Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Thoughts on Shotguns under $1500 ?

We are looking for a retirement gift for my brother. He is retiring after 30 years with his police dept. We are planning on getting him and shotgun or rifle for his retirement gift.

I am currently looking at a Weatherby Orion, but others too. What is the opinion of the current WBY Orion? This is not the only one we are looking at, but for the price it fits and I don't know much about it.

Also thinking of SXS or semi-auto if you have anything good to say about some of those feel free to add what you like. Other O/U's too.

I have a 2006 wthby Orion made by SKB.....great shotgun, current orions are much different. Will defer to others on this forum for more experienced opinion on the Orion evolution.

I purchased mine new in 2006 and chose wthby as I was unable to find a new SKB O/U locally at the time and knew I'd be getting an SKB with the orion.

Are the WBY's now made in Turkey?

If you were to get him the shotgun, what is he going to do with it? Hunt? Skeet? Trap? Not much? Don't know?

I can think of a bunch of shotguns I'd rather spend $1500 on rather than a current Weatherby. Start with the guns intended purpose and work forward from there.

What’s he gonna do with it?

New Orion’s are Turkish made, pretty sure.

Never shot one, but these look nice for a few hundred more....

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...i-omnium-over-and-under-shotgun/p/p42397

Find a really nice A5 if you go with an auto. Classic that runs great. One of the Japanese units with invector tubes would be pretty sweet.

Big box stores like SW or cabelas/BP were offering field grade Orions for $800 last time I checked many months ago.

I’d like to try a Fabarm L4S Gray Hunter. But I don’t need another 12 gauge semi auto.

If I found out my brother was going to spend $1500 to buy me a shotgun, I would slip my sister $500 to donate to the cause with the suggestion that that she say "I heard Michael say he was thinking about getting a 30" Beretta 686".

Best suggestion so far if going the double gun route.

This would be my position too.

See you are in michigan.Drive down to Jaqua fine guns in Findley OHIO.You will be amazed at the shotgun selection.Worth the trip IMHO.

Google them on their website.

That is great advice!

There are a lot of nice shotguns out there and set up for different purposes. Hunting vs clays. 12 vs 20.

For all around semi-autos in that price range, take a look at the various Benellis, the Beretta A400, and the Browning A5 and Gold.

Thanks to your brother for his service!

Well actually speaking as a person who happens to own several Berettas 686's and others and also happens to own the current Weatherby Orion and has shot both of them a bit, the Weatherby is a fantastic deal for an o/u. Unless you are going to shoot the gun 10's of thousands of rounds a year I would go with the Orion and use the extra money for shells. The wood to metal fit on the Orion is better than both of my Berettas and is on par with my older Brownings. If you want to have an "engraved gun" you will need to go with something else. The Weatherby does have a shiny stock which depends on if that is what you like or not. Now keep in mind the Weatherby is only available in 12g.

The Weatherby is a Turkish made gun and they are turning out some very well made guns for the price point.


Here is a video I did on the Orion. (keep in mind I also own multiple Berettas, Brownings, Merkels, Winchesters and some Remington's thrown in... ) Basically saying that to show I own different brands that are more money and I am not pushing the orion because it is cheap and all I can afford. I like it because it is a quality gun... will it shoot 100k rounds... do not know because it will probably never be shot over 25k rounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiAALBhyOws

Good video......maybe when they come out with a 20 ga

I'd consider what guns he already uses and get one with the same manual of arms