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Reader Survey >Weatherby Orion 20-Bore Review: A Modern, Steel-Proof Side-by-Side
- Last updated: 17/09/2025
The appeal of a classic side-by-side remains strong, but modern shooters must now consider steel shot proof compatibility to stay up to date. Many also want the convenience of multi-choke systems, which are standard on most modern guns, yet prefer not to spend too much. Finding a side-by-side that meets these criteria for under £1,000 can be tricky. This is where the Weatherby Orion comes in.
Weatherby has a long-standing reputation for sourcing firearms beyond their magnum rifle remit, re-badging them to meet customer demand, whether you’re after a .22LR semi-auto or a shotgun. Over the years, many guns have proudly carried the Orion name, originating from Japan, Italy, and now Turkey.
Orion shotguns have always been designed and regarded from the outset as no-nonsense workhorses, offering solid performance, reliable patterns, and dependable service in the field at a fair price.
You can buy an Orion in either an over-and-under configuration or, as tested here, the side-by-side, and in either 12 or 20-bore. The gun has a timeless look and appeal that embodies the traditional side-by-side, featuring an English-style straight stock, splinter-style fore-end, swamped rib, and double triggers. The overall appearance is deliberately workmanlike, with no shiny side plates or unnecessary bling, and the boxlock action is finished in a tough black chrome finish. I like its unadorned style – a good, solid, classically styled double shotgun, retailing at £995.
The stock follows the ethos of a classic English double, with straight stock lines that suit the smaller frame of this 20-bore gun. Being Turkish, the wood is walnut, and in this case, it’s a decent grade with attractive grain and tiger striping, with a deep, dark colouring. Diamond chequering is applied to the hand grip, as well as to the sides and underside of the fore-end. The fore-end follows the traditional splinter-looking style, offering just enough support for the leading hand while maintaining the svelte lines so typical of a side-by-side.
Internally, it features the Anson & Deeley lever-type mechanism for fore-end removal, and the attachment is good and solid without any slack. The overall finish of the walnut is a polished oil, with a higher sheen than usual, which really brings out the grain of the stock and complements the more understated matte black metalwork. Completing the unassuming stock is a solid yet pliable black rubber recoil pad that shoulders cleanly without snagging. The length of pull is just under 15”, measured from the front trigger blade.
Action-wise, this boxlock features a black chrome finish, which I have to say I personally really like. There’s no engraving or polished pins, just a durable, hard-wearing surface that won’t reflect glare when the sun catches it. The Weatherby logo appears on the right side, but it’s tastefully applied.
Internally, the gun uses twin articulated mechanical double triggers, allowing smooth and unimpeded movement from the front trigger (right barrel) to the rear one (left barrel) during shooting.
Don’t be put off by the double trigger system, as it’s intuitive to use, and on this Orion it delivers very good, clean-breaking trigger pulls: 5lbs 8oz at the front and 5lbs 8.8oz at the rear, as measured with a Lyman trigger gauge. That’s impressively consistent performance for a gun at this price point, and ideal for delivering a confident second shot. One of the benefits of a double trigger is that you don’t have to move a selector from left to right to select your barrel of choice; it’s all at your fingertips, literally.
There is a simple, tang-mounted, non-automatic safety that moves forward to fire and rearward to engage safe, featuring a decent, round-gripped top.
I like the extended trigger guard tang that runs along the wrist of the stock, as it provides additional strength, which is a sensible feature on a slim, straight-grip design.
Opening the Orion is done via a small black-chromed lever with a lightly chequered spade-shaped handle. It’s not stiff, but you can feel the built-in longevity, making it a gun built for a lifetime of shooting. The Orion does not come with ejectors, so after firing, the spent cartridge is lifted high enough for easy removal by hand when the action is opened, which offers a more sedate and traditional way of shooting.
Finally, the barrels have been built with a good deal of thought. They are made from steel, with a very concentrically drilled bore that is chrome-lined for longevity. The chambers are compatible with both 2¾” and 3” cartridges, and this is clearly marked on the barrels along with “Yildiz Turkiye”. They are also proofed for steel shot, which is a requirement these days and helps keep the side-by-side design alive.
But best of all is the use of the extended Yildiz multi-chokes, which come as standard in Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified, and Full, so all bases are covered. They are 2.5” long, with a bright blue ring at the top, and clearly marked with the choke restriction size. Each one can be screwed in and out easily by hand.
Keeping with the classic side-by-side vibe, the Orion features a swamped centre rib above the barrels, which are joined by silver welding. I really like the rib, as not only is it a traditional swamped design in keeping with the best English guns, but the concave shape means it sits low, ensuring it does not obscure your view or the target. The single bead at the muzzle naturally draws the eye towards the aim point.
The Orion is a very easy side-by-side to shoot well. It comes to the shoulder naturally and effortlessly, and seems to allow you to track game effectively. Combined with its well-proportioned 28” barrels and a weight of just 6.5lbs, it is ideally suited as a walkabout gun or a rough-shooter’s delight, and it also works well for smaller-framed game shooters. The oiled stock is practical for tougher use and wet conditions, as it can simply be wiped down at the end of the day and treated with a little more oil to keep it looking like new and weatherproof.
With good gun fit comes manageable and mild recoil, and that was certainly the case with the Orion. Even with Zenith cartridges, which can be rather ‘playful’, a follow-up shot was easily delivered while the Orion remained on aim and in swing. The balance is also very good, with the pivot point positioned just in front of the receiver, making an already light gun feel even lighter, which is a very welcome trait.
I shot the right barrel, fitted with the ½ choke, at pattern boards at our usual 30-yard distance to assess the performance of three different 20-bore loads. I also tested the more open chokes for close-range work, just out of interest.
First up was the Eley Zenith cartridge, which uses a 70mm case. This load comprises 28g of No.6 CU shot with a fibre wad, representing a good choice for game shooting. I’ve used this load many times and have always found it to perform well downrange, producing tight patterns. That proved true again, with a total of 233 pellets striking the 30” board. There was no clumping of shot, as you’d expect from the CU-washed pellets, and 173 of those pellets landed within a tight 15” spread, leaving virtually no gaps. The remaining 60 were more concentrated towards the top of the pattern. That’s an excellent result from a 20-bore cartridge by any standard, meaning I would confidently recommend it for game, pigeon, or vermin shooting.
Next up was Hull Cartridge Company’s Driven Grouse load, comprising 25g of copper-washed No.6 pellets in a 67mm case. This cartridge delivers a hard-hitting, ballistically superior pellet downrange, with no clumping and good, tight patterns. It also features a fibre wad, and once again, the results were impressive, with a total of 195 pellets striking the 30” board at 30 yards. The pattern was slightly raised, with 120 inner hits within the 15” circle and the remaining 75 pellets distributed around the upper edge of the 30” board. Overall, this cartridge produced a solid pattern and was very mild to shoot, making it well suited to all forms of shotgun quarry.
Weatherby Orion by name and Yildiz underneath, this shotgun carries the character of a true Weatherby, bringing together the best of both companies. The Orion is certainly better than many cheap side-by-sides and is a solidly built gun with excellent reliability, capable of producing impressive patterns. Offering very good value for money, it is well worth considering if you’re looking for a nimble, well-made 20-bore side-by-side.
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