Remington Ammunition announced last week it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to supply the branch with 12-gauge slug duty shotgun loads for the next five years. The load selected is the AO23 12-gauge, 2-3/4-inch, 1-ounce Rifled Lead Slug.
“Remington is striving to expand its presence in military requirements, and this is truly a historic win for our brand,” said David Kline, Remington’s technical director for military & law enforcement ammunition. “Remington is dedicated to innovation, and quality, all while staying true to the company’s legendary heritage and stature as an American icon.”
The ammunition will be produced by Remington Ammunition at its Lonoke, AR, facility. Technical specifications for the ammunition are similar to those the company offers on the commercial market. The Naval Sea Systems Command “Smal Arms and Special Warfare Ammunition” technical manual prescribes that A023 12-gauge slugs “…have an all-weather plastic case and metal head.” Muzzle velocity for the 1-ounce slug must fall between 1,590 and 1,770 fps.
“We continue to find ways to improve rifled slug accuracy and performance for law enforcement and military,” Kline added. “This large government contract awarded to Remington speaks volumes to the trust the United States military has in our American workforce assembling the best products for our servicemen and servicewomen.”
The agreement is big news for the company, which was once part of the financially siphoned Remington Outdoor empire of gun-related companies that filed final bankruptcy paperwork in July of 2020. In October 2020 it was acquired by Vista Outdoor—parent company of Federal, Speer, CCI and other ammunition legends—during the auction that followed.
The experienced management team and engineers from Vista immediately upgraded equipment and processes at Lonoke, which had fallen victim to budget cuts by the former owners. Today the Lonoke plant, which was built in 1969, is running at full capacity and producing the high-quality ammunition enthusiasts expect from the brand—including military-grade 12-gauge slugs.
