Maverick 88 by moss berg question

**NET FM** · October 12th, 2014, 08:55 PM

So i just bought a Maverick 88 with 28" barrel and looking to turkey hunt with it this fall/spring. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with what brand ammo works the best for turkey hunting thrust this shotty. And would the mod choke or full choke be better?

**R L Suehr** · October 13th, 2014, 12:23 AM

My opinion. Go full choke, you want as eight a pattern as possible for turkey.

As far as shells. You will probably get tons of different answers as everyone has their personal prefrences. Myself I have always had good luck with federal 3" turkey loads with 4 shot. They always patterned very well out of my Mossberg 500 with a full choke (Very similar to you're 88). Since switching to an 835 mossberg I have gone with 3 1/2" #5 shot federal loads. They pattern well but, I haven't used them on a bird yet.

Truthfully, any "Turkey" load on the market is probably more than up to the task, so I would just pick a couple and go out and pattern test them with you're gun/choke combo. Whichever gives you the a pattern you're happiest with that's what you go with.

Good luck in turkey season.

**firebird.77** · October 13th, 2014, 10:00 AM

Pick up 2 or three different boxes of 3" turkey loads and try them.

**knight0334** · October 13th, 2014, 02:41 PM

Full choke - you'll be aiming for the head.

#4 bird works fine at typical turkey hunting ranges. 3" isn't required.. ...but the extra shot in the air will help guaranty a few more hits to the head.

Remember that with "magnum" shotgun shells like the 3" and 3.5" - you really aren't getting more velocity like a .357mag over a .38Special. With shotgun shells you are really only getting more pellets. ...velocity is relatively the same between 2-1/2", 2-5/8", 2-3/4", 3", and 3-1/2" shells. (and the 2-1/2" and 2-5/8" shells have killed everything that has walked the earth in the past 140 years)

**R L Suehr** · October 13th, 2014, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by knight0334

Full choke - you'll be aiming for the head.

#4 bird works fine at typical turkey hunting ranges. 3" isn't required.. ...but the extra shot in the air will help guaranty a few more hits to the head.

Remember that with "magnum" shotgun shells like the 3" and 3.5" - you really aren't getting more velocity like a .357mag over a .38Special. With shotgun shells you are really only getting more pellets. ...velocity is relatively the same between 2-1/2", 2-5/8", 2-3/4", 3", and 3-1/2" shells. (and the 2-1/2" and 2-5/8" shells have killed everything that has walked the earth in the past 140 years)

Solid advice here.

I got sucked into the 3 1/2" shell hype. In reality there isn't a huge advantage and the down side is heavier recoil. My 835 is a bear with 3 1/2" shells. I shot enough to pattern it and it hasn't seen range time since. I have one box of turkey shells for it I dust off whenever I want to take it hunting otherwise it is a safe queen.

**NET FM** · October 13th, 2014, 04:34 PM

Appreciate the help..yea I might just take the 2 3/4 with heavier load..not sure yet..but like the 3in with the extra pellets but hate the recoil. Can't wait to take it to the range and try it out