The Weatherby Element II epitomizes a recent trend in the waterfowl gear world: it’s an inertia gun with several premium features offered at a reasonable price point. But does it live up to the hype when it’s put to use in real-world hunting scenarios? This season, I put the Element II Tungsten model through the wringer to find out.
Over the past couple of months, I hunted with this gun in basically every type of waterfowl hunting scenario, from shooting decoying greenheads over small water in Montana to teal on the Great Salt Lake to a late-season mixed bag hunt in California. During that time, I not only tested the gun’s features, but I also saw firsthand how it performed in inclement conditions like cold temperatures, mud, and saltwater. I shot a variety of steel shells and used the stock Crio modified choke. Here’s how it performed.
Element II
Specs
- Gauge: 12ga
- Chamber: 3”
- Barrel Length: 28”
- Weight: 7.3 pounds
- Cycle System: Inertia
- Choke System: Crio Plus Extended Tube
- Stock Finish: Synthetic
- Receiver and Barrel Finish: Tungsten Cerakote
- MSRP: $749.99
Fit and Finish
The Weatherby Element II is a light gun that’s easy to swing. I don’t consider it to be ultralight, like some similar comparisons, but the weight helps with recoil, though smaller hunters may still find the recoil difficult to manage when shooting 3-inch shells on the 12-gauge. That said, for personal preference, I find the weight of the gun to be right in the sweet spot for duck hunting—it’s light enough to keep from making lugging it a chore, but it’s still heavy enough to put dozens of rounds through it without issue when the shooting is good.
One unique aspect of this gun is the aggressive “pistol grip” of the stock, which is steeper and narrower than a typical shotgun. The idea is to offer better control, here, though I have a difficult time saying if this actually plays out in the field. Instead, the narrow grip is more a matter of feel, and it makes the gun feel like it is easy to move with precision, which is worth something, at least.
Before getting the gun in hand, I worried that the plastic stock would feel, well, too plasticky, as is often the case with value shotguns. I was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy the stock felt and wasn’t particularly bothered by its simple black finish, though the gun will always be more of a workhorse than a racehorse, which is what most waterfowlers are after, anyway.
Weatherby offers this gun in four models, including a camo waterfowl version, but the best one for duck hunting is actually the Tungsten version, because of the cerakote finish on the receiver and barrel, which helps prevent rust. And most cerakote semi-auto guns are a tad pricier, too, giving the Element II Tungsten an impressive value.
Performance
The most important thing I need from a waterfowl gun is that it shoots straight in inclement conditions and after taking a beating. So far, the Element II has checked those boxes. I’ve hunted with the gun in cold conditions and used it in saltwater, too. During that time, other hunters’ guns have jammed—one of those guns that had issues was nearly brand new, too—while I have yet to have an issue with the Weatherby. I have not used it in truly bitter cold, but am optimistic that it would continue to excel. Additionally, when I’ve broken the gun down for maintenance, I’ve been impressed by how clean the components and inside of the barrel have stayed; with proper cleaning, I’m sure it would last a long time.
The gun’s oversized controls are one of the features that you’ll more often find on pricier waterfowling guns; they’re mostly a matter of convenience, particularly when your hands are cold. The big slammer button, charging handle, and safety are all easy to operate, even if you’re wearing gloves.
Other aspects of the gun are convenient from a performance perspective, too. The competition-cut receiver makes it painless to load shells into, and the extended Crio choke barrels can be swapped out quickly.
One downside of the gun, which Weatherby is working quickly to resolve, is that there’s currently a voluntary recall for many serial numbers of the 12-gauge because of a bolt head that’s not up to specifications. The company is replacing this part for free, but advises customers to stop using the gun immediately in the meantime.
The Final Word on the Weatherby Element II
All in all, the Weatherby Element II Tungsten is a high-performing inertia gun at a low price point. This season, it’s proven dependable in a variety of situations, and I’ve killed a lot of ducks with it. I’d have no concerns about using it in the uplands, either. If you’re on the market for a semi-auto waterfowl gun for less than $1,000 bucks, you could do a heck of a lot worse than this one.