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Federal Premium Ammunition Review

Knowledgebase USA
Founded
1922
Founder
Charles L. Horn
Headquarters
Anoka, Minnesota, USA
Owner
The Kinetic Group (Czechoslovak Group)
Facility
175-acre manufacturing complex
Employees
1,500+
4.64 / 5

Based on 5853 reviews on LuckyGunner.com

Federal Premium Ammunition is owned by ATK- Alliant Techsystems, Inc. which is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATK, Federal is also a parent brand of Federal American Eagle which is commonly known as FAE.   Federal Ammunition focuses on manufacturing a full product line of shotshell, rimfire, and centerfire ammunition as well as components. Perhaps the brand that Federal Ammunition is best known for is its Federal Premium Ammunition brand. The Federal Premium brand reflects both cutting edge technology and a strong competitive presence among other flagship brands.   Federal traces its roots back to 1922 when Charles Horn took control of a small ammo plant in Anoka, MN. In the early days, Federal sold their ammo through a wide distribution network including grocery stores, bare shops, gas stations, as well as more traditional outlets. Through a continual focus on quality, Federal continues to set the bar for quality in all major lines of ammo.   Federal Ammunition is manufactured in Anoka, Minnesota just NE of Minneapolis.

Customer Reviews - Federal Ammunition

Federal ammunition is widely praised for its reliability, consistent feeding, and accuracy across a broad range of calibers and applications. Many reviewers highlight its dependable performance in both handguns and long guns, with rare malfunctions reported in most mainstream offerings. Federal’s self-defense lines like HST and Hydra-Shok are especially noted for trusted expansion, manageable recoil, and popularity among law enforcement and concealed carriers. Cleanliness and low fouling are widely appreciated, though some types, especially certain rimfire and cheaper range offerings, are noted as producing more residue or occasional leading. Issues such as misfeeds, stove pipes, or variance in grouping are occasionally mentioned in .22 LR and other economy variants, but less so in centerfire defensive loads. Federal ammo is often considered a good value, especially purchased in bulk, though some perceive recent price increases.

AI-Generated Summary

9mm - 147 Grain FMJ FN - Federal American Eagle - 1000 Rounds

Excellent ammo

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by M&P Man on 9/13/2023

This stuff is great.
Same velocity, same muzzle velocity, same point of impact as my carry ammo, 147gr HST.
Realistic practice ammo.
In addition, is low flash and clean burning.

40 S&W - 180 gr HST JHP - Federal Premium Law Enforcement - 50 Rounds

What .40 should be

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by Matthew on 10/11/2021

The ballistic performance of this round brings the .40 from “short & weak” to hand cannon status. Dwarfs 10mm in expansion and penetration. Only lacking in velocity, but according to the gel tests, that doesn’t matter, bullet still performs incredibly.

9mm - 124 Grain FMJ - Federal American Eagle - 1000 Rounds

Federal 124g--best value for your money

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by Schroeder on 10/5/2019

After extensive testing of various weights and reading of FBI and other ballistic reports, I have found that 124g is the best weight for my 9mm Lugers. The FMJs are as cheap as 115g but with greater stopping power and, in my handguns, less recoil. Federals, I have found, are among the very best, and certainly the best value for the dollar. Further, they have not caused any malfunctions, while the 115's sometimes do with one or two of firearms. The hollows have every bit as much stopping power as the heavier weights (even 150g!), and are significantly less expensive. Lucky Gunner has excellent prices, too.

9mm - +P 124 Grain HST JHP - Federal Premium Law Enforcement - 50 Rounds

A Self Defense Value!

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by GunnyJack on 7/7/2019

We know no one likes to pay too much for ammunition however, when we're talking about Self Defense Ammunition doesn't your life and those of your loved one's deserve the highest quality, consistent and proven Self Defense Ammunition you can afford? Of course our Range Ammunition should be cheap and plentiful. It's for practice and classes... I'd pay any amount to know my choice in Self Defense Ammunition would have the desired effect in an Actual Critical Incident, i dont think that $0.83 Cents Per round for the always reliable Federal HST 9mm+P 124gr is over priced considering the reason why we buy it.
May You Never Absolutely Need It,
Be well, be safe and be blessed,
...~Dr. Benny

9mm - 115 Grain Hi-Shok JHP - Federal Classic - 1000 Rounds

Excellent

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by Harry on 1/9/2018

This is my 9mm carry load. Clean simple and accurate out of all my guns. This load stands on a 40+ year track record of performance. Newer, designer loads are prettier and more expensive, but they soon fade away. 9BP is Old Faithful.

Top 5 customer reviews for Federal Ammunition

Specifications

Key Handgun Lines HST, Hydra-Shok, Punch, American Eagle, Syntech
Key Rifle Lines Gold Medal, Terminal Ascent, Fusion, Trophy Bonded, Power-Shok
Key Shotshell Lines Black Cloud, Speed-Shok, 3rd Degree, Premium Upland
Market Segment Budget (American Eagle) to Premium (Gold Medal)
Military Contracts FBI, U.S. Army, DHS

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357 Mag - 158 Grain JSP - Federal American Eagle - 50 Rounds
$36.00
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  • Cost Per Round - 72¢ per round
40 S&W - 180 Grain FMJ FN - Federal Champion - 1000 Rounds

Regular Price: $325.00

Special Price: $310.00

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9mm - 115 Grain FMJ - Federal American Eagle - 1000 Rounds

Regular Price: $275.00

Special Price: $265.00

  • Quantity - 1,000
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38 Special - 130 Grain FMJ - Federal American Eagle - 50 Rounds
$28.00
  • Quantity - 50
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  • Bullets - Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
  • Casings - Brass
  • Cost Per Round - 56¢ per round

FAQ

What is Federal HST ammunition?
Federal HST (High Shock Transfer) is a premium self-defense hollow point designed for law enforcement. The bullet delivers consistent expansion to roughly 1.5× caliber diameter through barriers including clothing, auto glass, and wallboard. HST is the duty ammunition choice of the FBI and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the United States.
What is the difference between Federal American Eagle and Gold Medal?
American Eagle is Federal's value/training line with FMJ bullets for affordable practice. Gold Medal is their premium match-grade line using Sierra MatchKing or Berger bullets with carefully matched components for the best possible accuracy. Gold Medal is significantly more expensive but delivers sub-MOA performance and has been used by Olympic competition shooters.
What is Federal Syntech?
Federal Syntech features a Total Synthetic Jacket — a polymer coating that completely encases the bullet, eliminating metal-to-metal contact in the barrel. This reduces copper and lead fouling by approximately 12%, extends barrel life, and uses Catalyst lead-free primers. Syntech is especially popular at indoor ranges where reduced airborne lead exposure is important.
Who owns Federal Ammunition now?
As of late 2024, Federal operates under The Kinetic Group, owned by Czech-based Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which acquired the ammunition portfolio from Vista Outdoor for $2.225 billion. The Kinetic Group oversees Federal alongside sister brands Remington, Speer, CCI, Blazer, and Hevi-Shot. Previously, Federal was owned by Vista Outdoor (2015), Alliant Techsystems/ATK (2001), and Blount Industries (1997).
What makes Federal Terminal Ascent special for long-range hunting?
Introduced in 2020, Terminal Ascent uses a hybrid bullet design with AccuChannel grooves and a Slipstream polymer tip. It delivers a ballistic coefficient exceeding 0.5 G1 and is engineered for reliable expansion at distances out to 1,200 yards. The bonded lead core and copper shank ensure deep penetration and high weight retention on game at any practical hunting range.
What is the .30 Super Carry cartridge?
Launched in January 2022, the .30 Super Carry is a proprietary Federal cartridge designed for concealed carry. It fits more rounds in a magazine than .45 ACP or 9mm while delivering ballistics comparable to 9mm. The smaller case diameter allows higher capacity in compact pistols, giving concealed carriers more rounds without increasing grip size.
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