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.

:::callout
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

:::callout
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

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

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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?