Sellier & Bellot

Sellier & Bellot started making ammunition in Prague in 1825--before the Civil War, before metallic cartridges, before smokeless powder existed. They've survived two world wars, communist takeover, privatization, and nearly 200 years of changes in the ammunition business.

The Czech company now operates as part of the Colt CZ Group, manufacturing from their facility in Vlašim. They're a SAAMI member and export to over 70 countries. S&B occupies that sweet spot of being reliable, affordable, and consistent without much marketing flash.

Nearly 200 years of continuous ammunition production through major political and technological changes

Their 9mm 124-grain FMJ has developed a quiet reputation among shooters who've tried everything. It burns clean, runs reliably in every pistol, and the brass reloads decently for a couple cycles.

The JHP defensive loads exist, but you're better off with Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot if your life might depend on it.

S&B rifle ammo covers the basics well. Their .223 and .308 FMJ loads work perfectly for range sessions, and the soft points will kill deer without breaking your budget.

Their TXRG Blue line uses bonded copper bullets for areas requiring lead-free ammunition. It meets the regulations and performs adequately, though you'll pay more than for lead-core bullets.

• •.22 LR in standard velocity, high velocity, and subsonic versions
• •Shotshells in 12, 16, 20 gauge, and .410 bore
• •Target shooting and hunting loads at reasonable prices

S&B makes .22 LR in standard velocity, high velocity, and subsonic versions. The standard velocity shoots consistently enough for precision rimfire work. They also load shotshells in 12, 16, 20 gauge, and .410 bore for target shooting and hunting. Nothing fancy--just functional loads at reasonable prices.

S&B sits in the middle tier of range ammunition--better than steel-cased imports, not quite as refined as premium American loads.

S&B brass reloads for 1-2 cycles typically, versus 3-4 for PMC Bronze or Federal American Eagle. The powder burns cleaner than most budget options, leaving noticeably less fouling in your action and barrel.

Price-wise, they compete directly with PMC Bronze and Federal American Eagle. All three cost more than steel-cased ammunition but less than match or premium hunting loads.

Decision tree for ammunition selection showing S&B's position in the market

Availability in the U.S. stays consistent. Unlike some European brands that come and go, S&B maintains steady importation and distribution.

The 9mm 124-grain FMJ deserves its reputation. It cycles reliably in everything from subcompacts to full-size pistols, burns clean enough that you can shoot several hundred rounds without heavy fouling, and costs less than premium training ammunition.

For rifle work, the .223 and .308 FMJ loads function exactly as advertised. They're brass-cased, Boxer-primed, and consistent enough for practical accuracy at typical ranges.

The soft-point hunting loads work fine on deer-sized game. They expand adequately and penetrate sufficiently, though they're not engineered like premium hunting bullets. For the money saved, many hunters accept the trade-off.

Sellier & Bellot makes the range ammunition that experienced shooters quietly prefer. The 9mm 124gr FMJ might be the single most underrated practice load available--it's clean-burning, reliable, appropriately priced, and the brass is decent for reloading.

Nearly two centuries of continuous ammunition production shows. S&B doesn't innovate much or market heavily, but they consistently deliver functional ammunition that works.

Their quality control stays solid, their prices remain competitive, and they keep making the same reliable loads year after year.

Don't buy S&B for self-defense--their JHP loads are basic compared to modern engineered bullets. Don't buy it for precision shooting--match ammunition exists for that purpose. Do buy S&B for everything you shoot in volume.

It's ammunition that lets you focus on shooting instead of wondering if your ammo will work.

For training, plinking, basic hunting, and general shooting, S&B delivers exactly what most shooters actually need: reliable ignition, consistent performance, and reasonable prices. Sometimes that's enough.