Advice on choosing a pump action

**A-R** · 09-04-2020, 11:03

Just for interest sake: Many moons ago, the old SAP was employing "Special Constables" to enforce the peace. These were basically security guards in police uniform. They issued them with pump action shotguns only. Off course this required a few shotguns to be bought. A friend was involved in the selection process, they were not just put on tender and selected by party affiliation and kick-backs yet.

Anyway, the testing involved shooting 2000 rounds through each test specimen. This created some heat, so the guns were dunked in a 210 liter drum filled with water occasionally. Water was shaken out and shooting continued.

The guns that gave the least issues were the Mavericks and Mossbergs. (Same factory and very similar except for furniture.)

So, they may be rough, but it seems they are quite tough.

Just in the interest of full disclosure: I have never owned one.

**Toxxyc** · 09-04-2020, 11:12

Maverick is a Mossberg shotgun. It's literally called the Mossberg Maverick 88, if I'm not mistaken.

EDIT: But yes, great guns. Cheap-ish, and reliable.

**pblaauw** · 09-04-2020, 12:04

Yup, Maverick 88 is a budget Mossberg, some more plastic bits, safety is different and mostly interchangeable with 500 stuff...'mostly'... I have one and runs fine, biggest issue I have encountered was with the operator.

**Steven001** · 09-04-2020, 13:11

The firing pin broke on my Maverick 88

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**SoldierMan** · 09-04-2020, 13:18

Originally Posted by Steven001

The firing pin broke on my Maverick 88

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Are spares for the 88 available in SA, Cape Town more specifically.

**Steven001** · 09-04-2020, 13:51

Originally Posted by SoldierMan

Are spares for the 88 available in SA, Cape Town more specifically.

My local gunsmith sorted it out no issues, not sure about all the parts though

**GlockForce** · 09-04-2020, 15:03

Someone did mention it way back in the thread, but do some homework on the Supernova.... fantastic piece of equipment in my opinion...

**Bjorn881** · 09-04-2020, 15:13

Originally Posted by SoldierMan

Are spares for the 88 available in SA, Cape Town more specifically.

City Guns are the agents for Mossberg, chat to them!

**Bjorn881** · 09-04-2020, 15:19

Originally Posted by GlockForce

Someone did mention it way back in the thread, but do some homework on the Supernova.... fantastic piece of equipment in my opinion...

In terms of pump actions you can't do better than a Benelli Supernova they are pricey though! Otherwise Mossberg 500/590 and Remington Wingmaster/Police are the Glocks of shotguns, you won't go wrong with the older ones!

**SoldierMan** · 09-04-2020, 15:27

Originally Posted by Bjorn881

City Guns are the agents for Mossberg, chat to them!

Ah great, that's actually where I bought my 88 from quite a while back, didn't know they were the agents though. I'm a prepper and that has instilled in me the need to have backups, so I just like to have spare parts for my guns of parts that could/do fail over time.

I bought mine secondhand which I regret now, should've just spent a little extra and got it new. When I first took it out the first shot was a misfire, but ever since that first shot I haven't had a misfire so have been quite happy with it. I asked one of the guys at CG what it could've been and he reckons that it was just because it had been sitting around for so long and not being used.