Gentlemen … please help a noob out.
I recently picked up a Mossberg 590A1 AOW with a 14” bbl. Here’s the obligatory pic just to get us started ….
…now the background info and a few questions.
Background: I am not LE or MIL. I’m a regular Joe citizen. I carry a pistol concealed wherever/whenever legal. To date I’ve taken approx 60 hours of formal pistol training (all within the past 2 years) and will have my first formal AR training course next month. I am working on other training for later in the year as well. I have almost no time behind a 12 gauge.
For logistics reasons (small children in the house) I rely on a handgun as my primary HD weapon. It is simply not a good option for me to keep my AR out of the safe and readily accessible to me and not small, curious hands. Without getting into specifics I have deduced a way to do so with this AOW. I want to have it available as a fallback/standoff/barricade the family weapon to supplement my pistol.
I had thoughts of SBS’ing it to make it more shooter friendly but that would negate the size benefit and would require me to look into sighting systems, etc. I think I will leave it as a AOW for now. I can always do the additional paperwork and write a $200 check later if I change my mind.
Now, the questions.
I would like to add a sling but am not sure what the ideal mounting option would be. I was looking at something like these (see pic below) that could QD easily and utilize the existing swivels. I don’t love the idea of using the screw in swivel that goes in the mag tube cap for some reason but I can’t pinpoint why it bothers me. Does having a sling mounted there interfere with the muzzle at all? Would I be better suited getting some other kind of front mount?
What say you? Are there better options? If so, please share with explanation of why your suggestion is better (provide link to product, if possible).
I also thought about replacing the plastic pistol grip with something more shooter friendly … like a rubber Hogue pistol grip (or something similar). Thoughts? Replacing one pistol grip with another wouldn’t mess with the NFA status would it? If I do this should I just go with a sling mount that goes in between the receiver and the pistol grip?
Sling length? I want a simple two point but have no idea how long to get (I’ve a local guy that makes a really nice sling.) as I’ve no idea how one would even shoot a AOW since there is no cheek weld. I assume shots would be taken from the hip and/or chest area and the sling would just be used for retention while using your hands for something else such as transition to pistol, picking up a child, using the phone to dial 911, etc.
Again, I’m a noob and I know it. Any help/advice you have WRT pimping or shooting a AOW is great appreciated. Thanks in advance.