The Italian Wolf: Benelli’s Bolt Action Lupo

By Kristin Alberts

This closeup of the Lupo shows the two-piece stock, which fits around what is essentially a two-part receiver, half-steel, half-aluminum alloy chassis. (Photo: Kristin Alberts/Guns.com)
Benelli, a company known for innovation in the semi-automatic shotgun world, puts forth its first-ever entry into the bolt-action rifle world. Though the Lupo, the Italian word for wolf, is Benelli’s first crack at the bolt-action hunting rifle market, from the looks of things, this animal has been a long time in the making.
From a distance, the Lupo looks unassuming with its black synthetic furniture and matte black metalwork, but closer inspection reveals sleek lines and modern features. The Lupo makes use of seven existing Benelli patents, drawing from such things as the Crio barrel technology and Progressive Comfort recoil reduction system at the buttstock. A cryogenically treated, free-floating, threaded barrel is mated to a hardened steel barrel extension which is then bedded to a steel block in the alloy receiver.
Speaking of receivers, the Lupo essentially makes use of a two-piece receiver with an “upper” of hardened steel and the “lower” a chassis-like aluminum housing. Like many other companies going the route of lightweight production rifles, aluminum alloy helps shave weight, putting the Lupo at 7-pounds

Source: Guns.com