K-Mart is advertising (but not discounting) this week the Mossberg Maverick 088 shotgun, 3" chamber, for $169.99.

Is this model inferior to the Mossberg 500, which I have been planning to spring for? Which is the better value?

Is this price a good one?

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 16, 1999

Answers

A very good price.

A dealer explained to me Mossberg manufactures the parts and ships them to Eagle Pass, Tx. for assembly (much lower labor costs). He claims everything is identical with the exception being 'Maverick' is stamped on the receiver instead of 'Mossberg'. Stamped on the barrel is a note stating if you need any literature on said weapon to contact them at P.O. Box 497, North Haven, Ct. USA, 06473

Mine works just fine.

-- Charles R. (chuck_roast@trans.net), June 16, 1999.

BTW..is Rosie O'Donnell boycotting K-Mart (her benefactor) yet for selling these yucky things?

.

-- Charles R. (chuck_roast@trans.net), June 16, 1999.

A good price for a reasonable weapon. Consider the Remington 870 if yo u can spend a bit more. IMHO, the workmanship and reliability are better.

-- RD. ->H (drherr@erols.com), June 16, 1999.

Haven't had a chance to play with a Maverick yet, but the Mossberg is a very good shotgun for the price - probably the minimum standard for a 12 guage for really serious work. RD is right about the 870 being a bit better workmanship, but the Mossberg is still very servicable, and parts are widely available.

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), June 16, 1999.

Personally, were I in the market for a combat shotgun, I'd look at the Mossberg 500 USA, the milspec version of the 500. Mossberg and Winchester both make stainless steel versions of their "home defense" shotguns. I am a fan of stainless, particularly for hard environments. It makes an "ugly" rifle, but my deer/elk rifle is stainless with a kevlar stock. Far superior to the "blued" steel in avoiding rust and reducing bore wear. Perhaps Arlin can clarify this, but I think the 500 USA is parkerized rather than blued. In my opinion, not as good as stainless, but the dull black finish is more suited for combat or police operations. Of course, the requirements of a tactical or combat unit far exceed that of the average home owner... unless Arlin is right about Y2K.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), June 16, 1999.

Thanks for your prompt and informative responses.

I'll go to K-Mart before the weekend and check out the Remington before making a final decision.

By the way, the photo in the flyer is of a blued unit.

And the "Field locker" gun case to go with it is on sale for $17.99.

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 16, 1999.

GA-

I also have the 870 and it is a great gun. If you can, spring for the 'Express Combo'. It comes with deer/defensive barrel as well as a longer trap/skeet barrel. This way you have a 'social' shotgun for fun and a defensive shotgun should the need arise. I paid about $350 for my combo last fall.

As an aside, I got to shoot slugs from my 870 for the first time today. It was suprisingly accurate at 50yds (using the deer barrel) and made some VERY BIG HOLES in the target. Lots of FUN!!

-TECH32-

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), June 17, 1999.

A friend of mine is a gunsmith. About a decade ago he was wondering why it cost him more to buy a Mossberg from Mossberg as a dealer, than from Service Merchandise (big general merchandise discount store) at their retail. I can not remember if these were Mossberg 500s, 560s, or 600s. He got one from Mossberg and one from Service Merchandise. The one from Mossberg "felt smoother". He poured sand all over both of them. The one from SM jambed, the one from Mossberg did not. He then took them apart to clean them and measured every part with a micrometer against the factory gunsmith manual. All parts on both guns were within factory specs, however the one from Mossberg was consistantly tighter spec and more consistant.

Now that's one decade ago, and only two guns - so this has zero scientific validity. But some times you do get what you pay for. I'ld wager you could do with other brands and other products too.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), June 17, 1999.

The Maverick is the old single rail pump Mossberg used to make. They were a "poor mans" immitation of the Winchester Model 12. When they came out with the updated version of the 500...the tooling was shipped to Mexico and they created a secondary line. Lately they have updated the Maverick to a dual rail slide which is stronger. As stated above these are very reliable guns and parts are easy to obtain. Mossberg has been putting together packages with two barrels and when these go on sale, they are a difficult combination to beat for price and reliability. P.S. Walmart has had some great buys on 12 ga. shells...$3.00 a box...it's almost cheaper than reloading! take care. ben

-- ben tolson (bent@premier1.net), June 17, 1999.

mossberg's website describes their maveric line as a student grade shotgun for beginners.good value.mossberg has no stainless shotguns,certian models offer "marinecote" which apparently is much more salt-resistant.the coast-guard uses mossberg 590's with "marincote"

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), June 17, 1999.

moss 590, get it , spend the extra 30 dollars it is worth it , the thing is as tough as nails. and a blade on the front make a totaly awsome personal defence weapon , for when the shit is coming down around you,

-- Ron (rjcash@fred.net), June 17, 1999.

It's only your life you're talking about here. Spend the few extra bucks, get the Remington. Consider a 20 gauge if you're inexperienced or physically small- it'll do the job just as well as a 12 gauge at "normal" shotgun ranges. The 870 Youth Model will work well for smaller folks. And get training if you need it, practice, and BE SAFE ABOVE ALL ELSE.

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Guns & Ammo

Home Defense Shotgun Shootout

By Ken Hackathorn

Many homeowners utilize a shotgun as their primary firearm for home protection or self-defense. Reasons for selecting a shotgun may vary. It could be the fact that for many homeowners a shotgun is the firearm they already own and have experience with or are legally permitted to possess. Many have shooting experience with the shotgun from small game hunting or competitive sport shooting activities like trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Also, in many cities and communities with restrictive gun laws, the shotgun is the firearm that a person may own without having to deal with excessive red tape or permits. More and more stores and small business establishments have a shotgun standing ready in case the need for defense, suddenly arises.

It is important to understand that just keeping a shotgun standing in the corner of your bedroom does not make you safe. The ability to handle the firearm in a safe and efficient one manner is critical. If given an opportunity to train and practice with your firearm, take advantage of such an occasion.

One of the biggest problems I see is that most people who keep firearms in their homes for self-protection possess few if any practical shooting skills. For most folks, a safe and handy place to shoot just does not exist. Much of urban America lacks gun clubs or suitable ranges, and even when shooting ranges are available, many people say that they just don't have time to practice with their home- defense firearm. For most homeowners, therefore, a firearm in the residence for self-defense is has already begun.

In view of this type of attitude, good basic gun handling skills and techniques become essential. Attempting to use a firearm that you are not competent with can be hazardous.

Shotgun action type and gauge will play an important role in the effectiveness of any scattergun when used in a self-defense situation. Given a choice, I would select a good repeating shotgun as the best tool for the job. Normally, a pump-action or semi-auto shotgun is the best bet.

Next comes the selection of caliber (gauge). In the United States, the 12 gauge shotgun appears to be most popular. Favored by American police officers for nearly a century, the 12 gauge is a proven performer for close- range combat. When loaded with 00 buckshot, the 12-gauge shotgun is one of the best tools available in a life threatening scenario. Even when loaded with regular birdshot, the 12 gauge is quite effective if the range is less than 10 meters.

Most self-defense scenarios take place at normal conversational distances. At ranges out to 10 or 12 meters, the neutralizing effect of the shotgun is severe. However, one of the major disadvantages of the 12 gauge shotgun is that in the hands of less than well seasoned shooters, the 12 gauge can deliver more recoil and abuse than most novice shooters can stand. Anyone who hunts regularly or shoots a 12 gauge shotgun routinely will have little concern with ideal control or recoil problems. Sadly, few people who keep a shotgun in their home for self-defense fall into this category. Most people with a shotgun in their home or business possess very limited shooting skills. If your basic knowledge of shooting techniques or marksmanship is limited, you may wish to consider whether a shotgun is the best choice for you. Thus, the first question to be asked concerning the selection of a shotgun for self-defense is, "How skilled am I with a shotgun?" If your skill level is low, be realistic about it and consider getting a shotgun that is easy to handle, easy to operate and, most important, easy to shoot well.

My recommendation is a 20 gauge pump or autoloading shotgun. The 20 gauge is far easier to shoot because of its reduced recoil. In fact, a 20 gauge loaded with factory No. 3 buckshot will have only about 60 to 65 percent of the recoil of a 12 gauge loaded with factory buckshot. Also, typical 20 gauge shotguns are manufactured with smaller dimensions in both the receiver and barrel. This translates into a shotgun that is lighter and easier to handle under conditions of stress.

Keep in mind that while the man of the home may be perfectly comfortable with the 12 gauge shotgun that he hunts with, other members of the household may not find this heavy 12 gauge with greater recoil all that charming. For ease of operation, less recoil and greater confidence, a smaller 20 gauge may be better. Most shooters consider the 20 gauge shotgun as the perfect "first gun" for a youngster who is just beginning to spend time afield learning the joys of small-game hunting. In truth, the 20 gauge is not only a "boy's" first shotgun, but it is also ideal for women and even many men of small stature. If everyone in your household is a regular at the local gun club or range, then a 12 gauge may be a good choice. If you or your spouse have very limited shooting skills, the 20 gauge makes much better sense.

Loaded with standard field-load birdshot, a 20 gauge can do a fine job at the ranges you typically find in your home. If loaded with 20 gauge buckshot, you will normally have 20 pellets of about .25 caliber in the common No. 3 buckshot 20-gauge load. Loaded with this No. 3 buckshot, a 20 gauge can be very serious out to ranges of 15 meters. While few would dispute that the 12-gauge 00 buckshot round is better, the fact that the 20-gauge round generates only 60 to 65 percent of the recoil of the 12 gauge makes the 20 very attractive to those who prefer much less recoil. A 200 pound male may not consider this a very valid issue, but to a 115 pound female the difference is very important.

To check the effects of the difference between 12 and 20 gauge shotguns for self-defense use, I recently conducted a test with novice shooters to determine if the issue of 12 vs 20 was valid. Each shooter tested was chosen on the basis of whether or not he had fired a shotgun prior to the test. Each stated that he had no interest in sport shooting and had fired only .22 rimfire firearms before the test.

Each sample shooter was given a very basic gun handling and safety course. Instruction on the operation of the pump-action repeating shotgun was covered. The live firing test was on steel knockdown targets that had been placed at ranges of 8 to 14 meters. This allowed for effective pattern spread to neutralize the targets.

Shooting was done with a 20 gauge Remington Model 870 using field loads of No. 6 shot. Each test shooter was timed on the PACT timer to see how long it took him to engage each of the five targets. This was then repeated using a 12-gauge Model 870 with standard No. 7% shot field loads.

After a series of drills in which the 20 and 12 gauges were alternated, these same drills were repeated using factory buckshot loads. In every case, the times with the 20 gauge shotgun were faster. In some cases, the difference in the time was not only obvious, but the number of misses was greater with the 12 gauge. When firing the buckshot rounds, some of the novice shooters would raise their faces up off of the stocks to avoid recoil impact, resulting in missed shots. With the 20 gauge buckshot loads, hits were far better and times were faster. With buckshot loads, the 20 gauge test averages were between 1.5 and 2 seconds faster than those with the 12 gauge. All of the test shooters remarked that they preferred the ease of handling facilitated by the smaller dimensions of the 20 gauge shotgun. The ability to hold the 20 gauge shotgun on target for longer periods was noted by the sample shooters. Remember that in a home-defense situation, the shotgun may have to be held for long periods of time. Simply keeping an intruder covered until the police arrive can take a long time in many areas.

For the purposes of comparison, each of the novice shooters was asked to fire the same drills using a Smith & Wesson .38 Special Model 10 revolver and an M1911 .45ACP pistol. All are typical service sidearms and in many ways the best of the breed. Shooters were timed in their attempts to knock down all five targets. None of these shooters had any previous handgun shooting experience, and the tests confirmed this fact. Most missed all their targets with the Model 10 revolver. Double-action shooting skills are learned, and each sample shooter failed to master any method of aligning the sights and controlling the DA trigger stroke. Only a couple of hits were recorded. With the M1911, which had a crisp 4.5 pound sear release, the hit ratio was slightly better. Overall, however, 75 percent misses were the rule.

With both the 12 and 20 gauge shotguns, the hit factor was much better. The worst runs with the 20 gauge and No. 3 buckshot produced only a 20 percent miss factor. The results pretty well convinced all the test individuals that they would be far better off with a 20 gauge shotgun for protection.

A series of 5 meter underarm point shooting drills were also tried. Results were better than I expected for people who had never fired a shotgun prior to coming to the range for the test.

While point shooting with a shotgun has merit in indoor close range encounters, most novice shooters are better off practicing a good shoulder mounted firing technique.

For comparison, I selected a couple of very experienced shooters to perform the same test. The results were as expected: type and gauge of shotgun did not make much difference. While the times with the 20 gauge were slightly faster, these guys occasionally missed with the 20 because they were trying to go too fast.

All of the test shooters in the novice group were asked about their feelings concerning the test. All preferred the 20 gauge. Details regarding the ballistic value of the 12-gauge 00 buckshot vs. 20 gauge No. 3 buck had very little meaning to them. They only cared about what worked best for them and which gun did not abuse them. They simply chose the tool that served them best.

Overall, my impression of the 12 vs 20 gauge test was that for most skilled shooters a 12 gauge is certainly the obvious choice. If the owner is less skilled (typically of novice level), the 20 gauge is highly recommended. It should be understood that if someone cannot handle a 12 gauge shotgun at all, then he will probably fail to do well with a 20 gauge. If this condition exists, then perhaps a firearm such as the Marlin Camp Carbine in either .45ACP or 9xl9mm would be a better choice. These little Camp Carbines are light, safe and produce very little felt recoil. Certainly, a 20 gauge shotgun loaded with No. 3 buckshot would be far more effective than either a .45 or 9mm round, but the issue is which firearm can be handled quickly, safely and place hits on target. If a shotgun is simply more than a person can handle, then a Marlin Camp Carbine may be an excellent compromise.

If you choose a shotgun as your home defense tool, consider those models that meet your needs. The popular choices are the pump-action repeaters like the Remington Model 870, Winchester Model 1300 and Mossberg Model 500. If you must have a 20 gauge autoloader, I recommend the Remington Model 1100. One of the best 20-gauge home defense shotguns available is the Winchester Model 1300 Ladies/Youth model. Designed for beginning shooters, the Model 1300 Ladies/Youth pump-action shotgun comes with 22 inch barrel and choke tubes, one inch shorter butt stock, smaller pistol grip area and weighs only 6.5 pounds. This makes a very easy-to-handle and fast-to-mount close- quarters shotgun.

Even big men can handle this gun quickly and fire it with exceptional speed. Like most of the pump-action repeaters, the Model 1300, 870 and 500 20 gauge shotguns hold four rounds in the magazine tube. Each make and model has some advantages over the other. The Winchester Model 1300 has a very short pump action stroke, thus making it very easy for those with short arms to operate. The Mossberg Model 500 has a manual safety located on the rear of the receiver tang and therefore is ideal for either right or left-handed shooters. Remington Model 870s are proven to be rugged and reliable with a minor level of maintenance. For aftermarket modifications, I prefer a tritium insert front sight or bead-you will most likely need your home-defense shotgun during periods of limited light. Also. a buttstock mounted shell carrier can be very helpful. When you grab your shotgun, there will rarely be time to find spare shells or a place to carry them. When you have spare rounds in a buttstock loop carrier, you will ensure that you have at least five or six spare rounds with you.

I suggest that you keep your home defense shotgun in Condition Three or "cruiser ready." This means that the magazine tube will be loaded but the chamber will be empty and the hammer down, safety off. All that is needed to put the shotgun into action is to cycle the action and load a round into the chamber. Leaving a shotgun or any firearm around fully loaded and unattended is very dangerous. If you have children in your home, leaving the home defense shotgun with a loaded chamber is asking for trouble.

Train everyone who handles the shotgun to always keep their fingers out of the trigger guard except when preparing to shoot. I have gone as far as having some of my students attach a small piece of non-slip skateboard tape to the side of their shotgun's receiver where their trigger finger is to be positioned. They press the trigger finger against this sandpaper-like surface to ensure that they have a memory index of where the finger belongs.

Practice the techniques that you would use to search your home or place of business. What tactics will you use when checking around corners and doorways? Be careful of where your shotgun barrel is pointed, as an intruder standing around the corner can see your shotgun barrel and grab it before you know he is there.

Determine how well your spouse or other household members can execute these skills. Do all parties understand the proper way to load and unload the shotgun? The ability to remove a loaded round from the chamber and place it back into the magazine must be practiced so that it can be done at o'dark-thirty with ease.Practice these skills and techniques first with an empty shotgun or with dummy shells. Decideexactly how you plan to defend your home. Where will you place other household members for safety if your home is invaded? You must identify your target to ensure that it is in fact a lethal threat.Trying to hold a flashlight and shotgun at the same time is very difficult. This must be practiced until it can be done with ease. It is very important to realize that few plans survive the first encounter with a threat, so always plan for the worst-case scenario. Having a good-quality firearm in your home or place of business will not always guarantee success. Tactics, skill at arms and a cool head are far more important than the type of firearm you own.

Consider your needs and select the tool that is best for you. If firearms skills are limited, or the persons handling the home-defense arms are not comfortable with heavy or hard-recoiling weapons, the 20 gauge repeating shotgun loaded with factory No. 3 buckshot may be ideal.

-- (shoot@the.moon), June 17, 1999.

and ya can't argue with hackathorn without looking the fool!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), June 18, 1999.