Weatherby has set us up for a repeat performance, debuting the Orion as the basic black field gun at a working-man's price with plans to add indulgences as grades increase. The original Japanese Orion Grade I shotguns were similar to this gun, but higher-end guns with more elaborate engraving and fancier wood followed, topping out with the stunning Athena V. The receiver itself is very austere, bearing only the Weatherby name, but it looks good, and I don't think that there's much question that, as with the previous Weatherby shotguns, you're going to see higher grade guns appear over time. The Orion is a simple but classy gun, with a high-polished receiver and A grade walnut stock that look good and stand up to abuse. The Orion shotgun has a rather straight comb profile, which is pretty standard for field guns, and it comes to the shoulder nicely. I pattern upland guns to determine elevation and uniformity, and I use an NRA 30-inch pheasant silhouette as my standard.īy my estimation the Orion shoots dead flat, which is pretty typical for a field gun, and the patterns produced at 15 and 25 yards with an IC choke tube and #8 AA target loads were very consistent.
The new Weatherby's barrels are chrome-lined, a feature designed to improve barrel life and pattern consistency. For most field situations, the IC/M/F trio that comes in the box should suffice. Three choke tubes are provided, but more are available if needed. No frilly high-vis sights on the Orion shotgun, just a simple bead - perfectly functional for upland or waterfowl (you shouldn't be relying on your sight anyway on these hunts). Unlike many other over/unders, including the last Weatherby shotguns, the new Orion comes with a push-rod forearm release with the rod position just below the bottom barrel on the front of the forearm. The weight rests properly between the hands, and the Prince-of-Wales grip is a nice touch, giving the gun a classy look. It's a solid gun throughout, tight and well-balanced. The barrels ride on a massive hinge pin and the fit and finish is excellent. I fired roughly a case through the new Orion and had no issues with any of the mechanicals whatsoever. The new Orion shotgun is equipped with selective ejectors that send spent shells arcing out of the chamber. The safety has an integrated barrel selector with the same shift pattern as most other over/unders - shoving the safety forward readies the gun to fire.īarrel selection can only be accomplished with the Orion shotgun in the safe position, and the tang is moved left and right to select whether the top or bottom barrel fires first, a departure from the previous generation of Weatherby over/unders. The forged steel receiver has clean lines inside and out, and the action is smooth and tight.įunctionally, the new Orion shotgun is a classic field over/under, with a tang-mounted safety located just behind the top lever. The added girth on the forearm is a necessity, though - if the forearm was as narrow as the boxlock action, shooting the Orion would feel like breaking clays with a pool stick.Īction lockup is solid and the ejectors and other interior parts have a classy jeweled finish. That gives the Orion a narrow look, and the action is so shallow that it gives the slightly rounded forearm a somewhat paunchy profile. We also gave it the Weatherby touch to meet the expectations and inspire the dreams of hunters and shooters everywhere."Īt the heart of the new Orion shotgun is the trim boxlock action, which is much thinner and narrower than the previous Japanese-made action. "We subjected it to rigorous testing to ensure smooth, reliable performance.
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