NRA Gun of the Week: Benelli USA Lupo

by
posted on October 16, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

The traditional outline of Benelli’s Lupo is a center-fire, bolt-action, shoulder-fired rifle designed for hard use. American hunters have faithfully relied on Benelli USA for its outside-the-box thinking and robust products design to last generations. The Lupo rifle encompasses every quality that brand loyalists count on.

Bald man black shirt rifle shooting


Benelli USA’s Lupo is fitted with ergonomic furniture that is adjustable to fit its operator and houses advancements in recoil-reducing technology to enhance the user experience. Black polymer is the basis for the stock’s material, both fore-end and butt, and the gun uses Benelli’s Progressive Comfort system. The company also provides a CombTech cheek pad to buffer the impulse from a recoiling barreled action.

Rifle parts arrangement stock receiver and shims


A hardened-steel upper receiver is fitted to the aluminum chassis or lower receiver. The gun's large-bodied bolt uses three lugs for lockup. Attached is a hammer-forged steel barrel—American Rifleman’s test sample arrived chambered for .30-’06 Sprg. with a barrel length of 22”. At the muzzle is a section of threads cut 5/8-24 t.p.i., protected by an included muzzle cap. Benelli provides an addition treatment with its forged barrels that claims to increase consistency by cryogenics.

right side rifle receiver gray background


Our range experience with Benelli’s Lupo proved the rifle’s worthiness. The detachable box magazine is a welcome feature. The rifle’s contemporary design allows for a comfortable shooter interface enabled by thoughtful ergonomics employed throughout.

rifle fore-end on gray background with text on image noting nra gun of the week


Watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above to learn more about Benelli USA’s Lupo rifle.

Benelli USA Lupo Specifications
Manufacturer: Benelli Armi, S.P.A. (Italy)
Importer: Benelli USA
Action Type: bolt-action, center-fire repeating rifle
Chambering: .30-’06 Sprg.
Receiver: steel; matte blued
Lower Receiver: synthetic
Barrel: 22” hammer-forged steel; CRIO-treated
Trigger: adjustable, 3-lb., 8-oz. pull
Magazine: five-round detachable box
Sights: none; drilled-and-tapped 8-40
Stock: synthetic w/modular CombTech cheek pad, Airtouch Grip Surfaces, Progressive Comfort recoil system
MSRP: $1,699


Further Reading:

Review: Benelli Lupo

Poetry in Motion: Benelli's Ethos

Tested: Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Shotgun

Shotgun: Hunting to Tactical


Exras:











Latest

firing a musket rifle
firing a musket rifle

Today’s Makers of Yesterday’s Firearms

Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.

Left Turn (Bolt): Tikka's New Left-Handed T3x Ace Rifles

Lefties of the world unite and rejoice, as Tikka has announced left-hand versions of its award-winning T3x Ace chassis rifles.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 14, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Skills Check: Rifle Standard Delta 2

Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.

Gun Sales Up for the 7th Month in a Row in 2026

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) estimate of last month’s gun sales was up 2.2 percent compared to August 2025.

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.