Looking for a good Shotgun?

The Maverick 88 shotgun is an economy version of the Mossberg 500..... Its a decent shotgun for the money.... Break easily?... I have not heard anything negative about this shotgun..... I don't see any reason why that if you don't abuse it, keep it cleaned and oiled that you should not have a problem.... I own several Mossberg 500 and 590 shotguns and all have been problem free... My Maverick 88 is one of the old models with the single slide action bar and it has performed flawlessly for all of the 18 years I have owned it....

Better suggestions?.... You should be able to find on sale at many of the big box sporting goods store a Mossberg 500 or the Remington 870 Express for a little more than your budget....

If its the field model Maverick 88 then consider spending a little more for the 500 or 870.....

If it is the defense /security model Maverick 88 your after then spend a little more and only consider the Mossberg 500 6 or 8 shot Persuader/ Cruiser... About $300...

Here are the technical details why......

http://jth8260.tripod.com/870.html

The Maverick 88 is a decent economy shotgun for semi regular use....

For defense or more abusive use then consider the Mossberg 500......

For hunting the Remington 870 is fine just like a Mossberg 500...

Well they just hit the 10 million mark on the remington 870s and have sold more 870s than all other pump shotguns from any other brand combined .....and lol you can get one for under 300 dollars almost anywhere including your local walmart. So I would say remington is doing something right lol.

my suggestion would be the remington 870. it's very reasonably priced (under $300 brand new at my local walmart) and is incredibly rugged and reliable. accessories like different barrels are readily available and competitively priced, take-down is simple, cleaning is easy, and while it's a tad more cash than the maverick you're looking at, you've got remington's reputation for quality. i'm not sure how well made mavericks are. i've got an 870, myself.

i also have a mossberg 500, but they're more expensive in my area (about $500 to $700) and mine tends to jam with heavy game or magnum loads. with one exception (and he managed to lay his hands on an early - possibly prototype - model), everyone at my sportsman's club who has one (over a dozen of us) has experienced the same problems with jamming. that never happens with our remingtons.

my advice: spend a few extra dollars and get the remington. it won't break your bank and i don't know anyone who's ever had a problem with one.

edit: like everyone else said, we can't stress enough regular cleaning and oiling. ESPECIALLY after each day in the field and once every two weeks while it's in storage. as with a car, regular maintenance is crucial to reliability. most folks don't bother cleaning and oiling their firearms in the off-season, and that's a mistake. dust builds up even in the best storage safes and absorbs the oil, allowing moisture to accumulate and begin the corrosion process.

twice a month i break out the hoppes #9, CLP break-free lube (no longer available in the formulation i have... i brought a quart home with me when i was discharged from the army 30 years ago and still have over a pint left), and my cleaning kit and give every one in my small collection (three shotguns, two rifles, and three handguns) and quick wipe-down and oiling.

Why go cheap on something important that may save your life. My cheapest gun would be a Mossberg 500 or Remington 870. Your talking 250-299.00. I would go with the Rem 870 police or marine or Mossberg 590 if I wanted stronger.

You can buy any Brand that you want to, and save Lots of $$$$ if you buy a Good Used One.* A New Shotgun does not shoot any better, or last any longer than a Good Used One.*... You can buy a lot of Good Used Shotguns for $150.00 to $200.00 Dollars.* Ones that were expensive if you bought and paid the New Price for them originally.* Buy Used and Save $$$$$.*

save up for a little bit longer, get about another 100$s and buy a benelli nova, you will not be disapointed, on top of that you will never have to buy another gun again. you may have to buy a new barroll. I have used mine for three years not and it has seen everything, rain snow, heat, ice, a river. I was in the water getting a goose (with the gun loaded) tripped in the water, the gun went under the water. Got back up and fired all three shells. Just clean it everyonce in a while and it will last. It shoots 2 3/4 shells 3" shells, and 3 1/2" shells. And can double as a slug gun with the improved cylinder choke tube. Dont buy a gun just to buy one, buy a gun because its something you want to have for a while.

Remington 870 Express, very dependaple and long lasting. You will not be dissapointed with this gun. You can put this gun through just about anything and it will still be in good shape. It is a very good price too

Remington 870

winchester 1300

Mossberg all the way.