Tested Tough: This Is Weatherby's New Sorix Semiautomatic Shotgun

Weatherby is best known for its rifles, but they’ve been making shotguns for nearly 2/3 of their existence, so they know a thing or two about that platform as well. That experience is evident in their current line of scatterguns, including the Orion over/under, 18i and Element line of semiautomatics. Recently, they unveiled a new addition to the family – the Weatherby Sorix, a dedicated autoloader for the waterfowl hunter.

Made in Italy on a proven inertia-driven action, the Weatherby Sorix is not just another imported shotgun re-labeled for the American market. The engineers and experts at Weatherby have a long history of working closely with overseas manufacturers who specialize in this kind of business. For the Sorix, they worked meticulously with designers to get the spring rates just right, ensuring the inertia system would not only work heavy goose loads, but also reliably cycle low-brass trap and teal ammo as well. After several rounds of testing, I can say it operates flawlessly, and somewhat surprisingly for an inertia-driven gun, with minimal felt recoil. The Sorix really is comfortable to shoot.

As a waterfowl-specific shotgun, the Sorix has all the features you’d expect to see, and then some. Most obvious are the extra-large bolt-release button and oversized charging handle, both of which are designed to easily be operated with gloved hands. The bolt lock tab also hangs a little lower than you see on standard shotguns. The synthetic stock is stippled for a sure grip and features a soft-touch comb-piece, creating a comfortable cheek weld. Weatherby hand paints the Sorix stock at their factory in Sheridan, Wyoming, in three colorways meant to mimic colors found in nature – Midnight Marsh, Storm and Slough. The barrel and receiver are also Cerakoted to match.

One unique feature of the Weatherby Sorix is a long cut along the left side of the receiver that provide access to that side of the bolt. Why you ask? So southpaw shooters can easily swap (or Shift, as Weatherby calls the “system”) the bolt handle to the left side of the receiver, making bolt operation quicker and easier for left-handed shooters. The safety is also reversible. While this “Shift System” doesn’t make the Sorix a true left-handed shotgun, it does simplify things for southpaws.

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get my hands on a Weatherby Sorix until our waterfowl season had wound to a close. That didn’t keep me from cycling through several boxes of shells on the trap range, where I found the Sorix comfortable to shoot, with a natural pointability and comfortable recoil impulse. It didn’t, however, really give the Sorix the kind of field test under harsh conditions I would have preferred.

For that, I leaned on HUNTING contributor Joe Ferronato, who carried the Weatherby Sorix on a sea duck hunt in Alaska, where he had this to say:

“The first time I shot the new Weatherby Sorix was while bobbing up and down at the mercy of the weather in Kodiak, Alaska in the pursuit of a variety of sea ducks. I had handled the shotgun and familiarized myself with the operation before departing. It shouldered well and felt like a natural extension of my body—exactly what you want in a shotgun. While I struggled to stay warm, a solo drake Barrow’s goldeneye came whipping into the spread. I stood, swung through the bird and pulled the trigger. My first shot with the Sorix dropped my first sea duck. Not a bad first experience with an all-new shotgun.”

The Weatherby Sorix comes with five Crio chokes – Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder and Cylinder. It will be available in both 3- and 3 ½-inch 12-gauge models and a 3-inch 20 gauge.

$1,499 | weatherby.com