Federal AE Syntech Product Line

[Dr.Phil]

Has anyone else noticed the new Federal American Eagle Syntech Product line yet?

They are debuting it at SHOT 2016.
Last week, they gave "Sneak Peaks" to a select group of magazines and YouTube personalities.
http://www.gunsandammo.com/shot-show-20 ... tech-ammo/

Look familiar to anyone?

The "red polymer coating" looks suspiciously like the powder coating treatment that the casting community developed over the past few years.

It is interesting to see the industry picking up on trends in the online forums.
I also suspect that they saw it as a way to lower their manufacturing costs.

I do not care for the way that they are marketing it though.
Here are some of their marketing points:
•Polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullet prevents metal-on-metal contact in the bore, eliminating copper and lead fouling, while extending barrel life
•Exclusive primer formulation provides 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

So, my take on this is that Federal saw guys making PC Cast boolits and saw some potential.
Then they decided to hype up everything that comes with that.
Just due to the nature of a PC Cast projectile:
- You don't have jacket frag to deal with when shooting steel,
- Due to the difference in friction, different powders can be selected with optimal burning characteristics,
- If you are developing a new charge, they decided to use this opportunity to tune it for mild recoil,
- Since there is less friction, technically there is less barrel wear, but that is so minimal that I'm actually offended that they mention it!
- Here is the kicker, it is only $1 more per box than Federal American Eagle jacketed ammo!

Ok Federal, I'll give it to you.
You took the time to come to market with a product that other major manufactures haven't taken the time to do.
Perhaps retooling requires significant investment, but I find it hard to believe that it is more expensive to manufacture than an FMJ.
(After all, anyone who has handloaded at all, knows that the projectile is by far the most expensive component.)
Another marketing approach could be to have a slightly higher price point to attract customers.
(There are still many that believe that a slightly more expensive product must be better.)

Bottom line, good job Federal, way to bring new products to the market place.
(But ease up on the marketing BS...)
My crystal ball predicts a subsonic 300 BLK product in the new American Eagle Syntech line.
(I wonder what price point they will try to put on that???)

[plant.one]

this is what happens when you let the marketing team design your jacket box. hell they probably focus group'ed the back patting to make sure no shoulders were dislocated in the process.

at least when hornady released and hyped the Zmax stuff they brought it in at a LOWER price point than their regular offerings.



it may truly be something new an innovative, but like you said it sure looks like a (nicely) powder coated bullet. time will tell.

[BC98]

Clean burning powders and lead-free primers tend to add cost. This MAY account for some of the price differential.

[Dr.Phil]

Clean burning powders and lead-free primers tend to add cost. This MAY account for some of the price differential.

I'll be fair and yield the possibility that these cost more.
In fact I considered that when I learned about the cost difference.
But one needs to factor in the cost difference in projectiles, which is the most expensive component in a cartridge.

As a basic comparison, lets look at the average cost of a typical FMJ ball projectile & a commercially produced PC coated cast projectile:
Average cost of 500 Polymer Coated Cast Projectiles = $35
Average cost of 500 Jacketed Ball Projectiles = $55

1 Box of loaded ammunition = 50 rounds
Approximate cost difference between 1 Box of loaded ammunition:
50 Polymer Coated Cast Projectiles = ~ $3.50
50 Jacketed Ball Projectiles = ~ $5.50
____________________________________
Total cost difference for projectiles = ~ $2.00

So, since Federal is charging an additional $1 per box for Syntech ammunition, the cost difference for "lead free" primers and "clean burning" powders would have to be $3 more per 50 rounds.

Average cost of 1,000 standard primers = ~ $35
Average cost of 1,000 "Lead Free" primers = ~ $35
Average cost of 1# traditional pistol powder (W231) = ~ $20
- Estimated charge weight of W231 for 115 grain 9mm Luger ~ = 5.0 grains (7,000 grains / 5 = ~ 1,400 charges per pound)
Average cost of 1# "Clean Burning" pistol powder (N320)= ~ $35
- Estimated charge weight of N320 for 115 grain 9mm Luger ~ = 4.0 grains (7,000 grains / 4 = ~ 1,750 charges per pound)

Approximate cost difference between 1 Box of loaded ammunition:
50 Standard Small Rifle Primers = ~ $1.75
50 "Lead Free" Small Rifle Primers = ~ $1.75
Cost Difference = ~ $0.00
50 Charges of 5.0 Grains of W231 = ~ $0.72
50 Charges of 4.0 Grains of N320 = ~ $1.00
____________________________________
Total cost difference for powder and primers = ~ $0.28

So, using average costs of the different components:
A 50 round box of Traditional FMJ ball ammo = ~ $7.97 ($5.50 + $1.75 + $0.72)
A 50 round box of Syntech Range Ammunition = ~ $6.25 ($3.50 + $1.75 + $1.00)
____________________________________
Total cost difference = ~ $1.72 (Less expensive than traditional FMJ ball)

Well, that was a long way to go to make a point, but I thought that I would lay that out there in a fair way that people could see.
I think this illustrates that the cost difference is definitely, marketing related.
Not a big deal, but I appreciate folks in the industry we love, to be a bit more honest.

[rebel]

But it's "NEW and IMPROVED" Phil

[tXr]

But it's "NEW and IMPROVED" Phil

That also usually goes hand in hand with their announcement to the stockholders of reduced manufacturing costs and even higher profit margins............

[idaho.jon]

I bet folks will pay a dollar more to have red bullets!

[Dr.Phil]

But it's "NEW and IMPROVED" Phil

LOL!!!
Precisely, I can see the logic in the higher price if it is just to get people interested.
The uninformed often will not buy something that is cheaper.

I bet folks will pay a dollar more to have red bullets!

Not only is it red, but it is also "GREEN"...