NRA Gun of the Week: Mossberg Maverick 88

by
posted on October 29, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

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

DA/SA
DA/SA

An Ode to the "Wondernine" Era

There’s no action like DA/SA.

Henry Repeating Arms Donates 50 Rifles for 3-Year-Old Fighting Leukemia

Henry's latest Guns for Great Causes effort benefits the family of Zach Bryant, a 3-year-old from Indiana battling B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Review: EAA Balikli BLK

EAA’s new Balikli BLK bolt-action rifle is a Model 700-inspired rifle that’s feature-laden and affordable.

Big Iron: The Smith & Wesson Model 1917 Classic & Model 22 Classic

Smith & Wesson is resurrecting and updating two of its classic .45 caliber revolvers, with the Model 1917 Classic and Model 22 Classic.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 2, 2026

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

2nd Amendment Freedom is on the Ballot

This midterm election on November 3 will soon be behind us. We could see, come January 2027, a Congress that respects our Second Amendment freedom, or the American electorate could vote in the opposite.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.