Opinions on Mossberg Maverick 88?

View · by **Terry** on Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:19 am

My girlfriend wants me to take her hunting...

Sooooo.. I'm looking for a shotgun. She can't use mine because they are too big for her, so I have to find her a youth model. I was looking at something inexpensive just because I don't know how much she will actually use it or want to shoot.

I came across the Mossberg maverick 88 on Fleet Farm's website and just curious if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on it. It's cheap, $199.99 cheap.

I have always been partial to the 870's... maybe I should just pay the extra 100 bucks and buy an 870?

View · by JJ on Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:26 am

Check some pawn shops and find a used 870 youth.

View · by **Shipyard** on Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:39 am

used 870 20 gauges usually run $200 to $250 pretty regular....

that being said, i owned a 88 for a while. never had an issue with it. was solid enough for all practial non-defense purposes. dont' knwo that i'd trust my LIFE on it, but they are decent for a budget hunter all day long for sure.

word.

View · by **rugersol** on Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:19 pm

$300 ... http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_1056/products_id/411549780/Tristar+Viper+Youth+Synth+12Ga+24%22+Barrel+Semi-Auto+3%22+Chamb

http://www.americanhunter.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=2524&cid=63

If ya can find one of these, they look to go fer the low to mid-$400's ... http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-720-semi-auto-youth-reduced-length/

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=306685081

View · by **Terry** on Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:27 pm

A friend of mine bought that Tri Star for his wife and had all sorts of problems with it.

I think I am leaning more toward the 870...

View · by **rugersol** on Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:29 pm

... jest thinkin' about recoil!

Good luck! :cheers:

View · by **Marble** on Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:55 pm

I have one and I wish I had just spent the extra money on an 870/Mossberg 500. If I recall correctly, Fleet Farm occasionally has Mossberg 500 combos with a smooth barrel and a rifled barrel for around $300. Can't remember if they offer a youth model though...

View · by **Terry** on Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:24 pm

Thanks for all the input!

View · by **jimbob85** on Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:37 pm

If you can catch a good deal on the fleet farm 500 combo do it, I wish i would have waited, but I'm happy with my mav and don't really need the other barrel anyway.
In case you didn't know, it's just a mossberg 500 (for $100 less) with a different safety and a non-removable forend, those are the only differences.

View · by **Jbotto** on Sun Sep 30, 2012 10:23 pm

jimbob85 wrote:If you can catch a good deal on the fleet farm 500 combo do it, I wish i would have waited, but I'm happy with my mav and don't really need the other barrel anyway.
In case you didn't know, it's just a mossberg 500 (for $100 less) with a different safety and a non-removable forend, those are the only differences.

I thought the Maverick had a single action bar compared to the twin on the Mossy. I could be wrong, but I know a few people who would not want that on a shotgun. They think all pump shotguns NEED twin action bars.... :roll:

View · by **ex-LT** on Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:25 am

Jbotto wrote:
jimbob85 wrote:If you can catch a good deal on the fleet farm 500 combo do it, I wish i would have waited, but I'm happy with my mav and don't really need the other barrel anyway.
In case you didn't know, it's just a mossberg 500 (for $100 less) with a different safety and a non-removable forend, those are the only differences.

I thought the Maverick had a single action bar compared to the twin on the Mossy. I could be wrong, but I know a few people who would not want that on a shotgun. They think all pump shotguns NEED twin action bars....

They used to. For the past 4-5 years, they've had twin action bars.

View · by **Jbotto** on Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:57 pm

ex-LT wrote:They used to. For the past 4-5 years, they've had twin action bars.

Ok, thanks for clarifying that for me. I knew I had seen them with one bar, but I guess I haven't looked at them since!