Weatherby
Orion
An over-and-under in field and sporting versions
Orion I · USOrion Sporting · USOrion Grade II Classic Field · US
Overview
The Orion is Weatherby’s over-and-under for game and sporting clays.1 The returning Orion I has a slim receiver, glossy walnut and a Prince of Wales grip.1 The Sporting adds an adjustable comb, ported barrels and extended choke tubes.2
The returning design locks with dual conical pins.3 Its mechanical trigger allows a second shot even if the first barrel misfires.4, 5 The safety and barrel selector sit on the top tang, and automatic ejectors throw out spent cases.6
Specifications
12-bore · game
| Locking | Returning Orion: dual conical locking pins3, 4, 6, 5 |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Turkish Orion: mechanical trigger; barrel selector on the top tang3, 4, 6, 5 |
| Ejectors | Automatic ejectors3, 4, 6, 5 |
| Bore | 12-bore |
| Chambers | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Barrels | 26 in |
| Chokes | removable; 3 tubes |
| Weight | 3.175 kg (7 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 26 in) |
Specifications
| Configuration | Bore | Chambers | Barrels, in | Rib, mm | Fore-end | Grade | Choke system | Years | Weight | Markets | Stock | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game | ||||||||||||
| Game6, 1 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26 | I | removable; 3 tubes | 3.175 kg (7 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 26 in) | US | Prince of Wales grip; 371.475 mm pull | High gloss action; wood grade A | |||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26, 28 | Slender | Grade III Classic Field | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Silver/grey nitride action; Waterfowl and upland scenes with gold-plated overlay engraving; wood grade A-grade fancy | ||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 20-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26, 28 | Slender | Grade III Classic Field | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Silver/grey nitride action; Waterfowl and upland scenes with gold-plated overlay engraving; wood grade A-grade fancy | ||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26, 28, 30 | Slender | Grade II Classic Field | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Silver/grey nitride action; Waterfowl and upland scenes engraving | ||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 20-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26, 28 | Slender | Grade II Classic Field | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Silver/grey nitride action; Waterfowl and upland scenes engraving | ||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 28-bore | 70 mm (2¾ in) | 26 | Slender | Grade II Classic Field | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Silver/grey nitride action; Waterfowl and upland scenes engraving | ||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26, 28 | Slender | Upland | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Blued action; Gold flying W on the trigger guard engraving; wood grade Standard-grade fancy | ||
| Game7, 8, 9 | 20-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26, 28 | Slender | Upland | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 3 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Rounded pistol grip; Slender fore-end; 361.95 mm pull | Blued action; Gold flying W on the trigger guard engraving; wood grade Standard-grade fancy | ||
| Game10, 11 | 12-bore | Grade I Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game10, 11 | 20-bore | Grade I Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game10, 11 | 12-bore | Grade II Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game10, 11 | 20-bore | Grade II Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game10, 11 | 28-bore | Grade II Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game10, 11 | 12-bore | Grade III Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game10, 11 | 20-bore | Grade III Classic Field | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Game6, 1 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 28 | I | removable; 3 tubes | 3.175 kg (7 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 28 in) | US | Prince of Wales grip; 371.475 mm pull | High gloss action; wood grade A | |||
| Game6, 1 | 20-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 28 | I | removable; 3 tubes | 2.812 kg (6 lb 3 oz; catalogue, 28 in) | US | Prince of Wales grip; 368.3 mm pull | High gloss action; wood grade A | |||
| Game12, 13 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26 | Matte Blue | removable; 3 tubes | 3.175 kg (7 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 26 in) | US | Prince of Wales grip; 371.475 mm pull | Matte blue action; wood grade A | |||
| Game12, 13 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 28 | Matte Blue | removable; 3 tubes | 3.175 kg (7 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 28 in) | US | Prince of Wales grip; 371.475 mm pull | Matte blue action; wood grade A | |||
| Game12, 13 | 20-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 26 | Matte Blue | removable; 3 tubes | 2.722 kg (6 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 26 in) | US | Prince of Wales grip; 368.3 mm pull | Matte blue action; wood grade A | |||
| Game14, 15 | 20-bore | Compact | removable; 3 tubes | US | Prince of Wales grip; 336.55 mm pull | Matte blue action | ||||||
| Sporting | ||||||||||||
| Sporting7, 8, 9 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 28, 30, 32 | 12 | Schnabel | Super Sporting Clays | Briley Multi-Choke; removable; 5 tubes | by 2006 | Other | Target pistol grip; Schnabel fore-end; 374.65 mm pull | wood grade Standard grade | |
| Sporting10, 11 | 12-bore | Sporting clays | by 2007 | Other | ||||||||
| Sporting2, 16 | 12-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 30 | 10 | Sporting | removable; 5 tubes | 3.402 kg (7 lb 8 oz; catalogue, 30 in) | US | adjustable comb; 371.475 mm pull | High gloss action; wood grade A | ||
| Sporting2, 16 | 20-bore | 76 mm (3 in) | 30 | 10 | Sporting | removable; 5 tubes | 2.994 kg (6 lb 10 oz; catalogue, 30 in) | US | adjustable comb; 368.3 mm pull | High gloss action; wood grade A | ||
Scroll for more columns.
Identify and date
On the Turkish Orion, the gauge and chamber length are marked on the side of the top barrel above the chamber.17, 5 The earlier Japanese manual puts these marks on the left side, above the fore-end.18 Weatherby publishes separate Orion manuals labelled Japan, Italy and Turkey.19, 5 The 2006 Upland has a gold flying W on its trigger guard.8
| Where | Markings |
|---|---|
| Side of top barrel above the chamber, Turkish Orion | Gauge and chamber length17, 5 |
| Trigger guard of the 2006 Upland | Gold flying W8 |
Before you buy
- Identify the action before choosing a manual: the earlier field gun resets its trigger by inertia, while the Turkish Orion has a mechanical trigger.20, 4, 5
- Match replacement tubes to the gun’s manual family: the 2006 catalogue specifies a Briley Multi-Choke system.5, 7
- Check that removable tubes seat snugly: Weatherby warns that repeated recoil can loosen them and shift the point of impact.21
- Check the actual constriction before using steel shot: the Turkish Orion’s manual permits steel from Cylinder to Modified.22, 5
- Read the gauge and chamber marks on the fitted barrels before choosing cartridges.17, 5
- On a Sporting, check that the comb adjusts to fit you: Weatherby specifies four-way adjustment.16
History
In its 2006 catalogue, Weatherby traces its over-and-under design to 1982.7 That catalogue lists Orion Classic Field, Upland and Super Sporting Clays versions.8 On 1 June 2007 Fausti replaced New SKB as Weatherby’s manufacturing partner, and under the new agreement Grade I Classic Field replaced Upland.11, 10 For 2015 Weatherby announced the Orion’s return.23
Earlier Orion
by 2006. Modified Greener crossbolt with a selective inertia trigger.7
| Date | Change | Observable feature |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The earlier Orion appears in Weatherby’s catalogue24, 7 | Modified Greener crossbolt and selective inertia trigger |
| 2007 | Fausti replaces New SKB; Grade I Classic Field replaces Upland11, 10 | Grade I Classic Field designation |
| 2015 | Orion returns to the range23, 3 | Shallow receiver and dual conical locking pins |
Compare
12-bore · sporting · 30 in · US
| Gun | Weight | Barrels, in | Rib, mm | Chokes | Chambers | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherby Orion2, 16 | 3.402 kg (7 lb 8 oz; catalogue, 30 in) | 30 | 10 | removable; 5 tubes | 76 mm (3 in) | |
| Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I25 | 30 | Optima-Choke HP; removable | 76 mm (3 in) | Trigger-plate action with coil hammer springs26, 27, 28 | ||
| Browning 72529, 30, 31 | 3.63 kg (8 lb 0 oz; catalogue, 30.0 in) | 30 | Invector-DS Extended; removable; 5 tubes | 70 mm (2¾ in) |
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Sources
- Orion I specifications, description-and-finish. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion Sporting specifications, specifications. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Weatherby Bringing Back Orion Over/Unders in 2015, model-details. American Hunter, 2015. magazine · Archive
- Orion over/under owner's manual, passage-8. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Weatherby owner’s manuals index, orion-labels. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion I specifications, specifications. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Weatherby catalogue 2006, over-under-specifications-pages-4243. Weatherby, 2006. maker catalogue · Archive
- Weatherby catalogue 2006, orion-grades-pages-4647. Weatherby, 2006. maker catalogue · Archive
- Athena and Orion over/under owner's manual, Japan, passage-7. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Weatherby Offers Enhanced Athena and Orion Over/Under Shotguns, grades. Weatherby via Gun Tests, 2008. maker website · Archive
- Weatherby Offers Enhanced Athena and Orion Over/Under Shotguns, partners-and-dates. Weatherby via Gun Tests, 2008. maker website · Archive
- Orion Matte Blue specifications, specifications. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion Matte Blue specifications, description-and-finish. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion Compact specifications, description-and-finish. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion Compact specifications, specifications. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion Sporting specifications, description-and-finish. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Orion over/under owner's manual, passage-3. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Athena and Orion over/under owner's manual, Japan, passage-3. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Weatherby owner’s manuals index, model-and-country-labels. Weatherby. maker website · Archive
- Athena and Orion over/under owner's manual, Japan, passage-6. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Orion over/under owner's manual, passage-7. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Orion over/under owner's manual, passage-2. Weatherby. manual · Archive
- Weatherby Bringing Back Orion Over/Unders in 2015, return. American Hunter, 2015. magazine · Archive
- Weatherby catalogue 2006, edition. Weatherby, 2006. maker catalogue · Archive
- Beretta USA 686 Silver Pigeon I Sporting product page, US configuration 1. Beretta USA. maker website · Archive
- Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I 2024 brochure, 2024 version. Beretta / GMK, 2024. maker catalogue · Archive
- Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I 2024 brochure, Hunting specifications. Beretta / GMK, 2024. maker catalogue · Archive
- Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I Sport test — wear and redesign, Wear and parts. The Field; Michael Yardley. magazine · Archive
- Browning Citori 725: United States product specifications, Item 0180024010. Browning. maker website · Archive
- Browning Citori 725: United States product specifications, Item 0180024009. Browning. maker website · Archive
- Browning Citori 725: United States product specifications, Features. Browning. maker website · Archive