The H&R single shots are made here, the pumps are made in china and imported by H&R/Marlin. Look on the side of your gun, it says made in China right on it.

They are a 870 clone and the fit and finish is very nice for the price. The down side is almost none of the parts are interchangeable. And they take Mossberg chokes.

I don't know the differences of the 500 and the maverick right of the top of my head, I believe there on mossbergs site though. I know the safety is in a different location though. I think, and I could be totally wrong on this, but I think the maverick is farmed out and not really made in the U.S. so they can sell it a bit cheaper because of lower labor costs. I thought I read that somewhere, but I never really researched it to see if it was true. So take that one with a large grain of salt if you can't confirm it.

Both are great guns for the money and nearly identical in design and function.

Paul