Weatherby Orion I: A Top-Selling Over-Under Shotgun

by
posted on April 17, 2021
** 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. **
weatherby-orion-i.jpg

Weatherby introduced its over-under Orion I shotgun six years ago, and it has methodically gained the attention of sportsmen—for good reason, too. It features the distinctive Weatherby lines and look, and the performance to match. A visit to the company website indicates MSRP is currenly $999, a pleasant pocketbook surprise, since it wore a $1,099 price tag when it hit U.S. shelves in 2015.

The Orion I is manufactured in Turkey by ATA, a company with a well-deserved reputation for crafting firearms that outperform their price. In the case of this shotgun, the firm also delivered looks befitting Weatherby.

Grade A walnut is used in the straight stock—with rounded Prince of Wales grip—and fore-end. Each are polished to a high-gloss finish and checkering on the fore-end is befitting for a field and sporting gun.

Barrels and receiver have the kind of high-gloss finish that give the shotgun a classy look. The black recoil pad matches nicely. A matte ventilated rib and brass bead up front get shooters on target in fast and traditional style.

There’s more than just looks to this over-under shotgun, though. Enthusiasts can choose a model wearing either 26" or 28" barrels. Both chamber 3" 12-ga. shotshells, bores are chrome-lined, and barrels are threaded to accept choke tubes. The guns ship with three.

A tang-mounted safety also functions as barrel selector, and the automatic ejector throws empty hulls clear. Length of pull is 14 5/8". Drop at comb and drop at heel, in inches, are 1 5/8" and 2 3/8", respectively. Overall length for the 26" barreled version is 43 3/4". Weight runs roughly 7 lbs.

Last year, Weatherby’s Orion I claimed second-place honors in the 10-best-selling over-under shotgun list compiled annually by GunBroker.com. The year before, it placed a distant eighth.

 

Latest

Smith Wesson Victory Navy Revolver
Smith Wesson Victory Navy Revolver

Victory In The Air: One Smith & Wesson Victory Revolver's Story

A primary source investigation into the service history of a Smith & Wesson Victory revolver used by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Firearm Industry Responds To Aid Texas Flood Victims

Only a few days after the tragedy struck, two of the firearm industry’s foremost companies were raising funds for the victims and organizations dedicated to providing support through devastating floods in Texas.

I Have This Old Gun: Woodward .500 Express Double Rifle

Produced by J. Woodward & Sons at the end of the 19th century, this double rifle, chambered for the .500 Express cartridge, was tailor-made for dangerous-game hunting.

New For 2025: Springfield Armory Saint Victor Pistols In 5.56 NATO & 9 mm Luger

Springfield Armory added two new pistol variants to its popular Saint AR-15 lineup, and the new models are chambered for 5.56 NATO and 9 mm Luger, respectively.

Review: Winchester 400 Legend

Winchester Ammunition decided to split the difference, caliber-wise, between the .45-70 Gov't and the company's previous 350 Legend to create the new 400 Legend.

More Public Ranges Coming After EXPLORE Act Implementation Order Signed

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum signed off on a Secretarial Order in late June to begin implementation of key provisions of H.R. 6492, which means more hunting and shooting opportunities on public lands across the U.S.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.