NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg Maverick 88

by
posted on October 29, 2021

The Maverick 88 All-Purpose shotgun from O.F. Mossberg & Sons is a pump-action variant of the famed Model 500/590, which gives today's home defender, hunter and enthusiast an affordable tool backed by a reputable American arms maker.

right side pump-action shotgun black metal camouflage stock text on image noting "Mossberg Maverick 88 All-Purpose"

Mossberg lists six lines of its Maverick 88 shotgun, from folding-stocked security models sporting 18.5" barrels to Slug models, in addition to All-Purpose models suitable for hunting and clay targets, such as the exampled presented here. Standard capacity for its 12- and 20-ga. Maverick 88 models is five shells in the magazine and one in the chamber.

right side pump-action shotguns stack two guns black metal plastic brown wood

One key design departure from the Model 500 is a crossbolt-style safety found at the rear of the trigger guard of the Maverick 88. A square-shaped slide release between the receiver and trigger housing unlocks the slide. The Maverick includes a synthetic fore-end attached to its slide mechanism. At the rear is a rubber-capped synthetic buttstock that, like the fore-end, features a film-dipped camouflage finish.

camouflage plastick buttstock gun parts shotgun

Topping the steel barrel of the Maverick 88 All-Purpose is a ventilated sighting rib with a versatile dual-bead setup for sighting Barrels come threaded for chokes; Mossberg supplies one with the gun.

shotgun barrel muzzle gun parts steel tube

Watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above to see the All-Purpose Maverick 88 shotgun in use at the range.

Maverick 88 Specifications
Manufacturer: O.F. Mossberg & Sons
Action Type: manually-operated, pump-action shotgun
Chambering: 12 gauge
Barrel: 26" or 28"
Stock: sythetic
Finish: film-dipped camouflage
Length: 45.25" or 47.75"
Weight: 7 lbs.
MSRP: $274

Latest

EAA 10 mm Witness2311
EAA 10 mm Witness2311

Affordable Powerhouse: EAA 10 mm Witness2311

Harnessing the power of the 10 mm Auto in a compact format with generous capacity, EAA’s Witness2311 is an affordable and shootable way to ride the current 10 mm wave.

The Armed Citizen® April 29, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

All The Way With The M1 Carbine

The speed with which the M1 carbine was developed and readied for quantity production is a striking tribute to the energy and patriotism of everyone involved.

Preview: Ruger Elite 452 Trigger

A factory upgrade included on many of Ruger’s top-shelf AR-platform rifles, the Elite 452 Trigger is also available from the company aftermarket—offering a marked improvement compared to the standard mil-spec AR-15 trigger.

New For 2024: Taurus Deputy

For the first time in several years, Taurus is bringing back a centerfire, single-action revolver with the Deputy, a handgun that combines traditional aesthetics and features with modern safety features.

Preview: Reptilia Beretta 1301/A300 Saddle Mount

Reptilia’s shotgun Saddle mount bolts directly atop the receiver to provide a much-lower-profile sighting solution than is possible with a Picatinny rail.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.