Mossberg Maverick For 88, 91 Instructions Manual

							IMPORTANT “SAFETY WARNINGS” - NOTE THE SYMBOL
These safety warnings are for your protection as well as the safety of others.
Disregarding information in this manual may result in serious injury or death.
Be certain this owner’s manual is available for reference and is kept with this
firearm if transferred to another party. If the manual is lost or misplaced,
contact Maverick for a free replacement copy.
After performing any work on your firearm such as cleaning, adjustments,
disassembly or installation of any accessory, the firearm should be re-checked
for proper functioning before firing live ammunition.
Firearms are complicated mechanisms. Any modification, alteration, or improper
fitting of parts may result in a dangerous malfunction, damage to the firearm
and injury to the shooter and other persons. The firearm’s owner must accept
full responsibility for the correct reassembly and functioning of the firearm after
any disassembly or replacement of parts.
If you do not understand any of the material in this manual or have any
questions, contact a qualified gunsmith or Maverick directly.
Do not attempt to load or use any firearm until you read and understand the
information contained in its owner’s manual. Before handling your firearm, you
should learn how it operates and how to maintain it. This includes knowing its
basic parts, how the manual safety and other safety features operate, how to
safely open and close the action and how to safely load and unload ammunition from
the firearm. Improper use and handling is dangerous and could cause serious injury or
death to you or those around you. All users of the firearm must become thoroughly
familiar with the instructions in this manual.
INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD • EAGLE PASS INDUSTRIAL PARK
EAGLE PASS, TEXAS 78853
PHONE (830) 773-9007      FAX (830) 773-5893
www.mossberg.com
Safety and safe firearms handling is everyone’s responsibility.
OWNER’S
MANUAL
FOR 88TM AND  91TM MODEL
PUMP ACTION SHOTGUNS® 
						

							As the owner of a firearm, you must undertake the full-time responsibility of
safe firearms handling for your own safety and the safety of those around you:
•  Keep all firearms and ammunition out of the reach of children.
• Store your firearms and ammunition separately.
•  Never store a loaded firearm.
•  Never leave a loaded firearm unattended.
•  Never transport a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
•  Unload your firearm when you have stopped shooting and when you have to
   climb a tree, fence, cross a slippery surface or have to transport it in a vehicle.
•  Do not load your firearm before you are in a place where it is safe to shoot,
   and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
•  Never shoot at water, rocks or any hard surfaces. Shot may glance off such
   surfaces and cause injuries.
•  Do not use alcohol or drugs before or while handling firearms.
•  Do not touch the trigger while the safety button is being engaged or disengaged.
Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction, regardless of whether
the firearm is loaded or unloaded.
Always treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Give your firearm to someone
with the action open (bolt fully rearward) and the safety button pushed fully to
the right to the “ON” (SAFE) position after you verify the firearm is unloaded.
Insist on the same procedure when receiving a firearm from someone else.
Learn the location of all the safety features of your firearm and how they
operate.
Wear eye and ear protection when shooting. Shooting without proper ear
protection can cause hearing damage. The use of eye protection during any
type of shooting is important to protect your vision.
Due to the heavy recoil of a shotgun, maintain an adequate distance between the
rear of the scope and your face at all times.
We specifically disclaim any responsibility for damage or injury
whatsoever occurring in connection with, or as a result of, the use of
faulty, or non-SAAMI standard, or “remanufactured” or hand-loaded
(reloaded) ammunition. Additionally, we disclaim any responsibility for
damage or injury which results from any modifications or changes that
are not a part of the firearm as delivered from the factory.
Learn to clean your firearm thoroughly and make certain no oil, grease or other
materials are blocking the barrel. Obstructions of any kind can cause damage
to the firearm resulting in personal injury.
Practice proper firearm maintenance and safety. Make sure all exposed metal
surfaces are coated with a thin film of oil, especially after being exposed to
damp weather. (See proper section of this manual for cleaning instructions.)
Do not plug barrel or store in fabric-lined case which will absorb lubricants from
the firearms. Before using after storage, follow complete instructions stated in
this manual for refamiliarization with the firearm. A thorough inspection should
be performed before going into the field. Have your gun periodically checked
by a qualified gunsmith.
PART NO. 13002 REV. G 
						

							TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Operating Instructions............................................................................................  2
Mechanical Safety ...............................................................................................  2
Barrel Assembly ..................................................................................................   3
Magazine Capacity ..............................................................................................  4
Loading ...............................................................................................................  4-5
Firing the Shotgun ...............................................................................................  6
Unloading the Shotgun .......................................................................................  7
Disassembly Procedures ....................................................................................  7-10
Cleaning and Lubrication ....................................................................................  10,11
Assembly Procedures .........................................................................................  11-13
Function Testing ..................................................................................................  14
Sight Adjustment .................................................................................................   14,15
Accessory Barrels ...............................................................................................  14
Accu, Accu-Steel and Accu-Mag Choke Tubes ...................................................  15-17
Pistol Grip Installation .........................................................................................  17,18
Heat Shield ..........................................................................................................  18-19
Service Instructions .............................................................................................  20
Warranty Information ...........................................................................................  21
Parts List .............................................................................................................  22
Exploded View ....................................................................................................  23
Notes ...................................................................................................................  24,25
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling..............................................  Back Cover 
						

							2
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand this entire manual and its safety warnings before handling this firearm.
MECHANICAL SAFETY
Never rely on any mechanical safety device to prevent the dangers of careless
handling or pointing a firearm in an unsafe direction.
The safety is located at the front of the trigger guard (Fig. 2) and must be manually moved
to the desired position by the shooter.
The safety is set in the “ON” (SAFE) position by pushing the button from the
left side (side opposite the ejection port) so that it moves all the way to the
right. The button must always be pushed fully to the right until it moves no
further to be in the “ON” (SAFE) position.
Remember, a firearm’s manual safety is a mechanical device which can never
replace safe firearm handling practices.
Moving the safety button fully to the left will put the safety in the “OFF” (FIRE) position.
The safety button is designed to function only as described above and should
not be reversed. Do not attempt to remove or reverse the button. Doing so will
result in an unsafe condition which can cause serious injury or death.
The safety button is marked with a red ring for training purposes as a reminder that
moving it to the left with red showing is the “FIRE” position, moving it all the way to the
right with red not showing is the “SAFE” position.
ACTION RELEASE CONTROL
The action lock lever is located on the left side of the trigger housing just rearward of the
trigger guard.
The action lock lever allows the action to be unlocked and opened for inspection or
unloading without pulling the trigger. The action may be opened by depressing the lever
and pulling the forearm rearward (Fig. 3).
SAFETY 
						

							3
BARREL ASSEMBLY
CAUTION: Never close the action or pull trigger while barrel is removed as damage
could result to the firearm.
To facilitate shipping, some models are packaged with the barrel removed. To install the
barrel in the receiver, proceed as follows:
Visually inspect the inside of the barrel to make certain it is free of any
obstructions, excessive oil or grease before installation. If you are unable to
remove all obstructions, bring the shotgun to a qualified gunsmith or ship it to the
authorized Product Service Center. Failure to do so may result in firearm
damage and/or personal injury if the shotgun is fired.
Move the safety button, fully to the right, to the “ON” (SAFE) position (Fig. 2).
All Models:Depress the action lock lever (Fig. 3) and move the forearm rearward until
the front of the bolt is in the middle of the ejection port (Fig. 7).
88™ Models:  Slide the barrel into the receiver and tighten the takedown screw, finger
tight only. DO NOT use pliers or a wrench to tighten the takedown screw. A little space
between the magazine tube and the takedown mount is normal (Fig. 4).
91™ Models:  Unscrew the magazine/barrel cap by turning it counterclockwise.
The magazine spring exerts pressure on the retainer, use caution when
assembling or disassembling.
Slide the barrel takedown mount ring over the magazine tube while guiding the barrel extension
portion of the barrel into the receiver (Fig. 4).
Gently rotate the barrel back and forth while pushing the barrel into the receiver.
Tighten the magazine cap, finger tight only. DO NOT use pliers or a wrench to tighten
magazine cap.
88 and 91 Models: Check to be certain that the barrel is fully seated into the
receiver by looking through the ejection port.The barrel extension must rest firmly
against the corresponding cut in the top of the receiver as shown in Figure 4.
NOTE:During firing, the action unlocks automatically after the hammer falls and
the action can be cycled without depressing the action lock lever. 
						

							4
MAGAZINE CAPACITY
88™ Models: Total ammunition capacity (including one in the chamber) is six (6) 2-3/4 shells.
Depending upon ammunition tolerance variations, total capacity may be reduced by one round
when using 3 shells.
91™ Models: Total ammunition capacity (including one in the chamber) is six (6) 2-3/4 or 3
or five (5)  3-1/2 shells.
NOTE: To comply with U.S. migratory bird laws, six shot models are shipped with a
wooden dowel inserted in the magazine tube which limits magazine capacity
to two (2) shells.
To remove the dowel, first remove the barrel. Point the shotgun downward and shake it back
and forth lightly until the dowel protrudes from the takedown screw hole in the end of the
magazine tube. A rubber “O” ring on the dowel prevents it from falling out accidentally. Grasp the
dowel and pull it completely out.
To change back to a 2-shot magazine capacity insert the dowel through the center of the
magazine spring so that it is positioned inside the coils of the spring.
LOADING
Before loading, move the safety button fully to the right, (Fig. 2) to the “ON” (SAFE)
position.
During loading never allow fingers or any objects to contact the trigger. Keep the
muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.
Depress the action lock lever (Fig. 3) and open the action by pulling the forearm
completely rearward. 
						

							If you wish to load the firearm with the maximum number of shells, or fire single shots, load the
first shell through the ejection port located on the right side of the receiver (Fig. 5). The shell can
be inserted directly into the chamber or placed on top of the elevator. Close the action by moving
the forearm completely forward. Be sure to leave the safety “ON” until you are ready to shoot.
The shotgun is now loaded! The safety button should be in the “ON” (SAFE)
position until you are on target and have actually decided to fire. Keep the muzzle
pointed in a safe direction at all times, and your fingers and any other objects away
from the trigger area.
LOADING MAGAZINE
Load the magazine tube by turning the shotgun so that the trigger guard is facing up and the
action is closed. Push the front end of the shell into the magazine tube until the rim of the shell
snaps past the cartridge stop (Fig. 6 & 9). Never attempt to exceed the magazine capacity.
5
Inspect the chamber and bore of the barrel for any obstruction, excessive oil or grease.
The chamber is the rear portion of the barrel which contains the cartridge (Fig. 4).
Failure to do so may result  in damage to the firearm and/or personal injury when the
firearm is fired.
Do not load shotgun until ready for use! Unload shotgun when shooting has been
completed! The safety button should always be in the “ON” (SAFE) position whether
the firearm is loaded or not.
Check to be certain that the ammunition selected is the same type of cartridge as
designated on the left side of the barrel. 
						

							6
FIRING
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling
ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause
birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious physical injury. Have adequate
ventilation at all times. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.
With the shotgun pointed in a safe direction and held in the proper firing position, move the
safety  to its “OFF” (FIRE) position. Pulling the trigger through its full travel to the rear, will fire the
shotgun.
Should the shotshell fail to fire, keep the shotgun pointed in a safe direction. Move the
safety button to the “ON” (SAFE) position. Remove the misfired shotshell and
segregate from other ammunition. Do not attempt to refire a misfired round.
If at any time during firing, the sound of any given round is noticeably louder or softer
than previous rounds fired, STOP! Do not load or fire additional rounds until you have
put safety in the “ON” (SAFE) position, then safely unload your firearm and inspect it
for possible damage or obstruction in the chamber or bore.
CYCLING THE ACTION
To eject a shotshell case, pull the forearm completely rearward. The spent case or unfired
shotshell will eject out of the receiver through the ejection port.
Be sure that all observers are clear of the path of ejection. Empty cases are thrown out
with significant force and could cause injury. 
						

							7
To chamber a live shotshell from the magazine, push the forearm fully forward.
Remember: when the magazine tube is loaded and the action is cycled, a live shotshell
will be chambered!  Always keep the safety in the “ON” (SAFE)  position until you are
actually ready to fire the shotgun.
UNLOADING
Move the safety button (Fig. 2) to the “ON” (SAFE) position. During unloading, never
allow fingers or any object to contact the trigger. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe
direction at all times.
Depress the action lock lever (Fig. 3) and pull the forearm rearward, slowly, until the live shotshell
is completely withdrawn and visible in the ejection port. Remove shotshell by hand.
Continue pulling the forearm rearward to release the next shotshell onto the elevator.
Turn the shotgun so that the ejection port faces downward to allow the released shotshell to
drop out through the ejection port.
Push the forearm completely forward, closing the bolt without a shell being chambered.
Turn the shotgun over so that the trigger guard is positioned upward.
Be certain that the shotgun remains pointed in a safe direction during unloading.
Insert your right thumb into the opening in the bottom of the receiver and depress the cartridge
stop on the right side to release shotshells one at a time (Fig. 9). Repeat until all shotshells are
removed from the magazine tube.
Depress the action lock lever and pull the forearm completely rearward. Visually and
physically inspect chamber, elevator and magazine tube again to insure that no
shotshells remain in the shotgun.
Leave the action in the open, rearward position and the safety button in the “ON” (SAFE)
position.
DISASSEMBLY /  BARREL REMOVAL
Position the safety button in the “ON” (SAFE) position and visually and physically
check chamber, elevator and magazine to be certain the shotgun is unloaded. Wear
eye protection during disassembly and cleaning.
Depress the action lock lever (Fig. 3) and open the action by sliding the forearm fully rearward.
Move the forearm slowly forward from the fully rearward position until the front of the bolt is in the
middle of the ejection port (Fig. 7).
The 91™ Model magazine spring retainer and spring are under significant spring
pressure. Use caution should removal be necessary to prevent injury to yourself or
others around you.
Loosen the 88™ Model “take down screw”, or 91™ Model “magazine cap”, by turning
counterclockwise until the screw  threads are completely disengaged from the end of the
magazine tube (Fig. 7).
Remove the barrel from the receiver with a gentle back-and-forth rotational movement while
pulling the barrel out of the receiver asssembly. 
						

							TRIGGER HOUSING REMOVAL
Position the shotgun on a clean surface with the trigger guard upward. With a blunt object (no
greater than 3/16 [4.76 mm] diameter), push out the small diameter trigger housing retainer pin
located on the side of the receiver, approximately a 1/2 (12.7 mm) below the rear of the trigger
guard (Fig. 8).
Remove the trigger housing assembly by lifting the rear portion upward first.
The trigger housing is a complex assembly and must not be disassembled.
Disassembly should only be performed at an authorized Product Service Center or
by  a qualified gunsmith.
8
Do not pull the trigger and allow the hammer to fall when the trigger housing  assembly
is removed from the receiver. To do so may result in personal injury or damage to the
assembly.
Fig. 8