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There is a reason the Maverick 88 keeps showing up behind counters and in closets across the country. Built by Mossberg's Maverick line, the 88 Cruiser takes the same proven pump action architecture as the legendary Model 500 and strips it down to a compact, no-frills package. This version wears a black synthetic pistol grip and forend instead of a full buttstock, bringing the overall length down to roughly 28 inches. That short footprint makes it easy to store, easy to move through a hallway, and easy to keep close at hand.
Under the blued steel exterior you get the internals that made Mossberg pumps famous: dual extractors, twin action bars, positive steel-to-steel lockup, and an anti-jam elevator. Those parts work together to keep the action cycling smoothly whether you are running it fast or feeding it a mixed bag of shells. The 3 inch chamber accepts both 2-3/4 and 3 inch 12 gauge loads, and the fixed cylinder bore choke throws the wide, fast patterns you want at close range. A simple brass bead up front keeps sighting quick and uncomplicated, and the crossbolt safety sits right where your trigger finger expects it. Capacity is 5+1, so you have six rounds on tap before reaching for more.
At 5.75 pounds, this is a shotgun you can maneuver one-handed if you need to open a door or hit a light switch. Fair warning from experience: a pistol grip 12 gauge takes some technique to run well, so spend time at the range with lighter loads before graduating to full power buckshot. Once you get the hang of it, the Cruiser is a genuinely fun gun to shoot and a seriously capable one to have on hand. It also shares barrel and stock compatibility with the standard Maverick 88, so there is room to reconfigure it down the road if your needs change. Simple, rugged, and built on decades of proven design, the Maverick 88 Cruiser does its job without any fuss.
Yes, the Cruiser has a 3 inch chamber, so it runs both 2-3/4 and 3 inch 12 gauge shells. That gives you plenty of flexibility, from light birdshot for practice up to 3 inch magnum buckshot. Just be ready for the extra recoil with heavy loads in a pistol grip gun.
Mossberg 500 barrels will fit as long as you match the magazine tube capacity, since this 5+1 model uses the same barrel ring setup as comparable 500s. Buttstocks also interchange, so you can swap the pistol grip for a full stock later. Forends are the exception, as the Maverick's forend houses the action slide differently than the 500.
The Maverick 88 uses a crossbolt safety mounted in the front of the trigger guard, unlike the tang-mounted safety on the Mossberg 500. On a pistol grip gun like the Cruiser, the crossbolt location works well since your thumb never rides the tang anyway. It is quick to reach with your trigger finger.
It takes some practice, no way around it. A push-pull grip technique, where your support hand pulls back on the forend while your firing hand pushes forward, tames the recoil considerably. Start with light 2-3/4 inch target loads to learn the gun, and most folks find it very manageable once they build the technique.
| UPC | 049533310088 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 31008 |
| Action | |
| ATF Type | Pistol Grip Firearm |
| Barrel Finish | Blued |
| Barrel Length | 18.5" |
| Caliber/Gauge | 12 Gauge |
| Capacity | 5 + 1 |
| Chokes Included | Cylinder Bore |
| Color | BLUED |
| Length | 33 |
| Model | |
| Package Height | 3.0 |
| Package Width | 7.9 |
| Product Type | Shotgun |
| Safety | Crossbolt |
| Shipping Weight | 6.7 |
| Sights | Bead |
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