<![CDATA[Sellier & Bellot]]>Heritage & History

Sellier & Bellot (S&B) is a Czech ammunition manufacturer founded in 1825 in Prague, making it one of the oldest ammunition companies in the world. Now part of the Colt CZ Group, S&B manufactures ammunition for civilian, law enforcement, and military markets from its facility in Vlasim, Czech Republic. S&B is a SAAMI member.

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Sellier & Bellot has been making ammunition since 1825 — that's pre-Civil War, pre-metallic cartridge, pre-smokeless powder. They've been through two World Wars, communist nationalization, and Czech privatization, and they're still loading ammo in the Czech Republic. S&B is the European equivalent of PMC: reliable, affordable, consistent, and nobody's first choice but everybody's been happy when they've used it.
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Key milestones:

  • 1825 — Founded in Prague by French entrepreneur Louis Sellier
  • 1800s — Pioneered percussion caps; transitioned through black powder to smokeless
  • WWI/WWII — Military ammunition production for multiple conflicts
  • 1945-1989 — Communist-era nationalization; continued production
  • 1990s — Privatized after fall of communism; modernized
  • 2000s — Became part of Colt CZ Group (Czech firearms conglomerate)
  • Present — SAAMI member; Vlasim, Czech Republic; exports to 70+ countries

Product Lines

Centerfire handgun ammunition:

Caliber Bullet Weight Type Application Notes
9mm Luger 115 gr / 124 gr FMJ Range/training 124 gr is the community favorite
9mm Luger 124 gr JHP Self-defense Budget defensive option
.40 S&W 180 gr FMJ Range/training Standard practice load
.45 ACP 230 gr FMJ Range/training Full-weight practice
.38 Special 148 gr Wadcutter Target Clean target shooting
.380 ACP 92 gr FMJ Range/training Compact pistol practice

Centerfire rifle ammunition:

Caliber Common Loads Application Notes
.223 Rem / 5.56 55 gr FMJ, 55 gr SP Range, varmint Standard AR-15 training ammo
.308 Win / 7.62 147 gr FMJ, 150 gr SP Range, hunting Reliable .308 at good prices
.30-06 Springfield 150 gr / 180 gr SP Hunting Soft-point for deer/elk
.300 Win Mag 180 gr SP Hunting (large game) Used successfully on African plains game
6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr Target/hunting Growing S&B offering

Specialty and other:

Product Type Notes
TXRG Blue Lead-free hunting Copper; meets non-toxic requirements
Rimfire (.22 LR) SV, HV, Subsonic Standard, high-velocity, and subsonic options
Shotshell 12, 16, 20, .410 Target and hunting loads
Subsonic loads 9mm, .308 For suppressor use

:::callout
S&B 9mm 124-grain FMJ is the range ammunition cognoscenti's choice. Shooters who've tried everything often settle on S&B 124gr for practice: it's clean-burning, reliable in every 9mm pistol, competitively priced, and the brass is good for a couple reloading cycles. Not flashy, not premium — just consistent round after consistent round.
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Innovation & Technology

Feature Implementation Impact
200 years of production Continuous manufacturing since 1825 Deep institutional knowledge of cartridge design
Modern Czech manufacturing CNC-equipped Vlasim facility Consistent tolerances; high volume
Clean-burning propellants European powder selection Less fouling than many competitors
TXRG lead-free Bonded copper construction Meets environmental regulations
Colt CZ Group backing Corporate resources R&D investment; global distribution
SAAMI + CIP compliance Dual certification Meets both American and European standards

S&B vs. budget range ammunition:

Feature Sellier & Bellot PMC Bronze Wolf/Tula (steel) Federal American Eagle
Origin Czech Republic South Korea Russia USA
Case material Brass Brass Steel (lacquered) Brass
Reloadable Yes (1-2 cycles) Yes (3-4 cycles) No Yes (3-4 cycles)
Consistency Very good Very good Adequate Good
Clean-burning Yes Moderate No (dirty) Moderate
Price $-$$ $ $ (cheapest) $-$$
Availability (US) Good Good Restricted (sanctions) Excellent

Performance & Use Cases

Application Best S&B Product Why
9mm range practice 124 gr FMJ Clean-burning; reliable; good brass
AR-15 training .223 55gr FMJ Affordable; consistent; brass-cased
Deer hunting .308 or .30-06 soft point Adequate expansion; competitive price
African plains game .300 WM 180gr SP Proven on kudu, wildebeest, gemsbok
Lead-free hunting TXRG Blue Bonded copper; meets regulations
Target (.22 LR) .22 LR Standard Velocity Consistent; good for precision rimfire

Common praise:

  • Clean-burning propellants — noticeably less fouling than many competitors
  • 9mm 124gr FMJ is outstanding range ammunition
  • Consistent quality across production lots
  • Brass-cased and Boxer-primed (reloading friendly)
  • Nearly 200 years of ammunition manufacturing experience
  • Good availability in the U.S. at competitive prices
  • Part of Colt CZ Group (strong corporate backing)

Common criticism:

  • Brass case life is shorter than PMC or Federal (1-2 reloading cycles typical)
  • Not a premium hunting ammunition brand (soft points are adequate, not exceptional)
  • JHP defensive loads are basic compared to Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot
  • Limited specialty/niche caliber availability
  • Some lots show more velocity variation than premium match ammo

Buyer's Guide

If You Need... Buy This Why
Best 9mm range ammo S&B 9mm 124gr FMJ Clean, consistent, great price
AR-15 training ammo S&B .223 55gr FMJ Brass-cased; reliable; affordable
Budget hunting ammo S&B soft point in your caliber Adequate terminal performance; saves money
Lead-free hunting TXRG Blue Bonded copper; meets non-toxic requirements
Self-defense Look elsewhere Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense
Match/precision Look elsewhere Federal Gold Medal Match, Hornady Match, Lapua

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Bottom line: Sellier & Bellot makes excellent range and training ammunition at prices that let you shoot more. The 9mm 124gr FMJ is one of the best range loads available — clean, consistent, and competitively priced. The rifle soft points are perfectly adequate for hunting. Don't buy S&B for self-defense or precision match shooting — those categories have better specialized options. Do buy S&B for everything you shoot in volume. Nearly 200 years of manufacturing experience shows in every round.
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References

  • Sellier & Bellot official site (US): sellierbellot.us
  • Sellier & Bellot company history (1825-present)
  • Colt CZ Group corporate information
  • Lucky Gunner: S&B ammunition testing and reviews
  • Shooting community reviews of S&B range ammunition

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

Join the Discussion

Have you run S&B ammo through your rifles or shotguns, and if so how does it stack up against other budget-friendly options you've tried?

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