Only thing I might do different is buy a 22 inch barrel. Right now I've got a 30 inch ventilated rib with full choke. Can kill a goose at 50 yards easy.
My new Maverick 88 is the 18-1/2” version. They call it the “88 6-shot Security” model.
About that plug. When I look into the chamber from the side, I can see the Magazine Follower inside the Magazine Tube and it is flush with the the near end of the Magazine Tube.
I hope I said that right. If so, it tells me there is NO plug. Since I seriously doubt I will EVER go bird hunting, it’s all good.
The gun store owner also sold me two 5-shell boxes of 2-3/4” #00. Now I need to buy some #7-1/2 for practice. I think I also want to buy a few dummy shells so my two ladies can begin to get used to the SG in a totally safe environment, loading, dummy-firing, and ejecting.
Then I can move them on to the #7-1/2 shells for range practice. Slowly but surely. I mean, late last night, my daughter agreed to go to the range with me and practice.