I was recently looking at a Mossberg Maverick 88. Ive wanted to buy a shotgun for some time (I usually collect rifles) but I wanted something cheap and reliable and this fit the bill. However, I noticed some of the Mossberg Mavericks said that they came with a rifled slug barrel. Does this mean that if I buy this gun I can only shoot slugs out of it and not regular shot? I also noticed that some came with a "choke barrel." I know very little about shotguns so any help would be great. I want to know if I can shoot regular speard shot out of these choke barrels or just slugs or both? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.
You can't shoot shot from a rifled barrel because the riflings spin the shot and spread it all over right after it leaves the muzzle.As to chokes,there is a barrel that has a perminant choke built in,usually modified or full.There are also screwin chokes which you can screw out and replace.The chokes available are,turkey,full, improved modified,modified,and improved cylinder.A rifled slug barrel is a smoothbore that you can shoot shot in but does not have a good patern because it has no choke.You can shoot foster type slugs in any but the turkey choke as long as the choke is screwed in tight.You can also shoot them in the perminant choke barrel. sam.
OK, first you need to check if the barrel in question is "rifled" or just "made for rifled slugs". Many short shotgun barrels (under 21") are used by hunters in shotgun-only states and some folks call them "rifled slugs barrels" but they are smooth (unrifled) inside.
If the barrel is truly rifled then what samuel told you is good advice.
If the barrel is a smoothbore with adjustable sights (quite common) you can safely use shotshells or slugs. Both will work at close range.
Either way, replacement barrels are easy to find for Mossberg/Maverick shotguns.
In my opinion a shotgun is the ideal hd weapon, and #6 shot is a pretty good choice. It will be very effective at down the hall/ across the room distance, but wont over penetrate thru walls like 00 buck might.
i have had a maverick 88 for 12/14 years and im convinced they are the best "cheap" shotgun you can buy. i have fired it litterally thousands of times without a single issue. i have another one on order right now. i would reccomend them to anyone without hesitation.
A maverick 88 was my first shotgun. It had a smoothbore, with interchangeable choketubes. Many squirrels fell victim to it, never got the chance to deer hunt with a slug because it got stolen 6 months after I got it. Now have a 500A. With it I have took many squirrels, a couple deer, and even a fox. I would recommend the 88 as a good shotgun, but around here you can get a 500 for 50 more dollars.
Samuel did a good job aswering your original question. But, I would recommend looking at the Mossburg 500 or the Remington 870. They are not that much more money - the maverick has too much plastic for my taste. But, I have never owned one - so I will not talk bad about them - because, I don't know.
As for some of the later post - save the bird shot for birds - not to save your life. Also, if you want 1 projectile use a rifle not a slug - the rifle is more accurate. Load the shotgun with buckshot if you want to use it for HD.
I just bought a maverick 88 with a 18.5 in barrel it does say that it is rated for 3in shells but when i shoot win 3in #4 Turkey shot it blows the bolt open and the slide back just like i had pumped it is this normal for these guns 2 3/4 in shells shoot fine
any feed back would be appreciated
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The maverick 88 and mossberg 500 are almost the same exact gun, if you plan on keeping it mostly stock i would go with the mav. I have a mav 88 and so far its done awsome, never failed me once and i have had it for 7 years now. Most stuff for the 500 will work on a mav 88 also, like after market stocks and other accesories. The for arm is diffrent supposebly. But to be honost my buddy bought a 500 we compared and my gun had the same for arm (maby cause its older im not sure) the both had 2 bars on both sides (some of the old ones i think only had 1? some one correct me if im wrong on this) but barrels are interchangable with a 500 and mav 88 the rear butt stocks are. Diffrence is the safety on a Maverick 88 is down by the trigger and a mossy 500 is up on top towards the back by the butt stock.
So if you plan on having just a basic gun or even changing out the stock or barrels the Mav 88 would be my choice. Generally its 50-80 bucks cheeper than the 500 i believe. I know When my mom bought me mine ( it was my 16th birthday present) she payed $185.00 for it and I know my buddy payed $240.00 for his 500 and he said they had a mav 88 there for $190.00.
Just figured I would mention all that.
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I own a maverick 88 20ga w/ the 26" field barrel. Does any one know where I can find the 18 1/2" defender or home security barrel for this gun.I've looked everywhere and cant find one.I do know they exist though, because I saw a brand new mossberg 500 20ga defender with the 18 1/2" barrel at a local gun shop a few hours ago.Any help locating 1 would be sweet!
You can call or e-mail www.havlinsales.com and see if they have one...Interesting that you can also buy a Mossberg maufactured remington 870 18.5" barrel for just 89 bucks from Havlin...I started to do that but haveing another gun appealed to me more yuk yuk yuk LOL...A.H
The Mav 88 is a great shotgun. You'll need different barrels. I start off with a # 4, then 000 buck. The Remington sluggers will work in a smooth bore. I cut mine off to 20" and installed a Tru-glo turkey sight on mine. Fixing to put a Knoxx Adjustable stock on mine. I've destroyed many wooden targets with it. Choke, I don't need no stinking choke. Enjoy!
Deerrsniper I kinda wish these short barrel shotguns came with a choke. I don't think it would improve anything but can you imagine being hit with # 8 shot at close range with a full choke in these sawed off cannons ?
choke tubes 
Yes they are so are the extra barrels.
