Hull Sovereign Extended Range Fibre

If there’s an aspect of fibrewad cartridges that many shooters count against them it’s that they tend to be fractionally slower than their plaswad counterparts, and the fact the shot spreads quicker. But as times and technology changes, so does the fibrewad load, the new Sovereign Extended Range Fibre cartridge being a perfect example.

Intended as a competition round, this full range of cartridges are available in each of the accepted shot sizes from 6½ down to 9’s at an average price of £4-25p per box of twenty-five. Presented in a black, white and silver variant of their familiar lightly embossed Sovereign boxes, apart from shot sizes the main visual difference between each round is the case colour. Each individual plastic cased cartridge is exactly 57mm long inclusive of the 16mm deep head whilst each round is sealed by a precise, six-point rolled crimp.

Where the outer difference occurs is in the colour of the case. All overlaid with bold silver printing, the 6½’s are black, both 7 and 7½ maroon, the 8’s blue with the 9’s green. Internally, the deep fibre wad and propellant wadding are identical as is the green – copper disc cut propellant itself with a mean average of 1-46 grams per cartridge. Shot wise the average weight of the dark lead pellets works out at 27.69 grams with an average count from 6 ½ down to 9 of 326, 335, 373, 428 and 574 respectively.

On the chronograph, observed velocities at ten feet through ½ choke generated a mean average speed across all shot sizes of 1,210 feet per second, 7’s the slowest at 1,199fps the fastest being 9’s at 1,220 fps. Similarly, although proving that fibrewads tend to pattern slightly earlier, none of the varying shot sizes produced less than a 95.6% count at thirty yards using ¼ choke, each one producing a clean, effective burn with only the merest residue within the bores.   

Like all performance loads irrespective of wadding, Hull’s Sovereign Extended Range Fibres aren’t the cheapest on the market. Where they offset their price is in sheer performance, feel and end results. Contrary to many other similar cartridges the sensation when firing any of the five different loads is that of an assured yet muted feeling within the shoulder irrespective of the 12 bore used.

Be it a heavy trap style shotgun of lightweight sporter, at no point in time during the hundred bird event they were evaluated over, did the recoil make itself especially noticeable. Where these Sovereigns made their mark was in end results, with each and every kill being clean and concise.

Overall an excellent performance from a cartridge that more than lives up to it’s title, whilst being ideally suited to those looking to retain, maintain and combined their plaswad characteristics. Equally, for existing Sovereign plaswad users, with these new Hull fibrewads hardly any difference whatsoever will be encountered. From trap to sporting or skeet, Hull’s Sovereign Fibres are a cartridge I’d be more than confident to use irrespective of the discipline.

PRICE (PER BOX OF 25): Approx £4-85p irrespective of shot size