18-1/2" vs 20" barrel Maverick 88 shotgun

Neither is necessarily better than the other for defensive use.

If you get the 18.5" 5-shot model you have more options for other uses down the road as you can more readily swap the barrels.
 
Wish I had bought the 20" barrel instead of the 18 for my 500. You can get chokes for the longer one and practice on clays better.
 
Chris,

That depends on which configuration of 500 we're talking. I interpreted the OP to be asking between the 8+1 20" version and the 5+1 18" version. With the 20" 8+1 version you've got to swap the mag tube to be able to swap to other barrels. Not sure if they make a choked barrel for the 8+1 version in a 500. They do in the 590....

If we're talking about the 5+1, 20" version, I agree it is more versatile and the extra 1.5" of barrel length is not a hindrance. Awhile back Mossberg made a special run of 18.5" Heavy Wall accuchoked 500 barrels for a federal agency (Marshal's Service I think?). They sold the overruns to havlinsales.com and Havlin sold them to the public at large. I have one on my 500 now and it's a handy little joker. Throws evil buckshot patterns with an extended modified choke and Remington Express 2 3/4" shells. I swap out to the 28" barrel for birds and such, but the 18.5" does deer and turkey duty. I've got a 24" slug barrel for it that rarely gets used.

RR
 
not much of a difference, a tad bit more weight, but barely any, and for close quarter use your not sacrificing any acuracy
 
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