Mossberg Maverick 12G Pump Action, Thoughts?

[KVS]

Good day all,

A Mossberg Maverick 88 12G Pump Action shotgun has "landed in my lap" and will admit I am unfamiliar with the make. Read a lot of reviews online about it and there doesn't seem to be any stand out faults or warning signs.
Has a synthetic stock and extremely light weight which I enjoy.
Your thoughts on the shotgun please chaps? Anyone own one, have used one? Recognized it's limitations or restrictions?
Wouldn't mind tickling a few bushpig and baboon with it!

Regards
Jono

 

[Waterguy631]

It's a basic serviceable shotgun I've had them in the past never had a problem with one. Not as smooth as some others out there but for the price of them they work carried one behind the seat of my truck for years bounced around it always went bang and functioned when needed.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hi Jono,

When I was a Police Officer, my employer received a couple slide action shotguns from Mossberg to "test" for them (as part of their efforts to increase their sales to the Law Enforcement profession).
They looked pretty good with their ventilated barrel shroud, welded on sturdy front sight blade and "ghost ring" peep sight but, the receivers were aluminum or aluminum alloy and we cracked one of them.
However, in all fairness to Mossberg, on the shooting range we had fired thousands of rounds of buckshot and slugs through them, over about a three year span before the cracks began to appear.
So, as long as you do not plan to fire more than a couple boxes of hard kicking buckshot and slugs per year from your Mossberg, it likely will serve you well and indefinitely.
Mossberg has been around at least long enough to have made a military bolt action .22 caliber training rifle since the 1930's / before WW II.
At the end of the day, I would say you have a good serviceable shotgun for general use.
I rather like pump action / slide action shotguns more than I do semi automatic shotguns (easier to clean and not so fussy about what type of ammunition they can digest.)

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Mekaniks]

durable, functionable and easily serviceable in my experience. They are not always the the smoothest, best fit, or best looking (depending on your perspective of course) and usually a little rough around the edges. But for an everyday usable gun, I think they are good.

 

[AB2506]

The Maverick is an economy line to sell at a lower price point than Mossberg 500.

 

[KVS]

Thanks guys. I am happy with that feedback, for the price I wasn't expecting a work of art but happy there are no obvious faults.

Take care

 

[spike.t]

"Early Model 88s were equipped with a single slide rail, but this was updated to a dual slide rail in 1990"

i had one of the early single slide rail versions and where the rail attached to the forend grip it snapped off the plastic section it was fitted to, so wasnt surprised when i learned they had fitted dual slide rails .

 

[Bsto270]

Never shot a maverick Jono but have shot plenty of Mossberg pumps, and as everyone else has said that aren't necessarily masterpieces bit they are quite rugged and reliable.

 

[KVS]

Never shot a maverick Jono but have shot plenty of Mossberg pumps, and as everyone else has said that aren't necessarily masterpieces bit they are quite rugged and reliable.

We can empty some shells in 2017!

 

[Bsto270]

I'm in for sure Jono!

 

[browningbbr]

Back in the 70's, the Mossberg 500's got a reputation for discharging if dropped on the butt plate. Using an unloaded 500, we tested this and got it to fire with only a 6 inch drop. Maybe this was a fluke, but since that time, I've steered clear of the brand. A low-price version scares me even more.

If you like Mossbergs, that's up to you. You can have my share as well.

 

[Nyati]

Years ago, I tested one of the early models with a single slide rail.
Did not like at all, functioning was very rough. They did have a very good price.
Nothing like a Remington 870 !

 

[Scott Slough]

I can second the positive report for the 500 models. Loaned mine out in the duck blind many times (after I limited out) to a variety of autoloaders that jammed.

 

[The Bongo]

I shoot a 500 several times a week. Very good solid gun. Lighter and faster handling than an 870. Not sure of the quality of the Maverick long term, but I would be happy to shoot one.

 

[Slugs Away]

Congratulations!

The mossberg 500/88 is the best pump action ever made.
It is the AK47 of all shotguns.
Totally reliable and easy to operate.

Don't over lube, and practice take down and operation of your mossberg 88.