O.F. Mossberg & Sons Archives

Maverick 88 Review

We promise to resist the urge and call the “more-plastic-than-I-am-comfortable-with” Maverick, Mexico’s answer to the polymer pistol. So sit down and keep on reading.

What we will say, in the hopes of reassuring you, is that many of the parts are only made in Mexico, and the gun is actually assembled in Texas. Assembled by none other than Mossberg, despite the fact that the shotgun is rarely advertised as such.

While the Maverick 88 isn’t necessarily the gun you would feel most assured taking into the field with you on a hunt, it is something that you should probably consider when it comes to home defense. Nothing like the sound of the “Ka-CLACK” from a pump-action shotgun to put things into perspective for a would-be burglar or home invader.

Can it be relied on to fire? Yes. It comes with all the basics that you need, front bead sight, 6 round/5 round capacity for 2-3/4”/3” shells, dual extractors, easy to field strip and one of the best features is that the gun is fully interchangeable with Mossberg 500 barrels and choke tubes. It is rumored that some of the plastic internal parts are also interchangeable with MB 500 parts, but why bother spending the cash to do so when you could have just bought a MB 500?

The Maverick 88 is an inexpensive shotgun, so don’t wrinkle your nose when you consider the home defense implications for under $200. Why spend 3x that amount for a gun that’s going to just sit in your gun safe in the closet forever? You can outfit the 88 with a pistol grip and a holographic red dot or a mounted flashlight and a laser combo and then it becomes one sweet little “opinionated purpose gun”.

Honorable Mention in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Mossberg 500 Review

At the absolute halfway point between the best of the best and the worse of the best, we casually trip over the Mossberg 500, pump action. Such subtle differences in all these models/manufacturers make this a grueling task because all these guns are excellent.

The Mossberg 500 shares many of the same features and attributes of its cousins from different manufacturers This series has a diverse array of barrel and finish options as well as sighting options, but we will focus on the “all purpose” for this review. Chambered for up to 3” shells in 12 gauge, 20 gauge and .410 bore (.410 uses the 2.5” shells).

What’s interesting about the Mossberg 500 shotgun is the fact that, while many different manufacturers have replaceable barrels available for different kinds of shooting (field, turkey, waterfowl, slug, etc.), very few offer anything remotely similar to the Mossberg “LPA Trigger system”. Standing for “Lightning Pump Action,” this is a user-adjustable poundage adjustment with zero creep before the break. Now this is a rarity in the shotgun world and makes a huge difference in the ball game. As mentioned, the other companies can tell you all they want about which barrel is for what kind of shooting, but not many can stand behind the fact that there is an adjustable trigger to back that up and truly change the style of shooting that you can do with but a twist of a screwdriver – that’s pretty remarkable.

We like the idea of hitting the trap field one day and really yanking on that gun to watch the clays explode and then dial it back a little to a much lighter trigger to pop off that gobbler at twenty yards. Wouldn’t you? This is a great gun and we would look for this to be studied and duplicated in the near future.

Also out of the box is an included gun lock and a ten-year warranty.

Ranked #5 of 7 in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Mossberg ATR 100 Review

The Mossberg ATR is Mossberg’s first venture into the low-priced centerfire market and has been around for a few years now. The rifle is intentionally as plain as it gets. The only thing that sets it apart from the rest of its budget bolt action contemporaries is the fact that, like the Mossberg 4×4, it can be had with a wood stock.

We suspect that more traditionally-minded buyers may prefer the ATR to the 4X4 because the furniture on it is not nearly so strange. This rig is meant to be for novice hunters who just want to give the sport a try before investing in high-priced equipment, and for a price increase of about $90 Mossberg will sell this rifle with a scope already mounted up.

In our ratings the ATR doesn’t come out best in class in any area, but it’s pretty close in ergonomics, recoil, safety and fit/finish. With an MSRP of $355 close enough is probably good enough.

Honorable Mention in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Mossberg 4×4 Review

The Mossberg 4×4 is a rifle that that visually emulates its namesake. The first look at the rifle makes you think that you would not have a problem dragging it around in the mud or maybe slapping it off a few rocks. This is not to say that the 4×4 won’t break when you do this, but it won’t break your heart to see it happen. These rifles are designed for the first-time hunter market to allow people interested in hunting to get their feet wet without a lot of investment.

One point of interest with the 4×4 and other Mossbergs is that they are the only rifles in the lower price ranges that can be had with a wooden stock if one so desires. Most of the buyers of these rifles will probably opt for the synthetic, but it’s still nice to have the option. Whether in wood or plastic, the stock of the 4×4 is something different in shape. The overall look makes the rifle appear thicker and beefier than most bolt guns. When it comes to hunting arms most people want slimmer and lighter guns, but sometimes just being different makes a gun stand out enough to get noticed. Aside from the strange stock the rifle is what Mossberg intended it to be in the form of a “meat and potatoes” bolt gun for the novice hunter. In its prescribed role the Mossberg 4×4 will probably give good service until the owner feels a need to upgrade.

It should be noted that the 4×4 only scored in the average or better than average in most areas, but that’s what Mossberg is shooting for with this rifle. The gun’s only best-in-class rating was for recoil. The 4×4’s strangely obese-looking stock will help cut down on felt recoil for beginning shooters, which is a definite plus for a rifle in this price range.

Ranked #7 of 7 in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison