There are a few classic American brands that dominate the centerfire hunting rifle market here in the United States. These venerable brands fill a niche—usually at the mid-to-lower side of the price spectrum. And why not? In a recent conversation with a friend who is an FFL, I learned that many of these guns are bought in the run-up to the fall deer seasons, fired less than 20 times, and then pawned shortly before Christmas.
For me, this creates a bit of a disturbance in the force. I tend to look at firearms as investments or at least as things that will last. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to some gun makers who are known for producing the type of impeccable guns that you won’t ever find in a pawn shop. And the Benelli name is high up on that list.
The Benelli Lupo
Many are familiar with the Benelli shotgun line. These guns have a hard-won reputation, both with hunters and with tactical shooters. Almost all of the Benelli accessories here at GunMag Warehouse are for scatter guns.
But Benelli also makes rifles, and the Lupo is the gateway gun into their lineup of bolt guns.
This gun is built to hunt. From its protective coatings and use of stainless in the bolt to the synthetic stock, this is one of the more pedestrian bolt actions in the Benelli catalog. But there are no excuses here—the gun is robust, can handle anything you throw at it, and is in no way precious.
The Benelli Sense of Style
While this gun is perhaps the most basic of the Benelli line, it still has the defining lines that make it instantly recognizable. Italians have a reputation for refined design, and this extends into their guns, too. Look at Beretta’s continued dedication to the 92 lineage. The design is instantly recognizable.
Both Benelli and Beretta have taken a significant share of the American shotgun market, though mostly with their semi-autos (which, again, I’m equating with a higher price tag and, therefore, a different class of hunter).
The Lupo stock, though, tends to separate shooters into two groups: those who look at the steep angle of the trigger guard and add lines of the forend and raise an eyebrow curiously, and those who see the intentionally offset lines as a mark of distinction.
Is it wolf-like in any way? I don’t see anything especially lupine about the gun, and it feels way too intentional to be even metaphorically wild. But it is a good name, nonetheless.
How does the Lupo shoot?
I’ve shot some amazing bolt-action rifles over the last 10 years. From my go-to Savage 110 to my Ruger American rifle in .223 Remington, I know that you don’t have to shell out an insane amount for sub-MOA results. And, like most of Benelli’s catalog, this one comes at a price, so it best shoot straight.
There’s no disappointment here. At 100 yards, this .308 Winchester Lupo is capable of exceptional repeat accuracy. Groups of three, all touching, are the norm from a braced position at the bench. This should come as no surprise, as Benelli guarantees sub-moa performance.
They even immerse the barrels in a cryogenic freeze to increase the wear resistance and resistance to fatigue. The process must work. How could they make a sub-moa guarantee otherwise? The light weight (under 7 lbs) means this gun is easy to steady on target from a standing position and won’t make you shake when you brace it as you might from a blind or tree stand.
As with all rifles, a solid scope will make all the difference. As I’ve got this one set up to do some hog hunting, I am using a Leupold VX3 4.5-15×50. On the eastern edge of Oklahoma, the terrain opens up, and I can sometimes make shots out to 300 yards or more. On the Arkansas side of the line, those distances close in. I’m lucky to get shots out to 200 yards.
The Leupold spins up to 14 for longer-range shots and backs out to just 4X, which is better for glassing and close-up shits. I’m a fan of the Leupold, and I use it on many of the bolt-action rifles I review. This one has been sighted in many times now and is still as reliable today, after a few years in the review toolbox, as it was when I first unboxed it. A good 4-16 power scope, preferably with a large field of view, is ideal for a gun like this and should cover everything you would need.
How does the Lupo handle?
As with any bolt gun, I rely on the trigger for most of my initial impressions. Out of the box, the Lupo has a superb trigger that breaks at three pounds. You can dial it up to over four or down to just above two pounds. The break is clean with no detectable creep. As for ergonomics, don’t let the looks fool you. The gun fits in the hands exceptionally well. Even the approach to the trigger is angled perfectly so that your finger falls into a natural alignment.
The .308 has a 22-inch barrel and a length of pull that adjusts from 13.8 to 14.75 inches. While that’s less than an inch, it’s something. I’d like to see more there, as I’m on the taller side. The Lupo also comes with three trigger-reach spacers for those with longer fingers. These go between the stock and the receiver.
The bolt throw kicks up 60 degrees, and the three-lug bolt feels like it is running on glass. This is one of the finer points that separate this class of guns from some of the American builds, as it really does have a refined feel.
There are other benefits, like the tang-mounted safety and integral sling-swivel mounts, that have become fairly common on bolt guns, but there’s something here that I have found to be truly unique and may well be my favorite part of the Lupo: The box magazine.
The Benelli Lupo’s Box Magazine
Many magazines keep all of the rounds in the same space. There’s nothing controversial about this. One round goes in and shifts to one side or the other, and the next goes in on top of it. But this can be rough on the projectile points on those cartridges in the magazine.
The Lupo’s magazine has a divider of sorts. This divider keeps the rounds aligned and protects the soft tips of hollow points. It even keeps the rounds from shifting forward in the magazine (like if you were to drop them accidentally). Nothing will kill accuracy like a damaged tip, and this is one extra measure that Benelli has taken to ensure the success of your hunt.
Sadly, GunMag doesn’t carry the Benelli mags yet. Many, if not most, will own this type of gun with only one magazine—the one that comes with the gun. For me, that’s not enough. I’d want at least two.
Final thoughts
The Lupo comes in .300 Win Mag, .270 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .243 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, 6.5 PRC, 6mm Creedmoor, and .30-06 Springfield. That’s a broad range of options. The MSRP for this rifle is $1,499. If you’re sitting on a pile of money, there are fancier stocks, some of which are exquisite. But they’re not going to shoot any straighter. Either way, the Lupo is a worthwhile investment for hunters and precision shooters alike. Get you one!
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