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

Women outside with rifle on rest
Women outside with rifle on rest

Three Hidden Joys of the Rifle

There is a particular jolt of joy when a shooter nestles behind a perfectly stable rifle and puts the ideal bullet exactly where intended.

New For 2026: Smith & Wesson M&P15 AXE

The new Smith & Wesson M&P15 AXE is not only the latest in the company's series of AR-style rifles, it marks the first S&W rifle to be chambered for the .300 Blackout cartridge.

The Armed Citizen® July 27, 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.

Making Sense of Conflicting Court Rulings on the AR-15

Various and often conflicting judicial rulings on AR-15s tees up this critical constitutional issue for the U.S. Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear cases challenging bans of these popular semi-automatic in the coming term.

Skills Check: The Meltdown Drill

Our drill this month trains you to acquire a multi-round-durable grip from the start and continually pressure-test it under time and transition stress, holding you to an all-clean-hits standard.

EAA Corp. Acquires Manufacturing Facility in Tennessee

European American Armory’s recent acquisition of a large manufacturing facility in Mountain City, Tenn., is further evidence that the firearm importer plans to establish a domestic manufacturing presence.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.