Have you done anything cool to your AOW?

[Capybara]

Hi all:

I have a pretty boring, run of the mill, Remington 870-based AOW with a 12" barrel. It's really the only NFA item we can possess in California, no MGs, SBS/SBR (unless they are C&R) and no suppressors. My AOW doesn't even have a front bead, no sights. I replaced the pistol grip with a Shockwave birdshead grip and I am going to replace the outdated looking quad rail fore end on it with a Raptor kit from Shockwave. https://shockwavetechnologies.com/product/raptor-f1-forend-for-remington-870-2/

I am also thinking about adding a pic rail over the receiver and adding a Holosun 507 to it, even though I know you have to be very careful about holding it to your face to aim, recoil mitigation through hold is key. Perhaps some QD points for a sling too.

Anyone else dress up their AOW? If so, tell me what you did and how you like it? To me, an AOW isn't very practical and I would MUCH rather have an SBS that is actually useful but until I leave California and move to America, an AOW is pretty much it so I am going to make the best of this gun. I wouldn't use it for much more than as a range toy, I have a bullpup S&W M&P 12 and a Beretta 1301 Tactical for HD.

Unfortunately our sheriff won't let us carry an AOW on our CCW, I asked, would be a good trunk/SHTF small gun.

 

[12Bravo20]

While I do not own an AOW, I do have a Mossberg Shockwave so I can chime in on using optics. The Shockwave and Tac13 will only be 2 inches longer than your AOW with a birds head grip installed.

I use the push/pull method when shooting the Shockwave. The push/pull method works well with an optic. And it is also the method taught to the US Marshals and military personnel. While in the Army, we used the short Witness Protection AOW's for breeching operations.

If you are not familiar with this technique, you basically hold the AOW/Shockwave at arms length pushing with your shooting hand will pulling back with your support hand.

As to your question about keeping a loaded AOW, smoothbore firearm, SBS or shotgun in your trunk, that will be determined by individual state laws. And each state can and will be different.

I feel that these make handy weapons for when you need a small/compact gun for HD/SH or SHTF situations. Others will have a different opinion.

 

[Capybara]

Thanks for your input. I just discovered today that Crimson Trace makes a very interesting integrated green laser sight for Remington 870 receivers (and for Mossbergs too), Im thinking shooting from the hip/chest using the push/pull method as you outlined, while utilizing the green laser on your target might actually be superior to trying to cheek hold this AOW while aiming with a green dot Holosun.

I cheek hold my AR pistol but that's just .223/5.56 with bascially very little recoil compared to 12ga buckshot loads with my AOW.

Check this out, pretty cool. In this way, I don't need to add a pic rail to the top of the receiver and it has a much more streamlined, integrated look and feel. Thoughts? https://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Trace-Lasersaddle-Ambidextrous-Installation/dp/B082N6W9K1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CJ813B4X5SAI&keywords=Crimson+Trace+LS-870G+Lasersaddle&qid=1675973087&sprefix=crimson+trace+ls-870g+lasersaddle,aps,130&sr=8-1&th=1

 

[12Bravo20]

I definitely would not recommend trying to hold an AOW or a Shockwave to your cheek. That is a good way to knock teeth out, break a jaw or break a nose. And with a micro dot sight or tube type dot sight, you can still use them at arms length.

A laser will work once you get is sighted in for either hip shooting or using the push/pull method. The push/pull method is the best way when using an optic.

I have looked into the Crimson Trace laser saddle but it won't work for me since they won't work on the 410 Shockwave.

 

[Capybara]

I saw someone had made an AOW training YouTube advocating for cheek shooting your AOW but I didn't ever watch it and I don't think I would try it. OTOH, the times I have shot my AOW aiming it, as long as I am braced and ready for the recoil, it's not that dramatic. I don't shoot 3 or 3.5" shells in it, just regular 2.75" buckshot and the recoil isn't much. It feels more comfortable though to shoot it from the hip or chest and I think the laser would work well doing that. I've tried hip shooting just guessing or trying to "walk it" onto a target with multiple shots and I wasn't very successful. Having a dot on your target would help immensely.

That's a bummer you have the .410. Do you find .410 shells cost a fortune these days or do you reload?

 

[12Bravo20]

I have been reloading my own 410 shells since 1996 due to the price of factory ammo. And don't discount the 410 when it comes to buckshot loads. I reload 3" hulls with 5 pellets of 000 buckshot and get the same fps as with most commercial 2 3/4" 12 gauge buckshot loads, the only difference is 5 pellets versus 9 pellets. Plus shooting the 410 is easier on me since I have arthritis and fibromyalgia.

When I was young and in the Army, shooting the 12 gauge AOW was not a problem. Though I mostly used them for breaching doors.

And I am sure the you find the birds head grip helps with felt recoil compared to a pistol grip stock. I know I did.

 

[Capybara]

Thats great. I'm an NRA certified metallic cartridge reloading instructor but I've never delved into reloading shotgun and I am a shotgun instructor too. At the time, for reloading 12ga and even 20ga, shells used to be cheap enough when bought by the flat that reloading shotgun, unless it was .410, 28 or 16 gauge, but these days, I guess if you can find decent prices on lead shot, it is worth it as shotshells have become so expensive, even for run of the mill target loads. As always, it also comes down to time, I have had a hard time finding the time to reload much lately even though I love doing it.

Yes, the birds head helps a lot but my AOW, with just regular 2.75" shells, it doesn't have that much recoil, at least to me. I know recoil in general, affects different people in different ways depending on build, fat versus lean muscle mass, etc. Yes, an AOW is a weird animal and most of us civilians don't have much need for door breaching but I wanted to own one anyway ;-)

 

[12Bravo20]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to own an AOW just because you want to. I thought about getting an AOW a few years ago until I saw the Mossberg Shockwaves and went with the Shockwave instead.

Shooting and installing accessories will be very similar between an AOW and the Shockwave or Remington TAC 14. And they are practical when used properly. I was never one for hip shooting any firearm. I din't even like hip shooting the M60 MG even though it is a heavy pig to shoulder.

And yes recoil can be subjective at times depending on the individual. But most will say that a birds head grip does a better job of managing felt recoil when compared to a pistol grip. The reason for this is that a birds head grip keeps your arm and wrist inline with the barrel so it is more of a straight push. A pistol grip allows the gun to recoil up adding more stress to the wrist and elbow since the shooting hand is below the centerline of the gun.

 

[GarrettJ]

I put a Shockwave pistol grip on my 870 SBS for a while. As noted by others shooting from the hip and actually hitting your target is not as simple as the movies would lead you to believe.

I’m sure I could get good at it with enough work, but I ended up just putting the buttstock back on.

 

[Capybara]

I put a Shockwave pistol grip on my 870 SBS for a while. As noted by others shooting from the hip and actually hitting your target is not as simple as the movies would lead you to believe.

I’m sure I could get good at it with enough work, but I ended up just putting the buttstock back on.

I would put on a butt stock if I could but State of California likes to spoil any and all fun and won't let us have SBS or SBR unless they are C&R. Very few papered C&R SBS and SBRs out there, I've been looking for years. I think this Crimson Trace laser sight is a way
to shoot from the hip and actually hit something at least!