Sellier & Bellot Ammo Review (2026): Tested in 19 Guns

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This Sellier & Bellot review is built on our own range time: S&B ammo over a chronograph from 8 guns, groups from 14 guns at 7 to 100 yards, and 950 rounds logged in 8 guns without a stoppage. 19 guns in all, from a Makarov to a Finnish M39.

The short version: S&B is reliable, Boxer-primed brass range ammo with a caliber list that runs from .25 Auto to 7.62x54R and 8×57 JS. It is not the most accurate load in every gun, and its box speeds come from long test barrels. All 8 of our chronograph results ran slower than the box.

Last updated October 21, 2026

Table of Contents

Sellier & Bellot Ammo Review at a Glance

Sellier & Bellot is a Czech maker founded in 1825 that sells 249 loads in 91 calibers in the US. In our guns it ran clean, shot middle of the pack and came in under its box speed.

Our Rating: 8.0/10

What we checked	Result
Chronograph	All 8 results under box speed, by 43 to 368 fps
Best groups	1.01 in at 100 yd, Bergara B-14, .22-250 55 gr SP; 1.6 in, Finnish M39, 7.62x54R 180 gr FMJ
Reliability	950 rounds in 8 guns, no stoppage
Primers	Boxer on all 37 product pages that name a primer; none lists Berdan
Owner	Colt CZ Group since 2024; CBC group from 2009
Made in	Vlašim, Czech Republic

Who Makes Sellier & Bellot Ammo?

Sellier & Bellot has made ammunition since 1825 and builds it today in Vlašim, Czech Republic. It joined the Brazilian CBC group in 2009 and became part of Colt CZ Group in 2024.

The company traces its founding to August 1825, when Louis Sellier and Nicolas Bellot agreed to make percussion caps in Prague. By 1835 the Prague works made 300,000 primers a day, and the company calls itself the largest cap maker in Europe at the time. It marked its 200th anniversary in 2025.

S&B built its current factory in Vlašim in the 1930s, was nationalized in 1945, privatized in 1991 and became a joint-stock company in 1992. CBC, the Brazilian group behind Magtech, owned it from 2009. In 2024 it became part of Colt CZ Group SE, the Czech group that also owns CZ and Colt.

S&B says most of its production is exported and that the United States and Europe are its largest markets. Its commercial ammunition is built to C.I.P. standards, the European counterpart to SAAMI. Our Magtech brand page and CZ-USA brand page cover its former and current stablemates.

How We Tested Sellier & Bellot Ammo

We pulled S&B results from every range session where we shot it: four chronograph sessions on old military pistols and rifles, and accuracy and round-count logs from our gun reviews.

The chronograph sessions put S&B beside three or four other loads in the same guns on the same mornings: a Bulgarian Makarov, a CZ 82 and a Polish P-64 in 9×18, a Romanian TTC and a CZ 52 in 7.62×25 Tokarev, a Yugoslav M48 in 8mm Mauser, and a 1943 No. 4 Mk I and a 1917 SMLE in .303 British. The Makarov session used ten-shot strings over a Garmin Xero C1.

Groups are five shots from a rest unless the table says otherwise. Pistol groups were shot at 7, 15 or 25 yards and rifle groups at 100 yards. The round counts come from the ammunition logs in our reviews of the TTI Pit Viper, CZ Shadow 2, SAR9, Glock 27, Beretta 30X Tomcat, a Romanian TTC, a K98k and a vz. 24.

Sellier & Bellot Velocity: Box Speed vs Our Chronograph

All 8 of our chronograph results ran slower than S&B’s box figure, by 43 to 368 fps. The big gaps are the Tokarev load, which S&B rates from an 11.3 inch test barrel.

S&B load	Gun	S&B box speed	Our average	Difference
9×18 Makarov 95 gr FMJ	Bulgarian Makarov	1,017 fps, 4.5 in barrel	948 fps	-69 fps
9×18 Makarov 95 gr FMJ	CZ 82	1,017 fps, 4.5 in barrel	969 fps	-48 fps
9×18 Makarov 95 gr FMJ	Polish P-64	1,017 fps, 4.5 in barrel	921 fps	-96 fps
7.62×25 Tokarev 85 gr FMJ	Romanian TTC	1,857 fps, 11.3 in barrel	1,489 fps	-368 fps
7.62×25 Tokarev 85 gr FMJ	CZ 52	1,857 fps, 11.3 in barrel	1,507 fps	-350 fps
8mm Mauser 196 gr SPCE	Yugoslav M48	2,592 fps, 23.6 in barrel	2,541 fps	-51 fps
.303 British 150 gr SP	No. 4 Mk I	2,654 fps, 23.6 in barrel	2,611 fps	-43 fps
.303 British 150 gr SP	1917 SMLE	2,654 fps, 23.6 in barrel	2,587 fps	-67 fps

Against other loads in the same guns, S&B was the fastest Tokarev load in both pistols, 1,489 and 1,507 fps against 1,426 and 1,441 for PPU’s FMJ. In 8mm it was the fastest commercial load from the M48 at 2,541 fps. In 9×18 it was the slowest of four standard loads, 948 fps from the Makarov against 1,008 for PPU and 1,071 for Fiocchi.

For the common calibers S&B lists its 9mm 115 gr FMJ at 1,280 fps and the 124 gr at 1,181 fps, both from a 6 inch test barrel. A compact will run slower, and our best 9mm ammo guide shows what barrel length does across brands.

Sellier & Bellot Accuracy: Groups by Gun

S&B shot middle of the pack. Its best group was 1.01 inches at 100 yards with a .22-250 soft point from a Bergara B-14, the best military rifle group was 1.6 inches from a Finnish M39, and it was the widest load we tried in both Tokarev pistols and both .303 rifles.

Gun	S&B load	Distance	Group	How
Bergara B-14	.22-250 55 gr SP	100 yd	1.01 in	average of five five-shot groups
Finnish M39	7.62x54R 180 gr FMJ	100 yd	1.6 in	average of four five-shot groups
Finnish M28-30	7.62x54R 180 gr FMJ	100 yd	just under 2 in	five-shot groups
1940 K98k	8mm Mauser 196 gr SP	100 yd	about 2 in	off a rest, 80 rounds over two trips
No. 4 Mk I	.303 British 180 gr FMJ	100 yd	2.25 in	off a sandbag, ladder sight, 120 rounds over two sessions
Yugoslav M48	8mm Mauser 196 gr SPCE	100 yd	2.4 in	average five-shot group from a rest
1938 vz. 24	8mm Mauser 196 gr SP	100 yd	about 2.5 in	70 rounds
No. 4 Mk I	.303 British 150 gr SP	100 yd	3.1 in	five shots from a rest
1917 SMLE	.303 British 150 gr SP	100 yd	3.8 in	five shots from a rest
Beretta 92XI	9mm 124 gr FMJ	25 yd	about 2.4 in	50 rounds
SAR9 Gen 3	9mm 124 gr FMJ	25 yd	about 2.8 in	100 rounds
Romanian TTC	7.62×25 Tokarev 85 gr FMJ	25 yd	3.1 in	best of three five-shot groups
CZ 52	7.62×25 Tokarev 85 gr FMJ	25 yd	3.6 in	best of three five-shot groups
Romanian TTC	7.62×25 Tokarev 85 gr FMJ	15 yd	about 2.5 in	250 rounds
Bulgarian Makarov	9×18 Makarov 95 gr FMJ	15 yd	2.6 in	best of three five-shot groups
Beretta 30X Tomcat	.32 ACP 73 gr FMJ	7 yd	1.7 in	150 rounds, threaded gun

Side by side with other loads, the results split. From the M48, S&B’s 196 gr SPCE averaged 2.4 inches, behind Hornady’s 196 gr Vintage Match at 1.8 and Federal’s 170 gr at 2.3, ahead of PPU at 2.9. In .303 its 150 gr soft point grouped 3.1 and 3.8 inches, the widest of four loads in both rifles.

In the Tokarev pistols S&B grouped 3.1 and 3.6 inches at 25 yards, the widest of four loads by a tenth or more. From the Makarov it printed 2.6 inches at 15 yards, second only to Hornady Critical Defense at 2.4. Our 7.62×25 Tokarev, 9×18 Makarov, 8mm Mauser and .303 British pages have every load from those sessions.

In the classic rifles it did better. Our 1943 No. 4 Mk I held about 3 inches with PPU 174 gr and closed to 2.25 inches with S&B 180 gr FMJ, and a 1940 K98k went from about 2.5 inches with PPU to about 2 with S&B’s 196 gr soft point. Our Lee-Enfield and Mauser rifle pages cover those rifles.

Sellier & Bellot Reliability: Round Counts

We logged 950 rounds of S&B in 8 guns without a stoppage, from a .32 ACP Tomcat to a 1940 K98k.

Gun	S&B load	Rounds	Result
TTI Pit Viper	9mm 124 gr FMJ	150	zero malfunctions
CZ Shadow 2	9mm 124 gr FMJ	100	ran clean
SAR9 Gen 3	9mm 124 gr FMJ	100	ran clean
Glock 27	.40 S&W 180 gr FMJ	50	fed, fired and ejected without a hiccup
Beretta 30X Tomcat	.32 ACP 73 gr FMJ	150	clean
Romanian TTC	7.62×25 Tokarev 85 gr FMJ	250	no malfunctions
1940 K98k	8mm Mauser 196 gr SP	80	no failures to feed or extract
1938 vz. 24	8mm Mauser 196 gr SP	70	no malfunctions

In the 8mm and Tokarev chronograph sessions S&B fed and fired every time as well. The pistol reviews are our TTI Pit Viper review, CZ Shadow 2 review, SAR9 review, Glock 27 review and Beretta 30X Tomcat review.

Is Sellier & Bellot Ammo Good? 9mm First

Yes, for practice and range work. S&B 9mm is brass-cased, Boxer-primed FMJ in 50-round boxes, and in our 9mm guns it ran clean and grouped 2.4 to 2.8 inches at 25 yards.

S&B lists the 9mm 115 gr FMJ at 1,280 fps and the 124 gr FMJ at 1,181 fps from a 6 inch barrel, plus 140 and 150 gr subsonic FMJ loads for suppressed guns. Our Beretta 92XI put the 124 gr into about 2.4 inches at 25 yards and our SAR9 into about 2.8, and it ran 150 rounds without a malfunction in the TTI Pit Viper.

It is range ammo. For carry, our Critical Defense, HST and Gold Dot reviews have the heavy clothing gel results that S&B’s FMJ loads are not built for.

Sellier & Bellot Handgun Ammo: .45 ACP, .40, 10mm and .38 Special

S&B loads 28 handgun calibers. The common ones are FMJ range loads in 50-round boxes, and the old service pistol calibers are where it stands out.

The .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ is rated 853 fps from a 5 inch barrel, the .40 S&W 180 gr at 968 fps from 4 inches and the 10mm 180 gr at 1,165 fps from 6 inches. Our Glock 27 ran its first 50 rounds of the .40 load without a hiccup, and the 10mm load is the brass-cased range round in our best 10mm ammo guide.

In revolvers, S&B lists a .38 Special 158 gr FMJ at 889 fps and a .357 Magnum 158 gr FMJ at 1,263 fps. Our best .38 Special ammo and best .357 Magnum ammo guides compare them with the rest of the field.

The service pistol calibers are S&B’s real strength: 7.62×25 Tokarev, 9×18 Makarov, .32 ACP and .25 Auto, all in brass with Boxer primers. Our Beretta 30X Tomcat put the .32 ACP into 1.7 inches at 7 yards over a clean 150 rounds. Our .32 ACP and .25 ACP pages list the other makers.

Sellier & Bellot Rifle Ammo: 7.62×39, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor and 300 Blackout

S&B sells 152 rifle loads in 44 calibers, in FMJ, soft point, match and lead-free hunting lines.

The 7.62×39 124 gr FMJ is rated 2,421 fps from a 20.5 inch barrel, and it is the brass-cased load in our best 7.62×39 ammo guide. The .308 Win 147 gr FMJ is rated 2,789 fps from 23.6 inches; our .308 ammo guide ranks it against hunting and defensive loads.

In 6.5 Creedmoor S&B lists a 140 gr FMJ boat tail at 2,658 fps from a 21.7 inch barrel, plus soft point, match and lead-free loads. Our Bergara B-14 put S&B’s 55 gr .22-250 soft point into 1.01 inches at 100 yards, just behind Hornady V-Max at 0.91. Our Bergara B-14 models page has more on that rifle.

In 300 Blackout, dealers sell S&B’s 200 gr subsonic FMJ for suppressed rifles, and S&B’s US product tables list a 110 gr lead-free TXRG load.

7.62x54R, 8mm Mauser and Other Old Military Calibers

This is why many shooters buy S&B at all. It still loads new brass for 7.62x54R, 8×57 JS, .303 British, 7.62×25 and 9×18, and it ran in every classic rifle and pistol we fed it.

In 7.62x54R the 180 gr FMJ is rated 2,579 fps from a 28.7 inch barrel. Our Finnish M39 averaged 1.6 inches at 100 yards across four five-shot groups with it, and a friend’s M28-30 ran just under 2 inches. Our Mosin-Nagant buying guide has both rifles. The 8×57 JS 196 gr SPCE soft point is rated 2,592 fps, and it ran 2,541 fps from our M48.

In .303 British S&B lists a 150 gr soft point at 2,654 fps and a 180 gr FMJ. Our .303 British ammo and 8mm Mauser ammo pages have the safety notes for old rifles.

Is Sellier & Bellot Ammo Corrosive or Reloadable?

Every S&B product page that names a primer lists a Boxer primer, 37 loads in all, and none lists Berdan. Boxer-primed brass is reloadable.

S&B’s US product pages give the primer type for many of its handgun loads and a few rifle loads, and those pages call the cases factory brass. The rest leave the field blank or mark it N/A, so check the box if you reload a rifle caliber.

No current S&B product page calls any load corrosive. In our 8mm session the only load that needed a water flush of the bore and bolt was a tin of 1970s Romanian surplus; the S&B got a normal solvent clean. Our reloading hub covers the rest of the hobby.

Sellier & Bellot XRG Defense and Nontox

XRG Defense is S&B’s solid copper hollow point line, 7 loads on its US site, and Nontox is its lead-free primer line, 15 loads.

From our 3.5 inch M&P9c, the 9mm 100 gr XRG Defense ran 1,184 fps and went 13.4, 13.9, 14.2, 14.6 and 15.1 inches through four layers of heavy clothing, a 14.24 inch average with all five in the 12 to 18 inch window. Every bullet opened to about 0.58 inches and came out at full weight. For other carry loads, start with our best defensive ammo guide. Nontox swaps the lead-based priming compound for a lead-free one, for indoor ranges.

Sellier & Bellot Shotgun Shells

S&B lists 20 shotgun loads in the US, including buckshot, slugs and sporting shells, and dealers carry its 12 gauge 2 3/4 inch 00 buckshot.

Our best shotgun ammo for home defense compares buckshot and slugs from the bigger American makers.

Sellier & Bellot vs PPU, Magtech and Federal American Eagle

All four are value range brands. S&B’s edge is caliber range: brass-cased loads for old military rounds and European hunting cartridges.

PPU is the load we shot beside S&B most. In our Tokarev and Makarov sessions they traded wins: S&B was faster in 7.62×25 and slower in 9×18. On groups PPU was tighter in both Tokarevs and both .303 rifles, and S&B was tighter from the M48, the Makarov, the K98k and the No. 4 with 180 gr FMJ.

Magtech is CBC’s own brand, and S&B was its stablemate under CBC from 2009 until Colt CZ Group took over in 2024.

Against Federal American Eagle, S&B is the one with the old military calibers and the European hunting rounds. Our Federal American Eagle review has chronograph results from 29 guns, and our ammo price index tracks what range ammo costs.

Who Should NOT Buy Sellier & Bellot Ammo

S&B is the wrong buy for four kinds of shooter, and each has a better pick on our site.

• Concealed carriers who buy the FMJ: S&B FMJ is range ammo. Carry XRG Defense or a load from our concealed carry ammo guide.
• Shooters chasing small groups: S&B was the widest load in both Tokarevs and both .303 rifles. In 8mm, Hornady’s 196 gr Vintage Match grouped 1.8 inches to S&B’s 2.4; see our 8mm Mauser ammo page.
• Makarov owners who want full speed: S&B was the slowest of four standard 9×18 loads from our Makarov. Fiocchi ran 1,071 fps; see our 9×18 Makarov ammo page.
• Bulk 9mm buyers chasing the lowest price: compare per round on the cards and the deals rail; our best 9mm ammo guide ranks the field.

Sellier & Bellot Variants

These six S&B loads cover most range shooters, from 9mm practice to an old Mosin.

Speeds and box counts are S&B’s. Pistol loads come 50 to a box and rifle loads 20.

Sellier & Bellot Price and Where to Buy

The cards on this page carry live prices per round from several stores, so we print no prices in the text. Watch box sizes when you compare: S&B pistol loads come in 50s and rifle loads in 20s. Our ammo buying guide explains how to read a deal.

Sellier & Bellot Review: The Verdict

Sellier & Bellot earns 8.0 out of 10. It ran 950 rounds in 8 of our guns without a stoppage, uses Boxer-primed brass and covers calibers most value brands dropped years ago. It is not a tack driver in every gun, and it ran slower than the box in all 8 chronograph results.

Buy S&B for range days, for old military rifles and pistols, and for European calibers you cannot find elsewhere. For carry, buy XRG Defense rather than the FMJ, and our best defensive ammo guide has the field.

Sellier & Bellot FAQ

Quick answers to the questions buyers ask most about Sellier & Bellot ammo.

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