[ShotgunPro]

Christmas is upon us and I want to give my son the money to buy a shotgun as he already has pistols/rifles. He wants the shotgun for HD. (New wife and baby.) Wife grew up as a hunter and gun owner so she can use it also if needed.

12 gauge, 18.5 and both being under $200.00, is the Maverick 88 and New England pretty close in quality, etc?

The 2 dealers I asked tried to steer me to what they had in stock which was a Rem. 870 and a Mossberg 590. He and his wife read up on the 88 and NEF and will buy one of the two.

Any opinions on either? One over the other?

 

[ShotgunPro]

Just saw other topic on sub $200.00 gun. Bad timing on my post. LOL

Still, any feedback appreciated on these two.

 

[ShotgunPro]

I would stay with the Maveric 88, becauseit is basicaly a Mossberg. I also don't know anything about the NEF, so That has an effect on what my choise would be. So it just boils down to personal preference and experience.

 

[ShotgunPro]

The NEF, Interstate Arms, Norinco 98 series shotguns are all basically the same thing: a Remington 870 clone.

I have had good results with my Norinco 98 and I have yet to hear a bad thing about them.

That having been said--the Maverick 88 is a Mossberg and I believe a lot of the Mossberg 500 parts will fit it. I have had decent results with the Maverick 88 I used...although it did jam a time or two when I was dove hunting this fall.

My vote? tie.

I suppose I would just get the Maverick because of replacement parts and accessory availability. Plus he can throw a long barrel on there for bird hunting/clays and a slug barrel on there if he wanted to go deer hunting or something...

~Norinco

 

[ShotgunPro]

+1 for the Maverick. Great Shotgun. It's bascially just a Mossberg. Great gun for a good price.

 

[ShotgunPro]

Almost a tie. Put 'em both in your hands. Swing it up. See if the length of pull is to your liking.

My friend has both 12 gauges in question. He considers them a tie.

 

[ShotgunPro]

I own a Mossberg 500, but I've heard some very good reports on the Maverick 88. Plus many of the parts are interchangable with the Mossberg.

 

[ShotgunPro]

No clue about the NEF - if it's truly a Norinco and foreign I'd give the nod to the Mav 88. Last time I checked they were made in TX.

I set mine up for HD.

 

[ShotgunPro]

All I know is I found a Maverick 88 today for $119. Didn't buy it, but do want one...

 

[ShotgunPro]

Maverick 88 is made by a subsidiary of mossberg, if it breaks you use mossbergs customer service.

the recievers are made in mexico and they have a trigger safety.

unlike the remington they were designed to be loose. 870s were designed to be tight. 870s WERE nicer, but then they started cost cutting and quality control went down. Well the 870s tolerances are too tight for that... and the gun sucks if you buy the base model. You might get a good one, might not. There was a thread a while back about an 870P that the lifter wasn't bent so if the shotgun was tilted to either side it wouldn't feed. He bent it, and is a happy owner. but stuff like that seems too common place lately.

Mossbergs have a simple production process. So if they are mildly out of spec, they still work fine.

Only bad thing about the maverick 88 is the trigger guard is plastic, if it takes a serious hit it could break (mine did, I'm the only person I've EVER heard of having this happen) gun still operated but it would catch on my clothes, mossberg replaced the part free of charge, I merely sent that part in to save on shipping.

If you can't tell I say maverick.

the 590 is it a much better gun? Oh yeah, but do you need it for your intended purpose? Nope. In order of preference.
590A1
590
rem 870 P (stock extension)
maverick 88
rem 870
mossberg 500 (last due to tang safety can't use a pistol grip)

oh even if you get a pistol grip make it a pistol grip STOCK. no stock, you'll be scared to use it for defense. and you can't aim, and with fine motor skills reduced it might recoil right into your face.

 

[ShotgunPro]

You folks really helped him make a decision. Your all great. Maverick 88 it is. I hear that it's a decent gun and should serve the intended purpose well if needed. I do like the fact it's a part of the Mossberg family.

I'm going to order one for myself now also. Maybe trick it out a little bit. Have fun with it. Hey, this was supposed to be all about a shotgun for my son only. Now I'm wanting one. I knew that might happen. LOL But at under 200 bucks why not? I don't believe in too many guns.

 

[ShotgunPro]

You folks really helped him make a decision. Your all great. Maverick 88 it is. I hear that it's a decent gun and should serve the intended purpose well if needed. I do like the fact it's a part of the Mossberg family.

I'm going to order one for myself now also. Maybe trick it out a little bit. Have fun with it. Hey, this was supposed to be all about a shotgun for my son only. Now I'm wanting one. I knew that might happen. LOL But at under 200 bucks why not? I don't believe in too many guns.

decide now what you want 5+1 shells and 18.5" barrel or 7+1 shells and 20"

 

[ShotgunPro]

decide now what you want 5+1 shells and 18.5" barrel or 7+1 shells and 20"

I didn't realize you could get the Maverick in a 20". That's another option for an already inexpensive gun. Good job Maverick.

I like the 18.5 just because I've always wanted a short barrel SG. I'd have a 14" if it were legal. LOL I'll mention the 20" to my son and his wife so they will look at it. Maybe they have I don't know.

Thanks for pointing that out. That's another reason I come here.

 

[ShotgunPro]

Maverick comes with a 28" barrel too... That's MY ideal HD gun. Now this isn't proven and is strictly my opinion, but I believe that a longer barrel keeps the offender further away, limiting their ability to lunge past the shotgun and do whatever to ya. JMO...

 

[ShotgunPro]

Maverick comes with a 28" barrel too... That's MY ideal HD gun. Now this isn't proven and is strictly my opinion, but I believe that a longer barrel keeps the offender further away, limiting their ability to lunge past the shotgun and do whatever to ya. JMO...

I look at it the opposite way..The longer barrel is that much easier to grab if walking by a doorway or other entry point. I prefer the shortest barrel possible on a shotgun/rifle in a close quarters situation.

 

[ShotgunPro]

I look at it the opposite way..The longer barrel is that much easier to grab if walking by a doorway or other entry point. I prefer the shortest barrel possible on a shotgun/rifle in a close quarters situation.

Well, each one has it's plusses and drawbacks...

 

[ShotgunPro]

I didn't realize you could get the Maverick in a 20". That's another option for an already inexpensive gun. Good job Maverick.

I like the 18.5 just because I've always wanted a short barrel SG. I'd have a 14" if it were legal. LOL I'll mention the 20" to my son and his wife so they will look at it. Maybe they have I don't know.

Thanks for pointing that out. That's another reason I come here.

Maverick comes with a 28" barrel too... That's MY ideal HD gun. Now this isn't proven and is strictly my opinion, but I believe that a longer barrel keeps the offender further away, limiting their ability to lunge past the shotgun and do whatever to ya. JMO...

this only works if you have a decent amount of space between you and a choke point and you DON"t have to clear your house. if your 20' away from the bedroom door and all you have to do is stop someone coming through it, your right it is way easier with a 28".

However if you have to clear your house shorter is better. If you might end up in reach (small room) shorter is better.

out in the woods? large room? longer is better.

 

[ShotgunPro]

There's a reason that all HD's have short barrels.

 

[ShotgunPro]

Good points everyone. Yocan--thanks for breaking it down for us.

I am actually going to be in the market for a Maverick 88 early next year. Should be fun.

Does the Maverick accept aftermarket forearms? (anything railed?).

 

[ShotgunPro]

I believe all parts are interchangeable with the mossberg 500 EXCEPT the foregrip.

Good choice on the 88, I have a 20" 8rnd version on the way along with the knoxx recoil reducing stock. Can't wait!