Federal Ammunition Syntech: Better by the Bucket

Last updated: April 30, 2020 · Originally published November 11, 2019

Tired of faffing about with a box of ammo here, a box of ammo there?

I don’t know if it’s just a reflex left over from the Great Ammo Shortage of the Obama Presidency, but I am now incapable of seeing a large bucket of ammunition in a chambering I shoot without reaching for my wallet. That’s why I’m glad that Federal Ammunition‘s new buckets o’ Syntech Ammunition are being sold at a very reasonable bulk price. Syntech Ammunition isn’t just your regular cheap n’ dirty range ammunition; in fact, it’s designed specifically for heavy use with polymer coating and clean-burning powders to keep your gun running like a top.

Syntech ammunition is unique in three ways. First, the one-of-a-kind TSJ projectile uses a polymer jacket to eliminate metal fouling and drastically reduce damaging barrel heat and friction. Second, the bullet style also minimizes splash-back on steel targets.Thirdly, its exclusive Catalyst primer provides hot, reliable ignition without the use of lead.  These features helped send Federal’s Syntech ammo right to the winner’s platform, garnering the prestigious Golden Bullseye award from NRA’s Shooting Illustrated.

“The slick, red-polymer coating eliminates metal-on-metal contact in the barrel,” wrote Ammo Editor Richard Mann. “The result is softer, smoother shooting and less friction, heat and barrel wear.”

That sounds like the kind of diet I ought to be feeding my personal carry gun, so I’m particularly pleased to see that it’s now sold in 250- to 500-round packages, packed in rugged plastic buckets that stack, store and transport easily. (In fact, I may or may not already have future project plans for the neatly stackable square buckets once I’ve emptied them of ammunition.) The buckets are available for 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, and .45 Auto.

“Conventional ammunition causes metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and bore, which can shorten barrel life and rob accuracy. The polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullet prevents this, while eliminating copper and lead fouling,” explained Federal Handgun Ammunition Product Manager Chris Laack. “Combined with specialized clean-burning powders, your gun will stay cleaner, longer, so you can shoot more and shoot better. The exclusive Catalyst primer provides the cleanest most consistent ignition possible. That’s why it received the 2017 NRA Golden Bullseye Award. And now, we sell it by the bucket full.”

Features

• 250- to 500-round loose bulk packs
• Rugged plastic buckets stack, store and transport easily
• Catalyst high-performance lead-free primer
• Total Synthetic Jacket prevents metal fouling
• Drastically reduces barrel heat and friction
• Minimizes splash-back on hard targets

These buckets are already at dealers, and that’s the only way you’ll be able to buy them…they are currently not available for sale on Federal’s website. However, if you click here, you can read more about the new ammunition and locate a dealer where you can buy a few buckets of your own.

James "The XDMAN" Nicholas

The XDMAN has a talent for taking complex firearms subject matter and breaking it down into an easy-to-understand format that all experience levels can relate to. James is an 07/02 NFA Firearms Manufacturer, a Professional Gunsmith with over 20 years of experience, and a Firearms Writer, Photographer and Firearms Expert. Connect with him on Instagram, X, and Facebook as @therealxdman.

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