Federal Syntech Review: The Rise of Synthetic Ammo

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Mar 23, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "Federal Syntech Review: Is Synthetic Ammo Worth It?"
(https://ammo.com/ammo-review/federal-syntech-review)

Everything in the world seems to have gone synthetic nowadays. That now includes ammunition.

Federal Syntech ammo is loaded with polymer-coated bullets, as opposed to conventional copper-jacketed ones. The "Total Synthetic Jacket" bullet, as Federal calls it, is designed to reduce friction, keep the barrel cleaner, extend barrel lifespan, and reduce the risk of splash-back while the shooter is firing at hard surfaces.

Is this all a gimmick? Or should you grab a few boxes of Federal Syntech ammunition before your next trip to the range?

We're going to find out shortly.

When I learned I would write this Federal Syntech review, I bought ammo to feed my 9mm Luger Smith & Wesson M&P Shield and headed to the gun range. As you continue reading, you'll discover my findings and opinions, which will help you decide if Syntech ammo is right for you.

Federal Syntech Overview

Federal Premium is a world-renowned ammunition manufacturer known for producing high-quality rimfire, centerfire, and shotshell ammo. That alone caused me to set high expectations for Federal Syntech.

The Syntech line of ammo offers shooters 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and 10mm. Each cartridge is available with mutiple bullet weights.

Federal offers most of the aforementioned cartridges under their Syntech Action Pistol, Syntech Defense, Syntech Training Match, Syntech PCC, and Syntech Range labels. Each has its specific purpose for shooting sports, personal defense, or training at the range, which we will discuss further in the Syntech variations section.

What makes this pistol ammunition unique is its Total Synthetic Jacket (TSJ) projectile, which has a polymer coating around its lead core. The TSJ prevents metal-on-metal contact and lead fouling inside the barrel. The TSJ also prevents lead aerosolization during ignition – a benefit amplified by the cartridge's lead-free Catalyst primer, which makes Syntech an optimal choice of ammo for target shooting indoors. And because polymer isn't brittle like copper, the TSJ is less likely to deflect dangerous shrapnel back at the firing line after striking something hard, such as steel or stone.

Our Federal Syntech Review

Federal Syntech Action Pistol 9mm Ammo - 500 Rounds of 150 Grain Total Synthetic Jacket Ammunition

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I ordered a box of Syntech Range 9mm Luger 124 grain from Ammo.com. Thanks to the fast shipping, it was at my door within a few days. I loaded up headed for the range to run several mags of Syntech loads through my pistol.

I tested for accuracy. It was as good as I expected from a less-than-spectacular shooter like myself, and reliability was on point as well.

I had zero malfunctions, even during rapid-fire, and my pistol looked no dirtier than it was before I began shooting that day.

Federal claims that the Syntech line has less recoil than other loads. I didn't notice much of a difference, but I was firing 9mm – a round with little recoil in the first place.

While purchasing these rounds, I noticed they were much more expensive than traditional full metal jacket (FMJ) lead-core bullets from Federal, Remington, Winchester, and many other ammo manufacturers.

That's to be expected from a new and unique technology. As more and more shooters adopt Syntech as their go-to range ammo, the price should become more comparable to traditional FMJ bullets.

What Is It Best For?

Federal Syntech ammo is best for those who shoot a lot – like, a lot more than I do. If you're concerned with burning through a barrel or tired of cleaning your gun, this is the ammo for you.

It's especially great for indoor range shooters, as it helps prevent lead and other heavy metal vapors from building up in your body and potentially causing you harm later down the road.

Syntech Action Pistol ammo loaded Syntech jacket flat nose bullets is the official ammunition of the USPSA. If you're a competitive shooter, then these rounds would serve you well during competitions.

Disadvantages

We pride ourselves on staying as unbiased as possible, because we understand no company or product is perfect.

Federal Syntech's price tag is its most significant disadvantage for shooters. This ammo offers firearms enthusiasts a few advantages, but I'm not sure they're worth the price increase, except for those who primarily shoot indoors (although it begs mentioning that cheaper TMJ ammo achieves the same degree of lead vapor reduction).

Another disadvantage is the small cartridge selection. Syntech ammo is only available in pistol calibers. Rimfire and rifle shooters need not apply.

Pros and Cons of Federal Syntech Ammo

Federal Syntech Action Pistol 9mm Ammo - 500 Rounds of 150 Grain Total Synthetic Jacket Ammunition

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Below are the pros and cons I found while researching and testing Federal Syntech ammo.

Pros

• Syntech bullet prevents metal-on-metal contact in the bore, eliminating copper and lead fouling and extending barrel life
• Lead-free primer provides reliable and consistent ignition without heavy metals
• Clean-burning propellant further minimizes fouling, which significantly reduces how often you need to clean your firearm
• The absence of a copper jacket minimizes the risk splash-back while firing on steel targets
• Less felt recoil
• Reloadable brass cases

Cons

• More expensive than traditional FMJ rounds
• Only pistol cartridges are available

Ballistics of Federal Syntech Ammo

We created a ballistics table for Syntech 9mm, 10mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP for you to take a look at.

(I don't own a ballistic chronograph to test some of these numbers for myself. They were taken from FederalPremium.com).

Federal Syntech Variants

As I previously mentioned, there are several types of Federal Syntech ammo. Each has a specific purpose for shooters, which we'll talk about below.

Syntech Action Pistol

Syntech Action Pistol is designed for action shooting sports. It's loaded to competitive power factor requirements with heavy, flatnosed bullets, so you get more reliable knockdowns on steel targets.

Syntech Action Pistol is available in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto.

Syntech Defense

Syntech Defense delivers debilitating terminal performance with the power of its segmented hollow point (SHP) bullet, which separates into three segments and a deep-penetrating core following impact. The bullet's core penetrates 12"-18" into ballistics gel. The three smaller segments inflict as many secondary wound channels, any of which can neutralize the threat instantly.

Unlike Federal HST, which is loaded with nickel-plated brass cases, Syntech Defense features regular brass cases. It is available in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto.

Syntech Training Match

Syntech Training Match loads offer the same velocity, trajectory, and point of impact as Federal Premium Personal Defense HST and Tactical HST Duty ammunition, so you can train with ammo that gives you virtually identical as your field ammo.

It's produced in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto.

Syntech PCC

Federal Personal Defense 380 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 99 Grain HST Ammunition

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$29.99

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Syntech PCC is designed for pistol caliber carbines (PCCs). It meets the demands of PCC competitions. Velocity and accuracy are optimized for the longer barrels, and the bullet is shaped for reliable feeding and excellent accuracy in various carbine platforms.

At the time of writing this ammo is only available in 9mm.

Syntech Range

Syntech Range is intended to be used during a day of fun shooting at the range. It's not competitive or handload-quality ammo, but its clean-shooting bullet, clean-igniting propellant, and lead-free primer all pose serious benefits during target practice.

It's available in 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 Auto, and 10mm.

Parting Shots: Federal Syntech Ammo Review

Now that you've finished our Federal Syntech Review, you can determine if this ammo fills your needs or if you should continue looking for something else.

While I enjoyed testing it, I'm not sure it's worth the extra cost for me, although I appreicate the excellent benefits for indoor range and competition shooters.

Either way, check out what's in stock at Ammo.com to experience our incredible customer service and blazing-fast shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some of the commonly asked questions regarding Federal Syntech ammo.

Is the Federal Syntech worth buying?

Yes. Federal Syntech is worth buying if you often shoot at an indoor range. If you don't shoot often – or primarily frequent at an outdoor range – then you probably don't need Federal Syntech.

What is the range of Federal Syntech?

The range of Federal Syntech is comparable to other rounds of the same caliber. For handgun rounds, it's about 50 yards.

Written by

Wes Littlefield