When a company updates a gun you already love, there’s always some risk involved. The Weatherby Element sat on our best-of list multiple years running, so when the Weatherby Element II showed up, I’ll admit I was a little nervous. We took the Element II DUX Edition out on a rainy day to find out whether Weatherby made it better or worse.
In this article
Quick take
Verdict: A good waterfowl gun for the money with some real upgrades, although I still prefer how the original Element felt in my hands.
Best for: Waterfowl hunters who want a dependable inertia semi-auto without spending a lot.
Skip it if: You want a crisp, light trigger for fast shooting, or you plan to swap in an aftermarket recoil pad.
What changed on the Weatherby Element II
The rubber overmolding is gone
The first thing I noticed was that Weatherby dropped the rubber overmolding, which was one of my favorite things about the original Element. You don’t often see overmolding on a gun at this price point, and maybe that’s exactly why it went away. The feel in the hands changed completely as a result. The Element II is fuller and a little bulkier, and although I still think it’s a good feeling shotgun, I prefer the Element I.
Bigger controls and a better loading port
Now to be fair, there are some real upgrades here. The bolt handle and controls are larger, the paddle bolt release works nicely, and the loading port is cut out with rounded edges, so there’s nothing sharp waiting to grab your fingers. I’d still like the lifter to be a little longer. There’s also a shim kit in the choke box, which lets you adjust drop and cast so you can make the gun fit you.
A little heavier, and I don’t mind
The 12 gauge comes in at about 7 lb 5 oz, a bit heavier than the original. For a duck gun, that’s a good spot. I like a heavier waterfowl gun because it manages recoil better and feels smoother to operate.
Great looking camo, with one blemish
The DUX camo looks awesome, and the receiver has some nice curves and lines to it. I did find a few imperfections in the finish on our gun, including one spot where it looks like a mistake was touched up, and it stands out more than it should. Other than that, everything fit well with good tolerances, and it feels like a decently made gun for what it costs. Like the original, the Weatherby Element II is made in Turkey by the same manufacturer.
How the Weatherby Element II shot
With target loads, the Element II had a little more pop than I expected for a gun this weight, but it comes straight back into the shoulder instead of up into your face. Stepping up to Federal Black Cloud, I felt it a bit more in my cheek, which is about what you’d expect from loads that hot. By the end of the day, I decided the recoil was better than I first gave it credit for.
It cycled from the hip and kept running in the rain. Over the head with light target loads on a brand-new gun, it got off two shots, which is fair for an inertia gun that’s still breaking in. More than anything, it’s just a good feeling gun that moves well, and I’d love to hunt with it.
The trigger is the part I’d change. It measured 6 lb 5 oz, which is lighter than it felt, but there’s a lot of pre-travel. In the blind, most hunters won’t notice. When I tried to shoot fast on the clock, I definitely did.
The included chokes aren’t a great selection for waterfowl, with a lead-only Full in the box. I’d put a Carlson’s in it anyway, and if you’re interested, we have a discount code for Carlson’s choke tubes. Use code ‘targetfocused20’ at checkout.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good feeling gun that moves and swings well
- Recoil comes straight back, not into your face
- Larger controls and an improved loading port
- Shim kit for adjusting drop and cast
- Good weight for a waterfowl gun
- Strong value across the lineup
Cons
- Lost the rubber overmolding that made the original feel so good
- Custom-shaped recoil pad limits aftermarket options
- Lots of pre-travel in the trigger
- Small trigger guard could be tight with gloves
- Included Full choke is lead only, not ideal with steel shot
- Finish imperfections on our test gun
Who should buy it
If you’re a waterfowl hunter looking for a dependable inertia semi-auto without spending a lot, the Weatherby Element II deserves a look. The lineup starts at $849 for the Synthetic, and that’s where I see the real value. It could be one of the best value waterfowl or all-purpose semi-autos out there.
The Element II DUX Edition at $1,099 is a great looking gun, but whether the camo is worth the extra money is up to you. And if I were going Weatherby and could stretch the budget, I’d step up to the Sorix.
Side note: Weatherby has a recall on bolts in some Element II 12 gauge serial numbers. Ours wasn’t affected, but if you own one, it’s worth a quick check on Weatherby’s recall page.
Final verdict
So did it get better? In some ways, yes. The controls, the loading port, and the added weight are all improvements, and it’s still a good gun for the money. But I miss how the original Element felt in my hands, and that rubber overmolding was a big part of why I liked it so much. If you own an Element or an Element II, how has yours held up?
