By Randy Wakeman

The previously reviewed Sorix 12 gauge from Weatherby did extremely well, https://chuckhawks.com/weatherbysorixreview.html , weighing in at 6 lbs., 15.6 oz. This 20 gauge Sorix Storm with a 28 inch barrel is lighter, slimmer, and trimmer weighing in right at 6-1/4 lbs: 6 lbs. 4.7 oz. with a Trulock Improved Modified Crio Plus extended choke installed. The Sorix 20 shaves about three quarters of a pound away from the Sorix 12 gauge. The 18i and Sorix models all use Crio Plus style choke tubes. Flush choke tubes are supplied with the gun by Weatherby. 

My Skeets bore gauge informs me that the Sorix 20 gauge barrel inside diameter is .620 in. With the IM Trulock, it nets a .020 inch constriction which is generally my target area for dove and pheasant hunting. The Sorix loads easily, ejects 7/8 oz. 1200 fps target loads with authority, and shoots dead on to point of aim at 37 yards. You can see this for yourself at https://youtu.be/Z51apeAUhIA .

The safety is goodly sized and easy to get off and put back on. My sole gripe is the unacceptably heavy trigger, a surprise as the Sorix 12 gauge and Weatherby 18i triggers were quite good. As supplied, the Sorix 20 gauge trigger breaks at a weight just over the weight of the gun. This is out of spec, according to Weatherby and when this is resolved, I'll update this review.

9/21/2024 Trigger Update

Weatherby promptly sent out a replacement hammer spring and hammer spring cap. Prior to replacing the hammer spring, not having tiny snap ring pliers at the ready, after dropping the trigger group I manually cycled the hammer spring briskly, several hundred times. That did help the matter, dropping the trigger break weight down by roughly half a pound. No disassembly of the trigger assembly was needed.

10/4/2024 Another Trigger Update

I paid a visit to the gunsmith, having the hammer spring and follower replaced with the Weatherby-supplied replacement. It did make the trigger far crisper and smoother: everyone on hand agreed on that. At the shop, we measured the trigger at 5 lbs. 10 oz. on average. Yes, it still is a bit heavy by my picky standards, but is better than the vast majority of factory semi-auto triggers. I'm satisfied. Weatherby spec is 5-6 lbs.: the trigger is now within spec. If I want to go to the 4 - 4-1/4 lb. area that I prefer, it is off to Dave at Precision Sports https://www.thefirearmsspecialists.com/contact as usual.

The Sorix Storm 20 (on top) shaves 3/4 pound from the Sorix 12 gauge.

I have weighed several twenty gauge shotguns with the same calibrated electronic gauge. Here is exactly what they weigh, unloaded with a factory choke tube installed.

Winchester SX3 Walnut Field, 28 inch, 6.5 pounds.
Benelli M2 APG 24 inch (old model), 6.0 pounds.

Benelli M2 28 inch matte black (2023 model) 6 lbs. 3 oz.

Beretta 391 Urika 2 Gold, 26 inch, 6 pounds, six ounces.

Beretta A300 Ultima, 28 inch, 6-3/4 lbs.

Fabarm Elos D2 20 gauge, 28 inch, 5 lbs. 14 oz.
Franchi Affinity 26 inch, 6.0 pounds.
CZ 720 28 inch, 6.5 pounds.
Original Browning Gold 20, 26 inch, 7.0 pounds.
Browning Silver Hunter 26 inch, 6.5 pounds.
Browning B-80 alloy, 26 inch, 6-1/4 pounds.
Mossberg SA-20 walnut, 26 inch, 6-1/4 pounds.
Browning B-80 steel, 26 inch, 7 lbs.
Beretta 303, 26 inch, 6-1/4 pounds.

Retay Masai Mara Walnut 26 inch, 6 pounds, 9 oz.
Remington 1100 Sporting, 28 inch barrel, 8.0 lbs.
Weatherby SA-08 26 inch, 6.0 pounds.

Weatherby 18i Deluxe, 26 inch, 6-1/4 lbs.
Browning A-5 Magnum 20, 26 inch plain barrel, Belgium, 6.5 pounds.
Browning A-5 Magnum 20, 26 inch Vent Rib Invector, Miroku Mfg., 8 lbs. 3 oz.
Browning Cynergy Field, O/U, 28 inch barrels, 6-3/4 lbs.
Ithaca M37 Featherlight, 26 inch barrel, 6 lbs. 13 oz.
Remington 870 Wingmaster Classic, 26 inch barrel, 6 lbs., 7 oz.
Weatherby Element Deluxe Walnut, 28 inch barrel, 6 lbs., 7 oz.

Whether 3.5 inch 12 gauge, 3 in. 12 gauge, or 3 inch 20 gauge, the entire Sorix line comes in your choice of three different Camo / Cerakote styles, all hand-finished at Weatherby.

Jack O'Connor remarked that he had no use for an upland shotgun that weighed any more than 7 lbs. I agree, and I have no use for an upland hunting 20 gauge that weighs any more than 6-1/2 lbs. Many current production 20 gauge repeaters are miserably overweight pigs, as far as I'm concerned.

More weight than that calls into question what a 20 gauge in the uplands is actually for. I also have no use for hunting shotguns in general that have excruciatingly dinky safeties, are painful to load, are unreliable with target loads, and do not shoot to point of aim. The Weatherby Sorix 20 gauge checks all of these boxes easily, with low recoil for the class as well, and excellent balance.

The Sorix 20 ejection is quite strong with 7/8 oz. 1200 fps target loads.

I like the stepped rib, and as the line fills out with shorter barrels, you'll have an excellent turkey or slug gun as well, as the receiver is drilled and tapped. Marocchi of Italy has been in business for a century by now, since 1821. Weatherby Sorix models all have 10 year written warranties.

Turkish and American shotguns are not independently proof-tested. If you want a high quality shotgun, a CIP proof-tested shotgun is the standard and that is all that Marocchi offers. Best of all, the Sorix 20 gauge is available right now, while previously announced models of other makes remain vaporware.

While I hesitate to call Cerakote and synthetic shotguns traditional, this is as low of a maintenance autoloading hunting shotgun that can be had, needing zero external care. If you love to hunt as I do, the Sorix 20 will be a very satisfying long term hunting companion for you. I'm impressed, to say the very least and will be even more impressed when 26 inch barrels become available. This is the “Hunting Shotgun of the Year” for 2024 by every reasonable metric it can be graded with. Congratulations to Weatherby of Sheridan, Wyoming.