Weatherby’s shotgun alter ego is on the rise with the return of the boxlock Orion I over-under. Once a Weatherby mainstay, and most recently seen as the stylish, moderately expensive D’Italia version, the Orion was briefly discontinued as the California firm rebuilt its shotgunning identity with a slew of economical Turkish semi-automatic and pump-action imports that meet the gamut of hunting and home-defense applications. The new over-under—12 gauge only, for now—follows suit. It too is a practical field gun, attractively priced at $1,099 and is manufactured in Turkey. But don’t get the wrong idea—while this 2015 Orion I lacks fine finish and ornamentation, it comes decked out in a sleek walnut stock, and boasts a shallow receiver, much preferred by today’s clays shooters for recoil-management reasons. The slender lines and excellent balance make it worthy of the Weatherby nameplate. The Orion I’s durable dual conical-pin locking mechanism is another asset, and several other popular over-under features are offered: a vent rib with brass front bead; combo top tang safety/barrel selector lever; auto ejectors; and Pachmayr Decelerator buttpad with Speed Mount Heel. weatherby.com
