AOW question. Is there such a thing as a really low cost AOW?

I give up!

What does AOW stand for?

Aarond

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An NFA regulated "Any Other Weapon", like the Serbu Super Shorty.

Pretty much anything that is under 26" long, does NOT have a shoulder stock AND has a forward vertical grip is an AOW. Even "firearms" such as the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington TAC13 that are over 26" OAL become an AOW if concealed. Any firearm disguised or made to look like something else IE cane gun or pen gun is also an AOW.

I forgot to add that if you was out the bid head grip for a pistol grip on teh Shockwave and Tac13, they then are an AOW since the overall length will now be under 26"

Yes there are other types too but those are some of the most common.

No, not really. The old AOWs like the Handy-Gun are now collectibles, some like the Auto-Burglars are super expensive. Also, it costs $200 to make an AOW, but only $5 to transfer, so the cost of new construction is usually passed on to the customer. AOWs are also rarer because they can't be made from an existing shotgun. They have to be made from receiver that was never actually built, because once it becomes a shotgun, it is always a shotgun. So, cutting down a shotgun does not make it an AOW. Handy-Guns and Auto-Burglars were made that way from the factory, not cut down.

You'd be better of going the SBS route with a cheap shotgun, yes, the tax is high, but overall the cost is lower than trying to find a proper AOW.

forindooruseonly said:

No, not really.

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Hogwash.

The old AOWs like the Handy-Gun are now collectibles, some like the Auto-Burglars are super expensive.

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SOME old AOW's are collectibles. But they are collectible because they are collectible. Newer AOW's like the Serbu Super Shorty aren't collectible because they are AOW's, in fact bring less $$$ since Mossberg and Remington made virtually the same firearm as a nonNFA firearm.

Also, it costs $200 to make an AOW, but only $5 to transfer, so the cost of new construction is usually passed on to the customer.

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Nope.
A manufacturer doesn't pay anything but his yearly Special Occupational Tax (as little as $500) in order to manufacture AOW/SBS/SBR/MG's/silencers. I can manufacturer a thousand AOW's or any other NFA firearm.......ZERO tax paid on each individually to make. I just file an ATF Form 2 "Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported".
If I sell those to another FFL/SOT they transfer tax free on a Form 3.

If you aren't a licensed manufacturer 07FFL/SOT, yes, you'll pay a $200 tax for a Form 1 AOW......but you damn well better not be making them to pass on to a customer because you would be in violation of federal tax laws and ATF regulations.

AOWs are also rarer because they can't be made from an existing shotgun. They have to be made from receiver that was never actually built, because once it becomes a shotgun, it is always a shotgun. So, cutting down a shotgun does not make it an AOW. Handy-Guns and Auto-Burglars were made that way from the factory, not cut down.

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AOW's are easily and legally made from pistol grip only firearms that expel a shotgun shell......ie the Mossberg Persuader. It was sold with PG only (no shoulder stock) which by definition is not and never was a shotgun as defined in federal law. Same with using the Mossberg Shockwave or Remington TAC14.

You'd be better of going the SBS route with a cheap shotgun, yes, the tax is high, but overall the cost is lower than trying to find a proper AOW.

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Some states cannot possess an SBS, but can possess an AOW. And its easy to find a PG only Mossberg, Mossberg Shockwave, PG only Remington or TAC14 to male your AOW.

I stand corrected! Good info

forindooruseonly said:

You'd be better of going the SBS route with a cheap shotgun, yes, the tax is high, but overall the cost is lower than trying to find a proper AOW.

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Actually using the Mossberg Shockwave or Remington Tac 13/14 to start with is a pretty easy and relatively inexpensive way to build a smoothbore AOW. One you submit your Form 1 all you then have to do is swap out the bird head grip for a pistol grip. Or you can shorten the magazine tube and barrel.

One word of caution here. IF you swap the bird head grip for a standard pistol grip WITHOUT doing a Form 1, you will have an illegal and unregistered AOW. And do NOT conceal a stock Shockwave or Tac 13/14, as soon as you conceal it, it becomes an AOW.

my AOWs include Stinger pen guns on a red $5 stamp

Just some user feedback. I own a Remington 870-based AOW with a 12" barrel. I have the Birdshead grip and all of the tacticool stuff like a shell carrier on the sideplate and a railed pump arm.
It's a cool looking gun. It's also nearly useless. Because there is no shoulder stock, aiming it is awkward and ungainly. Shooting it from the hip is fun but stupid, it's hard to even hit a Watermelon from
10' without walking it onto target with multiple shots.

I own it because it is really the only NFA item a normal person in my state can own, we have no SBS/SBR/Suppressors/MGs permitted here. I don't regret buying it back about 8 years ago. It's cool looking but from a practical
standpoint, a terrible gun to hit anything with any accuracy or repeatability. I just acquired a Beretta 1301 Tactical to fulfill the role of an HD weapon after evaluating using my AOW.

Just a heads up if you are thinking about the hassle and expense of acquiring one. I would only advise one if you want an inaccurate range toy. Never for HD. It is stupid fun to try to hit a clay with it
from the hip but my hit ratio with it is pretty low.

" I just acquired a Beretta 1301 Tactical to fulfill the role of an HD weapon"

From "Auto Burglar " to the best real world defensive shotgun man has devised yet IMHO .

Capybara said:

Just some user feedback. I own a Remington 870-based AOW with a 12" barrel. I have the Birdshead grip and all of the tacticool stuff like a shell carrier on the sideplate and a railed pump arm.
It's a cool looking gun. It's also nearly useless...

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1. Sell factory 12" bbl for $$$$
2. Send ATF a note: "this firearm is no longer in NFA configuration, please notate in NFA Registry".
3. Buy shoulder stock and 18" bbl.
4. Enjoy

dogtown tom said:

1. Sell factory 12" bbl for $$$$
2. Send ATF a note: "this firearm is no longer in NFA configuration, please notate in NFA Registry".
3. Buy shoulder stock and 18" bbl.
4. Enjoy

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Good strategy, but....

If it wasn't a Freedom Group Remington 870 that had three, yes, count them three factory defects that me and my dealer had to fix ourselves
(did not like the idea of trying to ship an NFA item back to Remington service), I did toy with that idea. I would have if it was a quality made shotgun
but did you buy any Freedom Group Remington guns? I learned my lesson the hard way, when I bought it, I thought, "It's an 870. 870s are super reliable".
They were before Remington was destroyed by cost cutting bean counters in 2007!

I give up! What does AOW stand for?

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LOL. GYA IDKE.

Capybara said:

Good strategy, but....

If it wasn't a Freedom Group Remington 870 that had three, yes, count them three factory defects that me and my dealer had to fix ourselves
(did not like the idea of trying to ship an NFA item back to Remington service), I did toy with that idea. I would have if it was a quality made shotgun
but did you buy any Freedom Group Remington guns? I learned my lesson the hard way, when I bought it, I thought, "It's an 870. 870s are super reliable".
They were before Remington was destroyed by cost cutting bean counters in 2007!

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Which has what to do with anything?
1. If its fixed, its fixed.
2. Doesn't matter if it's a 1980 production or 2007.
3. Something change in two days? "I don't regret buying it back about 8 years ago..".....

hrt4me said:

my AOWs include Stinger pen guns on a red $5 stamp

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What do those MAC Stinger .22 AOW’s go for these days? I’ve been looking on-line, trying to see what’s available and get an idea on price, and have found basically zero info.

aarondhgraham said:

I give up!

What does AOW stand for?

Aarond

.

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Or something like a sadgley oss.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedgley_OSS_.38
The AOW dates back to that time the evil authorization enthusiasts tried to add handguns to the NFA registry. The AOW was supposed to be the catch all for anything that was potentially handgun like but didn't fit the definition of a handgun and wasn't a cut down rifle or shotgun.