whatnot based on the barrel length, or lack there-of?
 
I've shot clays with friends with a Maverick 18.5 model just like yours, as well as my Dominion Arms 12.5" shotgun and adjusting the lead is all I had to do.

Once you learn your guns shot pattern its quite easy. I shoot clays with my 12.5" out in the bush without a problem and a lot of people say it has to be impossible with that gun.....just takes practice.

That same 12.5" gun I've shot slugs in the 150-200 yard area and been able to hit 2L bottles and milk jugs consistently, I do however shoot that gun all day and night tho. :)
 
You shouldn't have to alter your shooting mechanics for a short barrel. Make sure you don't STOP the barrel when you pull the trigger, though.
 
If Alberta clubs are anything like the one I've been a guest at lately here in Ontario, you might want to pick a quiet time at the trap range to test-out your shotgun. Some of the a-holes around here seem quite outspoken (=critical) about any gun that isn't an expensive over/under target gun. I get a few smirks when I show-up with my 1968 Wingmaster, probably because it's a "field" gun I'm guessing. Doesn't stop me from going, but I just imagine what I could expect if I showed-up with anything tactical-looking.

As for what I think about your gun for target? Sure, why not! I broke 23/25 one day standing beside a guy shooting a Krieghoff single shot. Being the classy guy he was, he told me what he paid for it. It was roughly 25x more than what I paid for my old Wingmaster, but he only broke 1 more bird than I did. That was an exceptional day for me, but the point of the story is~go shoot what you have, and even if you break nothing..you'll have some fun and get some practice. I say go for it, and follow-through on your shots like Grouse Man suggested.
 
be aware that some clubs do not allow shorter barrels, and that your shorter barrel is noisier than a longer one, so some shooters will not be enthusiastic about it. If you like the game and want to keep it up, look for a longer barrel. they are better for clays, and the others on the line will appreciate it ;)
 
The lead perception is different with a shorter barrel. What seems like adding lead is actually not. I shoot skeet with a dual pistol gripped pump sporting a 18.5" cylinder barrel with a heat shield. It can be done
 
the facility we are going to visit does in fact allow any shotgun as long as it is non-restricted.

but for sure, anyone who is troubled even in the least by continual loud report from firearms is probably taking up the wrong sport
romurra said:
be aware that some clubs do not allow shorter barrels, and that your shorter barrel is noisier than a longer one, so some shooters will not be enthusiastic about it. If you like the game and want to keep it up, look for a longer barrel. they are better for clays, and the others on the line will appreciate it ;)
Click to expand...
 
Grove said:
I've shot clays with friends with a Maverick 18.5 model just like yours, as well as my Dominion Arms 12.5" shotgun and adjusting the lead is all I had to do.

Once you learn your guns shot pattern its quite easy. I shoot clays with my 12.5" out in the bush without a problem and a lot of people say it has to be impossible with that gun.....just takes practice.

That same 12.5" gun I've shot slugs in the 150-200 yard area and been able to hit 2L bottles and milk jugs consistently, I do however shoot that gun all day and night tho. :)
Click to expand...

X 2 on the Maverick 18.5,, we're shooting clays in the backyard so no worries about noise from a shorter barrel.
 
yeah its do-able, i prefer my 26" but all you really need to know is the basics of hitting clays and you should be able to hit em with any shotgun, I had a 18" mossberg 500 a little while back that I shot clays with a few times (just cause its all I had with me) and had no problems just needed to get used to it being lighter
 
Used a maverick 88 for skeet today. Was able to hit consistently, however wasn't able to turn them into powered like the u/o's i was using previously. Not all that experienced in shooting skeet, but that's my experience
 
I run the skeet at my club in chatham ontario. I invite everyone with any shotgun to come and shoot with us. I dont care what you shoot or how noisy it is. Myself or my buddys will welcome you as well show you the game. I will say that skeet will be more difficult with a very short barrel.I prefer at least a 26" barrel and for some reason I shoot my cheap older guns the best.I dont give a rats ass what some a-hole thinks about what I shoot.
 
well I went out this morning for 11am and used my short shotgun. I was very observant of other guns around me and I think I may have had the shortest barrel today at silver willow. what a cool joint man! I cannot wait until the next time we go for some good ol'fashioned fun. even took a nurse with me today, and it was a first time for both of us. she had a browning over/under. we bet each other lunch and I won, but she still walloped 16 clays today fired from a whole buncha different angles. my shotgun served me well and it was pretty easy to shoot accurately. even did a couple twofers those were fun.
 
i have the same gun purchased as first shotgun due to price and reviews and i love it for range fun
however do always plan to try clays next summer but i will be getting the long ribbed barrel readily available
also I'm sure you know but in case the 500 barrels are compatible 175 new but can be found for about 75-100
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Nothing wrong with it. I've shot skeet with a guy who had a shortened Mossberg 500 marine version with short barrel and open choke and he regularly busted 25 straight. It's the shooter behind the trigger, not the gun.
 
with a shorter barrel and cyl choke your best bet is to get on target fast and blast. your pattern/spread opens up alot quicker and you dont need to as precise as with a choked long barrel setup. if your not quick tho they easily get out of range (of the short open barrel) and thats when the long barrel and tight choke come into effect. if only shooting from the close position you should be fine with the shorty, however i wouldnt bother trying the further back positions. i regularly shoot with my 20" moss 500, in the first 30-40ft i can slay, but after 1 second in the air i hit about 1 in 10. the old guys with the nice trap guns land them 100ft out with ease, thats when the proper gun setup helps big time. just because you dont have the right tool for the job, the one you have can usually get the job done ;)
 
excellent info folks, thanks!! Just getting into this myself and have been looking at those cheap Maverick guns for trap.

I used my buddies beautiful Berretta O/U, and going for a $200 gun after that might be a bit of a let down...
 
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