The Mossberg Maverick 88 is currently the top-selling shotgun here at Guns.com. Many people are discovering you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a good quality shotgun. The Maverick 88 is not only affordable, but also rugged and reliable. Let's take a closer look.
Affordability
The Maverick 88 gets its name from the year 1988 when it first went into production. It's currently assembled in Texas with some imported parts, which reduces its cost. Depending on the model, Mavericks list for around $250 which is about as affordable as you're going to get a good quality firearm.
The Torture Test
TFB TV recently did a 500-round torture test with a Maverick 88. It stood up to the abuse very well and was ready for more. I’m a big fan of Mossberg as a company. They’ve been around for over 100 years, and they make fantastic firearms.
MOSSY 500 Bloodlines
By 2021, an estimated 11 million variations of the Mossy 500 had been produced, making it the most-produced shotgun of all time. I owned a Mossberg 500 tactical shotgun for almost 10 years. I put approximately 3,500 rounds through it and have never had an issue.
The Mossberg Maverick 88 is basically a pared-down Mossberg 500. The biggest difference is the Maverick features a trigger guard-mounted cross-bolt safety as opposed to a top tang safety on the Mossberg 500. Mavericks are also factory finished with steel bluing only, whereas Mossberg 500s have factory-blued, nickel-plated, and parkerized options.
What’s really nice as well is that the Maverick 88 is compatible with many Mossberg 500 parts. Barrels, tubes, and stocks are all interchangeable with the Mossberg 500, as well as some internal parts such as the extractor. This makes it easy to upgrade and repair Mavericks since there are tons of 500 parts on the market.
12 OR 20 GAUGE
The Maverick is available in 12 and 20-gauge models that range from defense to hunting. Barrel lengths range from 18.5 to 28 inches. Tube capacities range from 5+1 to 7+1 when using standard 2.75-inch shells. The Maverick can also fire 3-inch shells. All models are blued and feature either a front brass bead or adjustable rifle sights.
AT THE RANGE
I fired approximately 100 2.75-inch shells of Winchester Diamond Grade Elite through my test Maverick 88 Security 12-gauge shotgun. I didn’t experience any issues. The action was surprisingly smooth. The front bead was easy to keep on target, and the spread pattern from the 18-inch barrel with #8 birdshot remained within the torso-sized target at 10 yards.
Conclusion
Not surprisingly, a lot of people have discovered the well-built budget Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun. It stands up to abuse and gets the job done. This is why it is our top-selling shotgun.
