Ruger has introduced a pair of new Model 77 bolt-action rifles chambered in .357 Magnum across two new camo patterns-- just in time for hunting season. 

The soft-shooting yet hard-hitting 77/357 was introduced in 2011 but has typically just been available with plain black syntenic furniture-- when it can be found. That's now changed to include models sporting a new Kryptek Obskura Nox and Desolve Bare Reduced patterns.

All Model 77/357s feature an 18.5-inch stainless steel barrel with a 1:16" RH twist and a threaded (1/2-28TPI) muzzle, an overall length of 38.5 inches, and a gold bead front sight with an adjustable rear. The platform uses a flush-fitting 5-shot detachable rotary magazine. Weight is a handy 5.6 pounds. Other features include a stainless steel bolt with a 90-degree bolt throw, a three-position safety, and integrated scope mounts which are machined directly on the solid-steel receiver. 

Why the big deal? Well, it's all a matter of ballistics. A 158-grain .357 Magnum bullet that travels out of a 4-inch barrel at about 1300 fps, when fired through an 18-inch barrel atop the same load will clock out at over 1700.  That’s almost a 30 percent gain in speed, and just about the same amount of energy in ft/lbs. as a .223, only with a bullet that’s 50 percent wider and triple the mass. That's more than powerful enough to take down medium-sized game.

The MSRP on the new Ruger Model 77/357 camo variants is $1,279.