A method for transferring a viscous material from a container into a dispensing syringe having first and second ends, the second end being a discharge port smaller than the inner diameter of the main body portion, includes inserting into the syringe a plug configured to permit gas flow in only one direction to divide a chamber within the syringe into a first sub-chamber in communication with the discharge port and a second sub-chamber in communication with the first open end of the syringe. Then, a rod is inserted into the syringe from the first open end of the syringe to engage the plug, and the viscous material is extruded from the container and through the discharge port into the first sub-chamber of the syringe. While the first sub-chamber is being filled with the viscous material, the plug and the rod are moving away from the discharge port.