Syntech Ammunition was launched a few years back, specially designed as a high-quality training round. It keeps a lead core, but the jacket is polymer. The bullet is encased to keep any lead on steel contact from inside the gun, eliminating aerosolized lead and overall making a cleaner to shoot round. The construction also reduces splash back from steel targets.
SPECS
- Polymer-encapsulated Syntech® bullet prevents metal-on-metal contact in the bore, eliminating copper and lead fouling, while extending barrel life
- Exclusive lead-free primer formulation provides the most reliable, consistent ignition
- Clean-burning propellants minimize residue and fouling
- Significantly reduces the required frequency of cleaning
- Absence of a copper jacket minimizes splash-back on steel targets
- Less perceived recoil
- Cartridges: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 Auto
New for this year, a big bonus to the competitive crowd. Federal has teamed with USPSA to produce a round geared toward the sport. Federal has increased the bullet weight across the Syntech line, far beyond normal. The 9mm is 150 grain, and the .40 S&W a 205 grain.
USPSA power factors are derived by a simple equation. Bullet weight times velocity, divided by 1000. So a 150 grain bullet at 1000 feet per second yields a power factor of 150. The minimum for minor power factor is 125, and major has a floor of 165. Running the number, it is easy to see the power factor math heavily favors bullet weight increase over velocity increase. 40 cal over 185 grain is difficult to find, so the new 205’s are sure to be a success.
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For more information about Federal Syntech ammo, click here.
Hi Clay, thought I read on here the other day a fellow countryman of yours with some pretty harsh criticism directed at yourself. I’m Canadian and I have the utmost respect for you and don’t have the words to thank you for your service. Keep up those reviews. Brian.
Cowboy Action shooters have been shooting polymer coated bullets for a few years now with excellent results.
IIRC polymer coated bullets were pioneered in Australia. Hi-Performance Bullet Coatings (hi-performancebulletcoatings.com) brought the technology to the states with their Hi-Tek coatings.
The coating can be applied to any cast lead bullet and when properly applied the coating will not flake or chip even if the bullet is hammered flat.
Available in multiple colors Many shooters use the different colors to identify different types of ammo. A lot easier than marking thousands of cases with a sharpie to denote different loads.
If there is a down side to Hi-Tek coated bullets I haven’t found it yet.