Editors' Picks—New for 2015: Weatherby Orion I

by
posted on March 29, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
weatherbyorion.jpg

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

 

Latest

Armscor Tm22 S 18 Gotw F
Armscor Tm22 S 18 Gotw F

Gun Of The Week: Armscor TM22-S-18

We're on the range in this video to get a closer look at an affordable plinker imported by Armscor. Whether you’re training on a budget or just want a rimfire for plinking, the TM22 is a proven platform worth investigating.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 22, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Winter Warrior: The Finnish Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG

A little-known light machine gun from the inter-war era, the Finnish Lahti-Saloranta M/26 garnered a poor reputation during its service in World War II, but a closer look and some context reveals how innovative it was for its time.

Federal Ammunition Honored By National 4-H Shooting Sports

Federal Ammunition was recently honored with the 2025 4-H Shooting Sports Pioneer Award, which recognizes individuals or companies that have made significant contributions to the 4-H Shooting Sports program at a national level.

I Have This Old Gun: Polish Vis 35 Radom

One of the lesser-known designs from the 1930s, the Vis 35 Radom is widely considered to be one of the best of the pre-World War II handguns.

Rifleman Q&A: Colt 1860 12-Notch Conversion

"At a gun show, I saw a Colt 1860 Army Richards Conversion with 12 cylinder notches instead of the usual six. The dealer was not sure whether this was original to the gun. Were these extra notches a factory variation or just some frontier gunsmith’s backroom project?"

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.