Mossberg Maverick 88 Review | Security Field 12 Gauge Shotgun Combo

There are a lot of affordable 12 gauge shotguns on the market today but perhaps the best value of them all might be the Mossberg Maverick 88 - especially when bought as a security/field combo with interchangeable barrels. In this video we discuss the pros and cons of the 88 and why even if you own other shotguns today that this should be added to your collection.
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Over the past few decades there have been a lot of very affordable firearms coming onto the market - ranging from handguns, bolt action rifles, and shotguns. Lately, many of the Turkish variants (made by Akkar) have hit the market under a number of brand names. My favorite of these, the CZ 612 shown here - which is an 870 action variant, is an amazing value for a lower-budget self-defense shotgun. But Turkey was not the first to start producing low-cost shotguns. In fact, a lot of this started back in 1988 at a boarder town in West Texas - that continues to be as popular today as it was over 25 years ago.
The Maverick 88 12 gauge shotgun started production in 1988 - hence how it got its name - along with the fact that Eagle Pass is located in Maverick County Texas.
The Maverick 88 is basically a less expensive version of the Mossberg 500 - which is one of the most popular pump shotguns of all time. The major differences between the 500 and the Maverick are a trigger guard mounted cross bolt safety (versus Tang), simple steel bluing (versus parkerized finishes), and although assembled in Texas, it has a number of parts built in other countries - namely Mexico - to help keep costs down.
Today Maverick is owned by Mossberg and the majority of Mossberg’s manufacturing has also moved down to Eagle Pass - thanks in large part to the continued migration of gun companies out of hostile blue states.
The version I bought: Security / Field Combo: 18.5” (Security) and 28” (Field) barrels.
Leight Weight - Maverick 88: 6.25 lbs
Aluminum receiver (Show flashlight)
Thin-walled barrel
Polymer Stock
Poly Trigger housing
Makes felt recoil pretty pronounced (which are more manageable with lower-recoil loads). This is why I recommend that casual shooters who shoot shotguns under 7 lbs start shooting low-recoil slugs and buckshot loads (show examples) - most of these rounds still shoot at around 1200-1300 fps - which is still faster than most 9mm rounds so even with a lower roil load, it is no slouch.
Trigger pull weight: 4lbs, 6oz (on my Lyman Guage)
Length of Pull: 14inches (same as CZ 612) - I prefer a 12.5” on a tactical/defense shotgun.
• Many after-market stock options: Favorite: Magpul SGA Stock (shim to your desired length of pull
18.5 inch barrel - basic blued finish
• The 8-round model has a 20” barrel
• Field Barrel: 28” with vented ribs and two beads
ACTION was a little clunky and stiff new
Safety is small and in front of trigger (harder to reach and not flush when depressed) vs standard 500/590 in back of receiver -
The 88’s DO NOT have a drilled and tapped receiver to mount a rail and optics (unlike the 500/590)
Accuracy: With stock bead sight - tends to shoot high at 25-50 yards (see option below)
• I wanted a little higher and more visible sight post so I installed: XS Big-Dot Epoxy Tritium Sight over the bead (Higher Post - better impact point)
UPGRADES:
INTERCHANGEABLE Barrels, chokes, stock, front sights, etc. with 500-590
Forend grip is hard to change: grip is pinned in place to the action bars (versus 500/590) - don’t need to change unless wanting to add a light mounted grip.
Now, if you want to really dress-up your Maverick with Magpul furniture, mounting a rail and red dot, new forends, etc. - then spend the extra couple hundred dollars difference and get the model 500/590 instead. The only changes I recommend are:
• Adding a shell card to the receiver (Better than the old hard-shell carriers)
• Adding XS sights
• Adding a Magpul SGA stock if the LOP is simply too short for you
But if you want a solid starter gun for defense and hunting, a Truck gun that you don’t care if it gets beat up, or a home security gun that sits in your house, then it is hard to argue against the value of the Maverick 88.
• Typically half the cost of a 500/590
• Are very reliable action with decades worth of use
• Based on a proven Mossberg design
• At roughly $250 for the combo seen here - you would be hard pressed to find a better and more versatile value on the gun market today.
So, if you have a chance to pick one of these up at a great price, don’t pass up on the chance. As you have seen from my previous videos, I love pump shotguns for their simplicity, versatility, various levels of lethality, and in the case with guns like the Maverick 88, their incredible value.

[@jamesandgraceglobalone2one588]

I got this exact Mossberg 88 (5+1) in the past few months. Love it. Keep it loaded with buckshot for home defense and for fun on the range. I am also testing out the “shorty” ammo with the Opsal “mini-clip” plug). That reduces the recoil and increases capacity to 8+1. I concur it needs a bit of time to break in, but mine was smooth after about 50 rounds. Best gun investment I have made.

[@Darthdoodoo]

Be careful with those mini shells I've heard that the adapter can make your gun run unreliably. I'd rather have less rounds that I knew would function perfectly and have a couple extra rounds and maybe have a jam when you need it most

[@Hjerte_Verke]

8:40 Excellent point. Most people think their new gun is clean from the factory, but they often have "manufacturing residue" on the inside and whatever machining 'swarf' the final QC person missed. The oil they coat the gun in before it leaves the factory is a preservative more than a lubricant. That oil captures a lot of the aforementioned debris and when I wiped down my M500, the patch came back brown with dirty oil. I used LSA lubricating oil to lube it and that alone took care of a lot of the latent friction in the action. LSA is semi-fluid sort of like Cherry Balmz lube...

[@mr_evil_overlord5]

Mossberg is like the Glock or AR for shotguns. Easy to find parts and you can customize it however you want. Love my 500 Scorpion.

[@natejackson4791]

AZ, again you knocked it out of the park on this review. You managed to take a budget 12 gauge and made an interesting review with a small upgrade with the XS sight. Thanks for an excellent channel.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

10:34 Did not expect to hear that. Most M500 fan boys constantly whine and deride the 88's safety, saying it is inferior to the M500's but it is the best all around safety if you add a single pistol grip like the Mossberg Cruiser or add a tactical pistol grip butt stock. Having the safety forward of the trigger instead of behind it is no detriment either, as your finger is in close proximity to it when resting it on the trigger guard. The only detriment to the 88 safety is if you are left handed. 😢

[@burnyburnoutze2nd]

I actually got a maverick 88 specifically so I could install a pistol grip adjustable stock on it. That front forward crossbolt safety is PERFECT for any sort of pistol grip stock or pistol grip only.

[@bigpeeler]

Fantastic review. Thanks. 👍

[@CarlPapa88]

I've been sold on getting one for a week, but I'll still say "Good overview". Was aiming to get the 7+1 20", but Idk. Might go 18.5". I like the price, lack of shell elevator in the way & the Rem style safety.

[@jasonjulian1]

I have the 20" 7+1 Security model.. I love it. Fills home defense duty.

[@robertkeller9828]

20 inch limits you to that barrel with that tube . 18.5 and every other barrel except that 20 inch.

[@briancaine9130]

great review. i have the 88 Combo. Wonderful tool.

[@bmj4052]

Really good video. Very informative. Thank you so much. 👏

[@sammyprestwood3182]

Ive owned the mossberg 500 it also has the Aluminum receiver all parts will inerchange but the trigger groop

[@papapoonpoon]

Good video for new shooters.

[@phillpauley6672]

I've had several Mavericks. Absolutely the best budget pump on the market. It will run absolutely any ammo. It only has a jam if it's the shooter's fault. There are parts and accessories for days and days because of it'll fit a 500 it'll fit a maverick. If you don't want a safety you can put a nice 590 trigger group in it. If you want a double safety you can fiddle a bit and put a maverick trigger group in a 500, not sure why you'd wanna do that but you can have a trigger and tang safety at the same time. Weird. The only problem I ever had out of the maverick or 500 was if I dropped them on their side. The shell elevator will pop out of place sometimes if dropped on its side. My fix for that was I drilled and tapped the hinge pins and put a small, smooth rounded bolt on both hinge pins. By doing that I can beat the living He'll out of it and it just simply won't screw up EVER! My favorite thing about this Mossberg line is I can unload without racking it, I can swap barrels in less than a minute, there's a little rubber piece to run shorty rounds in it for more capacity and if you load the last round as a normal round the rubber piece holds it between chambered and magazine with the action open so you can run max capacity with your first round at ready by only pressing the half readied shell into batter with a slight poke and racking the pump forward. ...Yes... I've spent too much time with my Maverick. 😂

[@charles2675]

I just only have the short barrel only Just got the this 88 .. haven't had chance to take to target 🎯 range YET Haven't cleaned yet what they put on all from manufacturing .. Not. going to hurt if some was left on Until you clean later. After you shoot this 🎉. Nice gun ( it would be used for home defense only . No hunting. Maybe to the target 🎯 range to see how this shoots ..and give a clear job. I just wanted it for protection I have used guns all my life. My hunting days Our all over. 🎉.

[@luiscordero07]

Great review.very educational thanks

[@vickyhash4577]

....old woman here...I used my band-saw to take the length-of-pull down to 12"....ain't "reaching" no mo..😸...

[@jvan6582]

Perfect combo gun for the $$

[@alejandres26]

Great channel. Great info new sub thank you sir.

[@trevorcunning6248]

Very well done.

[@davidma6616]

Is it normal for my 88 forend to have a bit of forward and backward okay? I know about the signature rattle, but that seems to mostly be documented as side to side wobble.

[@randyhardy3692]

Yes it's normal , mine I bought used does the same thing but it don't affect it none

[@nathanruben-tv5lf]

Can trigger be fired when the mechanism when the bolt is not fully locked the barrel.

[@l.s.451]

2A🇺🇲

[@Budxymoua]

My 612 had feed issues out of the box.

[@toneyholcombe7088]

Which Velcro shell holder is that?

[@Bob-bb3ur]

Savage model 301.

[@rillwill6538]

Maverick just looks way cooler

[@rebelscumspeedshop]

This shotgun with the Adaptive Tactical furniture kit is based.