Weatherby has officially entered the dedicated muzzleloader market with the new Weatherby Model 307 MZY.
Available in both .45 and .50 caliber, the Model 307 MZY combines a bolt-action design with a lightweight carbon-fiber stock, large rifle primer ignition, an included directional muzzle brake, and several accessories designed to make the rifle easier to load and maintain.
We recently got our hands on the new Weatherby muzzleloader for a closer look. While we'll be conducting more extensive range testing separately, here's an overview of the Model 307 MZY, its major features, and what Weatherby includes in the box.
Weatherby's First Dedicated Muzzleloader
The Model 307 MZY is Weatherby's first dedicated muzzleloader.
Rather than simply providing the rifle and leaving the shooter to assemble the rest of the setup, Weatherby includes several accessories needed to get the MZY ready for the range or field.
Included with the muzzleloader are:
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Breech plug
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Ratchet, extension, and 1/2-inch socket for breech plug installation and removal
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20 reusable Arrowhead Gen 2 primer modules
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Self-timing directional muzzle brake
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Cedar Mountain Quick Loader system
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Extra charge tubes
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Collapsible ramrod
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Ramrod carrying case
That's an impressive amount of equipment to include with a muzzleloader right out of the box.
Arrowhead Gen 2 Large Rifle Primer Modules
One of the most interesting features of the Weatherby Model 307 MZY is its ignition system.
The rifle uses Arrowhead Gen 2 primer modules rather than a conventional 209 primer setup.
A large rifle primer is installed into one end of the module, while the module itself interfaces with the breech plug.
Weatherby includes 20 of these modules with the MZY, and they're reusable.
For shooters looking at a modern bolt-action muzzleloader, this ignition system is one of the features that distinguishes the MZY from many conventional inline muzzleloaders.
Breech Plug Tools Are Included
Weatherby also includes the tools needed to install and remove the breech plug.
Inside the box you'll find a ratchet, extension, and 1/2-inch socket.
That means you have the tools needed to access the breech plug for installation, removal, and routine cleaning without immediately needing to purchase a separate breech plug wrench.
It's a relatively small addition, but it's a thoughtful one.
Included Self-Timing Directional Muzzle Brake
The Weatherby Model 307 MZY also includes a muzzle brake.
From the factory, the muzzle is equipped with a thread protector. Remove the thread protector and the included brake can be installed in its place.
The brake uses a self-timing directional design intended to help reduce felt recoil while directing the muzzle blast and smoke toward the sides.
Redirecting that smoke can be particularly helpful with a muzzleloader because a large cloud directly in front of the rifle can temporarily obstruct your view of the target after the shot.
Including the brake from the start also means you don't have to immediately shop for a compatible aftermarket brake if you want to run one.
Cedar Mountain Quick Loader System
Weatherby also includes a Cedar Mountain Quick Loader system with the Model 307 MZY.
This is particularly useful when shooting a muzzleloader equipped with a muzzle brake.
The loader uses an extended tube that reaches through the brake and bypasses its internal baffles. This allows you to pour loose powder directly into the bore rather than having powder collect inside the muzzle brake.
The system also incorporates storage for your powder charge and projectile, making it a convenient field-loading accessory.
Additional charge tubes are included so you can prepare multiple charges before heading to the range or into the field.
Collapsible Muzzleloader Ramrod
Rather than attaching a conventional full-length ramrod underneath the barrel, the MZY comes with a lightweight collapsible ramrod.
The sections assemble similarly to a tent pole, creating a full-length loading rod when needed while breaking down into a compact package for transport.
Weatherby also includes a carrying case with an attachment loop.
That gives you several options for carrying the ramrod in the field, including attaching it to a belt, backpack, or bino harness.
Lightweight Carbon-Fiber Stock
One of the first things that stands out when handling the Model 307 MZY is its weight.
The complete muzzleloader weighs a little over seven pounds.
That's particularly noteworthy for a bolt-action muzzleloader.
A major contributor to that weight reduction is the carbon-fiber stock.
For hunters who spend significant time hiking or covering steep terrain, reducing rifle weight can make a noticeable difference over the course of a day.
3DHEX Recoil Pad
At the rear of the carbon-fiber stock, Weatherby uses its 3DHEX recoil pad.
The softer recoil-pad material provides cushioning between the stock and your shoulder and is designed to help reduce felt recoil.
Combined with the included muzzle brake, it's clear that recoil management was one of the considerations Weatherby incorporated into the overall MZY design.
Adjustable TriggerTech Trigger
The Weatherby Model 307 MZY comes equipped with a TriggerTech trigger.
The trigger is fully adjustable down to 2.5 pounds, allowing shooters to tailor the trigger pull to their preference within the manufacturer's adjustment range.
A quality trigger is particularly important when you're trying to build a precise muzzleloader setup, so including a TriggerTech from the factory is another notable feature of the MZY.
Two-Position Safety
The Model 307 MZY also features a dedicated two-position safety.
Moving the safety forward places the rifle into the fire position, while moving it rearward returns it to safe.
Not every modern muzzleloader incorporates a traditional dedicated safety, so this is a welcome feature on Weatherby's first dedicated muzzleloader.
Smooth Fluted Bolt
The bolt itself is fluted and operates smoothly.
The bolt-action design is also part of what gives the Model 307 MZY a distinctly modern feel compared with the break-action inline muzzleloaders many hunters are accustomed to using.
Combined with the large rifle primer modules, it creates an ignition system and operating experience geared toward a modern muzzleloader platform.
.50 Caliber Weatherby Model 307 MZY
The .50 caliber Model 307 MZY featured in our overview uses a 26-inch barrel with a 1:24 twist rate.
The barrel is also fluted.
That relatively fast twist rate is an important characteristic of the rifle and reflects the modern design of the MZY.
.50 Caliber Specifications
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Caliber: .50
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Barrel Length: 26 inches
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Twist Rate: 1:24
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Fluted barrel
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Threaded muzzle
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Included muzzle brake
.45 Caliber Weatherby Model 307 MZY
Weatherby also offers the Model 307 MZY in .45 caliber.
The .45 caliber version maintains the same 26-inch barrel length but uses an even faster 1:20 twist rate.
.45 Caliber Specifications
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Caliber: .45
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Barrel Length: 26 inches
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Twist Rate: 1:20
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Fluted barrel
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Threaded muzzle
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Included muzzle brake
This gives shooters the choice between two popular modern muzzleloader calibers while providing each with a fast-twist barrel.
Ready for Open Sights or a Scope
Another particularly useful feature of the Weatherby MZY is its flexibility when it comes to sighting systems.
The rifle is drilled and tapped to accommodate both open sights and an optic.
Toward the muzzle, mounting locations are provided for a front sight. The rifle can also accept a rear peep sight.
For shooters using a scope, the receiver is drilled and tapped for a compatible scope base or mount.
That gives hunters considerably more flexibility when configuring the rifle for different applications and regulations.
A hunter in an area where magnified optics are permitted can build a scoped setup, while someone needing an open-sight configuration has mounting provisions available.
Always verify the current regulations for the specific state, season, and hunt before selecting your sighting system.
Weatherby Model 307 MZY Features at a Glance
The Weatherby Model 307 MZY brings together several noteworthy features:
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Available in .45 and .50 caliber
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26-inch fluted barrel
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1:20 twist in .45 caliber
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1:24 twist in .50 caliber
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Carbon-fiber stock
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Weight slightly over seven pounds
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TriggerTech adjustable trigger
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Two-position safety
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Fluted bolt
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Arrowhead Gen 2 reusable primer modules
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Large rifle primer ignition
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Threaded muzzle
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Included self-timing directional muzzle brake
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Drilled and tapped for open sights
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Drilled and tapped for scope mounting
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Cedar Mountain Quick Loader
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Collapsible field ramrod
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Breech plug installation and removal tools
First Look at the Weatherby Model 307 MZY
For Weatherby's first dedicated muzzleloader, there's a lot to like about the Model 307 MZY on paper and from our initial hands-on look.
The lightweight carbon-fiber stock immediately stands out, especially considering this is a bolt-action muzzleloader. Weatherby also included many of the accessories a shooter would otherwise need to purchase separately, including the muzzle brake, loading system, collapsible ramrod, primer modules, and breech plug tools.
The ability to configure the rifle with either open sights or an optic also makes the platform more adaptable to different hunting applications.
The next step is getting it out to the range.
We'll be doing additional testing with the Weatherby Model 307 MZY to see how it performs when we start putting rounds downrange. That will give us a better opportunity to evaluate accuracy, handling, ignition, and overall performance rather than drawing conclusions based solely on its specifications.
For now, Weatherby's first dedicated muzzleloader is certainly an interesting new addition to the modern muzzleloader market.
If you have questions about the Weatherby Model 307 MZY or need help putting together a muzzleloader setup, contact the team at Muzzle-Loaders.com and we'll be happy to help.
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