Benelli Lupo Alpha rifle review

Specification summary

First impressions and build quality

There are occasionally developments that mark a substantial leap forward in firearms design. Having tested rifles for more than 35 years, Bruce Potts says the Lupo Alpha represents a genuinely different approach to rifle design rather than simply another restock or variant of an existing model.

Benelli is a manufacturer that treads its own path, and its shamelessly unique designs produce rifles that stalkers and shooters genuinely appreciate for the thought that has gone into them. Every Benelli tested by Potts has exceeded expectations – and the Lupo Alpha is something else entirely.

The Benelli Lupo has an unusual action design. On the Alpha, weight saving is key: the action surfaces are reduced in mass by longitudinal grooves cut into the sides. Attached to the receiver is a one-piece aluminium Picatinny rail for universal fitment of optics – whether conventional scopes, 4K options or thermal and NV systems.

All metal surfaces feature Benelli’s BE.S.T (Benelli Surface Treatment) finish in satin black and grey, apart from the gloss-black bolt body. The coating is extremely hard-wearing, resistant to corrosion and scratching, and virtually impervious to weather. Alongside the BE.S.T finish, the Lupo Alpha carries a 10-year mechanical warranty and 25-year corrosion protection.

The bolt is equally distinctive. The bolt shaft is scalloped and fitted with an elliptical three-lug bolt head, giving a low 60-degree lift. A polymer bolt shroud and red cocking indicator complete the assembly, producing a super-smooth, bind-free action. The tang-mounted safety can be bypassed via a small side lever, allowing the bolt to be lifted while still remaining on safe. The doglegged bolt handle protrudes just enough to avoid snagging on foliage while enabling a confident grip.

The barrel is only 20in long – ideal for .308 Win – with a thin muzzle outside diameter of 15.4mm tapering from 26mm at the action. The Crio treatment improves thermal resistance, increases barrel longevity, enhances accuracy and leaves a smoother bore surface. The barrel is free-floating and threaded 5⁄8 UNEF at the muzzle. After six to eight shots it does require cooling, but that is no issue in a hunting scenario.

The Alpha stock

Benelli clearly reviewed the conventional stock-making process and decided to ignore traditional methods entirely. Instead of removing material from wood or bonding together two moulded halves like most synthetic stocks, the Alpha stock has a 3D-printed polymer construction. This creates a no-waste and highly intricate design unlike anything else available.

At only 2.6kg (5.7lb), the Lupo Alpha is the lightest chassis-system Sporting rifle on the market – 500g less than a standard rifle. The two-piece stock attaches via a central aluminium chassis and action arrangement, providing a stable bedding platform while creating a lightweight yet harmonious rifle overall.

Potts describes the organic, bird-like skeletal structure of the Alpha stock as very clever – saving weight while creating a huge visual impact. It is effectively a honeycomb stock that handles every bit as well as it looks. The dark grey anodised chassis finish, combined with Benelli’s angular styling, is enhanced by additional scalloping for further weight reduction. The five-shot polymer magazine integrates neatly into the action.

Comb height can be altered with interchangeable inserts, while length of pull can be adjusted from 13.75in to 15in via spacers, allowing the Alpha to be customised for shooters of all sizes. The grey textured finish removes the need for chequering, while the Progressive Comfort recoil pad system takes the sting out of the .308 round.

Trigger

Accuracy can be ruined by a poor trigger, but Benelli’s triggers have always impressed. The single-stage unit on test broke crisply at 2lb 3oz. It is adjustable between 650g and 1,650g, and the position of the trigger blade itself can be moved forward by 1mm using the supplied spacers.

Performance in the field

Potts tested the Lupo Alpha exclusively with non-lead ammunition, finding it handled Hornady ECX copper alloy ammo well and making this the load for a Chinese water deer stalk at the end of the season.

Water deer typically bed down in ditches and hedgerows along field margins, always alert and ready to bolt. The ground was sodden – good for quiet movement; bad for leaking wellies. A slow approach, aided by Pulsar Symbion DXT50 multispectral binoculars, allowed a quiet passage to a drainage ditch ambush site overlooking a 100-yard-wide field flanked by dense scrub.

The super-light Alpha was ready for instant use on a Harris bipod. A doe appeared at 180 yards, then vanished before reappearing just 20 yards away and racing up the field. Settled back on the bipod, with the doe stepping out again at 93 yards five minutes later, the Alpha performed perfectly – she dropped on the spot, fully validating the Lupo’s hunting credentials.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Lightest chassis-system Sporting rifle on the market at 2.6kg
• Revolutionary 3D-printed polymer stock – unique, effective and striking
• BE.S.T finish with 10-year mechanical and 25-year corrosion warranty
• Super-smooth, bind-free bolt with 60-degree lift
• Crisp, adjustable single-stage trigger
• Adjustable comb height and length of pull
• Sub-MOA accuracy guaranteed at 100 yards
• Well-suited to non-lead copper ammunition

• Weaknesses
• Barrel requires cooling after six to eight rapid shots
• Limited-edition Alpha – availability may be restricted compared with the standard Lupo range

Verdict

Benelli Lupo rifles are always enjoyable to test because they offer unique and useful features for stalkers. In terms of price, this rifle represents excellent value for money, even in this limited-edition Alpha form, while offering something truly different from everything else on the market. With effortless handling, excellent accuracy and proven performance on deer, the Lupo Alpha deserves to be at the very top of any stalker’s shortlist.