I and you both agree:ย The pump-action shotgun has to be the most recognized firearm type.ย The sound of the slide being racked is as important as the appearance.ย It is a must-have for any decent action film!
What about at home, though?ย What makes a good home defence gun is a subject of intense debate.
Some people argue that a pistol is the best, while others argue for an AR-15 or AK-47.
Even today, however, when you enter a gun shop and mention “home defense”, the salesperson will thrust a pump-action shotgun in your hands before even finishing the question.
What can you buy for $200?ย Maverick Maverick 88 …but does it really worth it?
Review at a Glance
Pros
- Cheap
- Reliable pump-action
- Great for home defense
You can also find out more about Cons
- Mossberg 500 is a better furniture than this.
The Bottom Line
You’re looking for a first-time pump action that is almost like a Mossberg, but not quite…but costs around $200?ย Maverick 88 makes a great first pump-action.
Background
Pump actions offer a number of benefits.
Anyone who has seen an action film knows how to operate one.ย Here is me holding a Mossberg 590-type pistol.
It is reliable because there are not many moving parts.
While the ammo may not be the magical, bad guy-disintegrating ammo as portrayed in movies, it still packs quite a punch.
Pump actions are the most affordable style of shotgun.ย Semi-autos and over/unders are generally a few hundred dollars more expensive than pump-action shotguns.
I went to a shop and asked for a cheap shotgun that I could keep in an unnoticeable corner of my home.ย The clerk gave me the Maverick 88 home defense.ย I was able to afford the $199 price tag.
This little pistol is really neat.
Is the Maverick Mossberg-style?
In 1919, Oscar Frederick Mossberg and his sons founded a gun manufacturing company under the imaginative name “O.F.ย Mossberg and Sons”.
Mossberg, the oldest -owned family firearms manufacturer in America.
The Mossberg 500 is one of their most famous weapons.ย The 500 is one of the most popularย pump actionย shotguns.ย It’s an excellent gun with an average price around $500.
What if you do not have $500?
What if your budget is only $200 and you want to buy a brand-new Mossberg 500 model?
The Maverick is a Mossberg 88!
I don’t say it’s a cheap knockoff manufactured by an unknown company working out of a Bangladeshi storage unit.ย This is a Mossberg 500.ย Mossberg components, Mossberg designs, and assembled by Mossberg workers in a Mossberg facility.ย It could only be Mossberg if the name was accidentally stamped on the receiver.
Why is the price only $200?
No nice front bead.ย No nice wood stock.ย There are no swivel mounts.ย Furniture is made of cheap polymer.ย The metal is simply blued steel.
The classic T-Bucket is essentially the same: an engine, some controls, some wheels, and a seat.ย You only need the bare minimum to drive.ย You don’t need to stop here, just like with a T Bucket.ย We’ll talk more about that once we start the tests.
What’s the best thing about it?ย It will eat anything, includingย exotic ammo
The Numbers
This section will be answered with a short story.
A Noob once sat with his Maverick88, opened the manual and began to read through the steps to disassemble the weapon.ย He read the manual and his face went from excited to confused.
He wore an expression of utter horror half way through.ย It’s a complicated process.ย It’s not as simple as trying to disassemble a Ruger Mark III.ย This is not a Glock, or an AR-15.
According to my own rules, if tools are required to disassemble a firearm then it will not do well in this category.ย The Maverick 88 receives a 2.5 out 5 for its gruesome disassembly.
Maintenance: 5/5
You won’t need to disassemble a pump action often because it is designed in such a way.
The gunk will only get into the barrel.
After you are done shooting, pass a boresnake through it.ย You can take it apart every now and again and clean it thoroughly.ย In the end, the gun is not very important.ย The best way to go is wipe and go.ย 5 out of 5.
Reliability: 5/5
It’s a pump-action gun.ย Pump-action shots are shotgun revolvers.ย The gun fires when you pull the trigger.ย This gun will go bang, even if it fails catastrophically.ย 5 out of 5.
Safety: 3/5
On the trigger guard, there is a small button that prevents the gun from firing.ย That’s it.ย No grip safety.ย No grip safety.ย Only that tiny button stands between you and the hole in something.
This is a feature that almost all pump-action shotguns have.ย This gun’sย securityย is almost entirely in your hands.ย This gun is not designed to protect you against yourself, unlike some pistols.ย 3 out of 5.
Poor Technique: 3/5
Rack it, point at it, and pull the trigger.ย It’s not difficult.
Only the “short shuck” should be feared.
You will hear your gun “click” instead of “bang” if you do not rack it completely.ย This is a problem if you have a pump-action gun, and by that I mean any type of pump action.
Keep in mind, you are essentially holding a cannon to your shoulder.ย It’s easy to learnย good techniquesย when using a shotgun. However, bad technique can be very painful.ย The results can be painful.ย 3 out of 5.
Starter Kit: 4/5
It comes in a large cardboard box, with some Styrofoam.ย The sling mount is a simple one that you can install yourself.ย You can choose between a shoulder stock and a pistol grip.
I feel that you get very little with this gun.ย My gut says a 4 out 5 when I compare it to other guns.ย What would you like for a gun that costs $200?
Upgrades and Accessories: 5/5
In the introduction, I might have mentioned that this is a Mossberg.ย This means that any accessory designed for a Mossberg will fit this gun…
Upgrades
As we mentioned above, the sky is the limits since all Mossberg upgrades are compatible with the Maverick.
We love upgrading our Mossbergs. And since you’ve saved so much money on the shotgun, spend more on ammunition for training.ย Check out ourย Best Shotgun Ammo.
The conclusion of the article is:
Theย Maverick Maverick 88ย shares many similarities with the Mossburg 500.ย If you use it correctly, you’ll never have to worry about it.ย If you do not, it will kick you hard.ย It is the most affordable shotgun for home defense.
The debate about the best firearm for home defense will never stop.
If you want a shotgun to go hunting or for skeet-shooting, then I would look somewhere else.ย This gun is perfect for range fun or home defense.
It’s nice that you can upgrade the gun over time so that it is suitable for hunting and skeet-shooting.ย It’s an excellent gun at a very reasonable price.ย The final verdict is a 4 out of 5 rating.ย If you are thinking about the Mossberg 500 then check out ourย Guide to Beginner Shotguns.
