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he definition of performance is “the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing

an action, task, or function.” When it comes to competition ammunition, it has to function in our firearms, and it has to achieve a particular task; for USPSA, that means making power factor. Our performance is only as good as the ammunition we use. This has usually been accomplished by reloading your ammunition.

Off the shelf, factory ammunition will get the job done, but the performance isn’t what we require. Factory 45acp and 40S&W is too hot and, depending on the brand of 9mm factory, it can either be a hot round or not make power factor (I went sub-minor at 2013 Production Nationals with factory ammunition in a five-inch-barrel gun). So we buy our components and reload our ammunition.

The initial start-up cost to be able to make your ammunition is not inexpensive. There is the cost of a press, brass, primers, powder, and bullets – and that can add up rather quickly. There is a cost saving when you buy in bulk, and the cost of the

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FASTER, SMOOTHER, CLEANER AND BUILT FOR COMPETITIVE SHOOTERS

SYNTECH ACTION PISTOLIS BORN

PHOTOS BY JAKE MARTENS, A52987.

BY JAKE MARTENS, A52987

press is usually offset by the savings of what it would cost to purchase factory ammo versus reloading. There is always that other factor that you need to account for, and that is time. How much of your time will be spent at the reloading bench and what is that worth? I do not know a lot of people who have as much time lying around as they do 5-gallon buckets of brass these days.

Something else to consider is quality. If you reload, you are your quality control person; you are a one-man show and should be able to make sure every

round is match grade. To ensure that quality, you are probably inspecting every piece of brass, roll sizing, cleaning and checking the primer pockets. You are making sure that you are loading out of the same case lots of powder and primers, and weighing and measuring the bullets – then, of course, case gauging every loaded round. Well, maybe not your practice ammo, but definitely anything for a match, right? Then it is off to the range to chrono that batch of reloads to ensure that there are no surprises at the next major match you paid to go to.

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FASTER, SMOOTHER, CLEANER

Almost two years ago, Federal Premium came to us and started asking about trends with competitive shooters, how many were shooting factory ammo, what are the most popular bullet weights, what are the power factors needed. The Syntech line of ammunition was not new, but they had something different in mind. Enter Syntech Action Pistol, a new load especially designed for USPSA. Put simply, it offers the most reliable performance possible for high-volume competitive shooters.

“Syntech Action Pistol utilizes all the same technology as the standard Syntech line but is tailored specifically to the competitive pistol application,” said John Swenson, Federal Premium handgun ammunition design engineer. “During extended matches, the reduced fouling and cooler gun temperatures allow competitors to keep their focus on their performance and the match rather than equipment maintenance.”

Swenson explained that the bullets and loads are designed to yield the least possible felt recoil while meeting power factor requirements and cycling reliably.

“Reduced recoil in these time-sensitive events means less muzzle rise and less time required for follow-up shots,” he said. “And that means more consistent hits and lower stage-completion times.”

Syntech Action Pistol builds off the success of the

During the Iron Sight Nationals last year we were able to test the ammunition through several of the most popular handguns.

9MM 150 GRAIN POWER FACTORPistol 5 Shot Average

CZ Shadow 2 #1 135.8

CZ Shadow 2 #2 135.7

Glock 19 131.0

Glock 34 134.4

Sig P320 X5 133.1

Springfield 1911A1 #1 133.8

Springfield 1911A1 #2 138.0

Tanfoglio Stock 2 135.7

Walther Creed 133.0

Walther PPQ Q5 136.7

STI 9mm Trojan 137.5

.40S&W 205 GRAIN POWER FACTORPistol 5 Shot Average

Bedell Custom 2011 173.9

Nowlin Custom 2011 178.6

STI Trojan 1911 173.7

Glock 35 171.1

STI DVC 174.4

45acp 220 grain 173.8Factory test barrel

SYNTECH ACTION PISTOL / OUR TESTING

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PHOTOS BY JAKE MARTENS, A52987.

FASTER, SMOOTHER, CLEANER

original Syntech, which was designed to be easier on your gun and more fun to shoot, providing clean, smooth, consistent performance. Its development took years and centered on the exclusive Total Synthetic Jacket, a complete polymer coating that replaces the copper jacket in conventional full metal jacket target ammo. TSJ prevents metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and barrel, eliminating copper and lead fouling,

reducing damaging heat and friction and extending barrel life.

The new Syntech Action Pistol offers even better performance for competitive shooters. It features the TSJ and is loaded to competition power-factor requirements. Its heavy, flatter-nose bullets provide more reliable knock-downs on steel targets in competition. They also drastically reduce splash-back on steel targets.

“Heavy bullets for a given power factor typically have less felt recoil,” Swenson said. “They also maintain momentum downrange better than a light bullet. The combination of flatter

noses and higher momentum give improved momentum transfer to steel targets. The result is better likelihood of target activation, especially with marginal hits near the edge.”

Swenson said the nose design also helps competitors when shooting paper targets. “The flatter nose provides a larger-diameter perforation, making scoring clearer for hits that are near the edge of scoring zones rather than having to rely on the grease ring.”

Also, Syntech Action Pistol uses clean-burning powders that minimize barrel residue, and its Catalyst lead-free primer provides consistent, reliable ignition.

“The primer and powder are just as important as the projectile,” Swenson said. “They are key to the reliable and repeatable performance needed for these highly competitive events. Pairing the Catalyst primer with these propellants yields consistent performance with a clean burn and reduced recoil.”

Designers configured Syntech Action Pistol to meet the needs of

shooters who compete in USPSA. Federal Premium recently signed on as a sponsor of USPSA, and Syntech Action Pistol is the official sponsored ammo of the organization.

“We’re proud to be the first major ammunition manufacturer to enter this exciting arena,” said Justin Johnson, Federal Premium product line manager. “USPSA shooters demand very specific things from their ammunition. It needs to be accurate,

consistent, reliable, and meet power-factor requirements. Until our launch of Syntech Action Pistol, reloading was the preferred way to achieve all of the above. With our factory-loaded ammunition, shooters have a simple, convenient and better solution.”

Syntech Action Pistol is currently offered in 9mm Luger, with 40 S&W and 45 Auto next in line. It will help you shoot better and more comfortably, so all you have to do is focus on the next target, round after round. Syntech Action Pistol is currently available from Brownells and MidWay USA.

60 MARCH / APRIL 2018

Elevate your game and improve your score with new Syntech Action Pistol competition ammo from Federal®. The polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullet eliminates copper and lead fouling. When combined with the Catalyst™ lead-free primer for a cleaner burn, you’ll experience less recoil, less residue, reduced report, allowing you to shoot quicker, and enjoy a better shooting experience.Ammunition specifically designed to meet major or minor power factor requirements.

Less recoil

Cleaner burning propellant

Eliminatesfouling

FIND YOUR SIGHT PICTURE QUICKER WITH NEW SYNTECH® ACTION PISTOL