Buy or cut?

[SantiSM]

I received an Academy GC from my in laws for Christmas so I used it to buy a Mossberg Maverick 88.
My intent was to buy the security model with the shorter barrrel, but of course I went home with the longer barrel. I can either have a gun shop cut the current barrel down or buy a Mossberg 500 18.5" barrel. Chopping will save me about $40 in the end. I don't do any duck or clay shooting so no need to keep the current one, just worried about compromising the integrity of the barrel if it gets chopped down.
Opinions??

 

[The Gunslinger_45]

Can't you just buy a shorter barrel?

That being said, my ex college roommate bought a Maverick and cut his barrel down. He still owns the shotgun and has no issues with the barrel.

 

[Bozz10mm]

JMHO, get the 500. You say it's only a $40 difference, so...

 

[Brains]

Will you get more than $40 if you ever choose to resell it with two barrels vs a single cut barrel? In all likelihood yes, so it makes sense to buy vs. cut. Not to mention if/when you ever decide you want the longer barrel, you'd have it.

 

[The Gunslinger_45]

What is better? Being out $40 bucks and have 2 guns? Or save $40 bucks and have one? I opt for two shotguns. Plus the Mossberg 500 is a really good gun.

 

[SantiSM]

Will you get more than $40 if you ever choose to resell it with two barrels vs a single cut barrel? In all likelihood yes, so it makes sense to buy vs. cut. Not to mention if/when you ever decide you want the longer barrel, you'd have it.

Good point!

 

[SantiSM]

What is better? Being out $40 bucks and have 2 guns? Or save $40 bucks and have one? I opt for two shotguns. Plus the Mossberg 500 is a really good gun.

I wish it were two guns lol. It was 1 vs 2 barrels for a 40.00 difference. (The shorter 500 interchanges with the 88)

 

[The Gunslinger_45]

I wish it were two guns lol. It was 1 vs 2 barrels for a 40.00 difference. (The shorter 500 interchanges with the 88)

Gotcha. In that case the 500 would be the better option imo.

 

[Shady]

hack saw blade you may already have so cost is free

 

[AustinN4]

My intent was to buy the security model with the shorter barrrel, but of course I went home with the longer barrel.

Why in the world did you do that?

 

[ROGER4314]

I have several of the Mossberg 88's and the Mossberg 500's, I've disassembled both side by side and can't see a dime's worth of difference between them except for the safety location. The 88 has a trigger guard safety and the 500 has a tang mounted safety.

I have a large pile of shotgun barrels and my choice is always to buy a second barrel. The 500 barrels are advertised for sale and the 88's are not. Mossberg 500 barrels fit and work perfectly in the 88's! The cheapest barrel I purchased for the Mossberg's was less than $100.

By having a second barrel, I can make a barrel change and have an entirely new shotgun in less than a minute.

Again, I've prowled over every piece of those scatter guns. I found NOTHING that would place the Mossberg 88 in the "cheap/crappy" category. I found nothing that would justify the $50-100 difference in price, either. The 88 is a nice, reliable inexpensive shotgun and mine were made in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Flash

 

[topduarte]

buy another barrel imo

 

[SantiSM]

Why in the world did you do that?

Brain fart? Lol

 

[SantiSM]

I have several of the Mossberg 88's and the Mossberg 500's, I've disassembled both side by side and can't see a dime's worth of difference between them except for the safety location. The 88 has a trigger guard safety and the 500 has a tang mounted safety.

I have a large pile of shotgun barrels and my choice is always to buy a second barrel. The 500 barrels are advertised for sale and the 88's are not. Mossberg 500 barrels fit and work perfectly in the 88's! The cheapest barrel I purchased for the Mossberg's was less than $100.

By having a second barrel, I can make a barrel change and have an entirely new shotgun in less than a minute.

Again, I've prowled over every piece of those scatter guns. I found NOTHING that would place the Mossberg 88 in the "cheap/crappy" category. I found nothing that would justify the $50-100 difference in price, either. The 88 is a nice, reliable inexpensive shotgun and mine were made in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Flash

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[satx78247]

CHAGO,

BEFORE taking a hacksaw to your shotgun, I'd look about at the next local/large gun-show. = At the last show at Freeman Coliseum at least one vendor had any number of riot barrels for various shotguns & FOR CHEAP too.
(That said, I've "sawed-off" any number of cheap shotguns over the last 4 decades.)

just my OPINION, satx

 

[Downhill]

+1 on get a separate barrel.

 

[easy rider]

Cutting a barrel narrows your options on what you can with that barrel. Buy the shorter barrel and sell the longer if you would like.

 

[baboon]

hack saw blade you may already have so cost is free

Tubing cutter would do a nicer job of it.

 

[easy rider]

I have several of the Mossberg 88's and the Mossberg 500's, I've disassembled both side by side and can't see a dime's worth of difference between them except for the safety location. The 88 has a trigger guard safety and the 500 has a tang mounted safety.

Differences are: The trigger on the 500 can be upgraded to a 590 metal trigger. The 88 forends are pinned, not screwed. The 500 is machine threaded on the housing for a rail. Magazine tube on the 88 can't be modified.