| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Benelli Lupo .243 | Check Price |
Benelli’s Lupo, Italian for wolf, is a name that suits this rifle perfectly. Sleek, adaptable and undeniably lethal in the right hands, the Lupo is Benelli’s first foray into bolt-action rifles and has been around now for a few years. Like its shotguns, the Lupo showcases the company’s knack for blending modern engineering with refined aesthetics. My time with the .243 Win model proved it’s a predator of the highest order, whether you’re chasing whitetails in the woods or punching paper at the range.
From the moment you pick it up, the Lupo feels different—in a good way. The rifle balances perfectly, thanks to its lightweight aluminum chassis, which keeps the barrel free-floated and rock-solid for accuracy. Unlike most chassis rifles that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie, the Lupo manages to incorporate the benefits of modern design without losing its traditional hunting appeal. At just over 7 pounds unloaded, it’s easy to carry all day without fatigue, and the bolt’s buttery-smooth, 60-degree throw makes chambering rounds a breeze.
Accuracy Meets Adaptability
Benelli didn’t just build a rifle; they built a rifle that fits. The ComfortTech3 stock is a standout feature, offering an adjustable length of pull, drop, cast and even trigger reach. No matter your size or shooting style, you can dial in the fit. Pair that with the Progressive Comfort recoil-reduction system and the CombTech cheek pad, and you’ve got a rifle that’s as comfortable to shoot as it is deadly accurate. Recoil from the .243 Win was minimal—barely noticeable, even after an extended session at the range, though .243 is not a very punishing caliber to shoot in any configuration.
Speaking of accuracy, the Lupo doesn’t disappoint. Out of the box, it comes with a sub-MOA three-shot group at 100 yards guarantee and as our quick site-in session would later prove it delivered. The rifle handles beautifully off shooting sticks or resting on the sill of a shooting house, as well as in kneeling and standing positions, making reliable hits on targets out to 100 yards. I’m sure it will deliver much farther as well, but that is as far I personally tested it. Whether you’re hunting deer in a stand or coyotes on the move, the .243 Win. chambering is versatile and perfectly suited for these tasks. For those who prefer heavier calibers, Benelli also offers the Lupo in .270 Win, .30-06, and .300 Win Mag, along with short-action options like 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win. Additional chamberings are now offered in 6 mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., .223 Rem and 7mm PRC.
Practical Design for Hunters
While the Lupo’s accuracy steals the spotlight, its practical features are what make it a true hunter’s rifle. The AirTouch checkering on the stock and forend provides a secure grip, even in wet conditions, while the angled wrist naturally positions your hand for a consistent hold. The detachable box magazine locks in securely but can also be topped off through the ejection port, offering the best of both worlds. The ambidextrous safety is intuitive, sitting right where your thumb expects it to be, and the trigger—adjustable from 2.2 to 4.4 pounds, though I didn’t mess with it other than to gently squeeze it when firing—was crisp and predictable, breaking cleanly every time.
I had the opportunity to hunt with the Lupo at East Fork Lodge in Missouri a couple of years ago, and prior to the hunt, our group of hunters, joined by Tim Joseph, the Vice President, Brand Marketing at Benelli USA, gathered on the range to check the zero on our guns and put some shots on paper. Everyone was dialed in and while I didn’t bust out the measuring tape at the time, all of the rifles grouped nicely despite our varying degrees of marksmanship and appeared to be right in or at the border of Benelli’s sub-MOA three-shot guarantee. We were shooting from a bench rest in an underground range at East Fork so the environmental factors were pretty controlled. At the time we were using DRT loads as the owners of East Fork also own Dynamic Research Technologies.
Despite hunting some gorgeous northern Missouri land, prime for big whitetail bucks, and hitting opening week, the weather was unusually windy the first day and warm the next two. I saw two decent 8-pointers, one that was cruising too far off through the woods and one I was seriously considering, but knew it wasn’t what you come to northern Missouri to shoot. As a result, I went home empty handed on that trip. Tim, however, scored on a gorgeous wide- and heavy-racked 10-point that was a good, representative buck of what can be taken in the region. As I recall, Tim’s shot with the Lupo and the DRT ammunition, made it so no follow-up shot or tracking was needed.
The following season, I was fortunate to get another Lupo in .243 in my hands and take it to family property in the mountains of Virginia where I was able to shoot a couple does using Winchester ammunition. Quite simply, the Lupo is a pleasure to carry and to shoot. At 7.2 pounds, it’s not an ultra “lightweight” rifle, but it is far from heavy as well. When humping it up and down hills, the weight of the gun hanging over your shoulder is negligible.
One for the Woods
The Benelli Lupo is a rifle that feels as good as it shoots and with a few years of sales, use and refinements under their belt, the company has one heck of a rifle hunters can depend on when that one shot really counts. Lightweight, accurate, and designed with hunters in mind, it’s a game-changer in the bolt-action market. The .243 Win model is a dream for deer and predator hunters, but with multiple calibers to choose from, there’s a Lupo for every hunt. With a threaded barrel, it can also easily accept a suppressor for when hunting coyotes or hogs, making it as quiet as it is deadly. Benelli took its time with this one, and it shows. If you’re in the market for a bolt-action rifle that blends modern innovation with timeless design, the Lupo deserves a spot at the top of your list. After all, every hunter needs a good wolf in their pack.
Specifications
Model: Benelli Lupo (#15002)
Caliber: .243
Action: Bolt-action
Barrel: matte, blued with 1 in 9-in. twist, threaded 5/8×24, free-floating, Crio treated
Receiver: Chassis-style allow receiver, matte, blued finish
Stock: ComfortTech3 (now only available in a granite moss color, but older matte black models can still be found), with Progressive Comfort recoil reduction
Barrel Length: 22 in.
Overall Length: 42.125 in.
Weight: 7.2 lbs.
MSRP: $1,699
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My key question is why the slower twist rate, 1:8 or even 1:7.5 would be better. Naturally that depends on the mag length. I’m hoping it’s slightly longer than the 2.84, I think it’s time manufacturers started modernizing the .243 and making it where you can use heavier bullets like 107s or even heavier.
1:9 will stabilize 100gr.
The historical tension in use-case is probably the driver of choosing the twist rate.
I think they essentially try to split the baby between competition shooters and hunters when it comes to barrel manufacturing.
This seems like a nice rifle. Is it MSRP $1699 nice? Not for me.
All I know is that I had the pleasure of shooting a competitor’s rifle chambered in .270 Winchester which enabled me to deliver a perfect heart shot on a white-tailed buck deer at 170 yards without any difficulty whatsoever. That rifle would retail today for about $350 and the scope on it would retail today for about $300.
If you have the cash to plunk down $1700 for an accurate bolt-action rifle plus another $1500 for a premium scope–that’s $3,200 total–I am seriously very happy for you that you are able to own such a wonderful firearm platform. Personally, I am perfectly content with an accurate $350 bolt-action rifle and $300 scope–that’s $650 total–which enables me to take deer-sized game with confidence out to 300 yards all day long.
Expanding on my comment above, in case anyone thinks that they need to spend $2,000 or more on a firearm platform in order to hunt white-tailed deer successfully, my $450 muzzleloader+scope combination enabled me to harvest four white-tailed deer this year and fill my freezer. (Longest shot was about 120 yards.)
Successful deer hunting is 95% hunting skills and 5% firearm platform, assuming that you are able to hunt a good hunting location. That being the case, nearly any firearm platform which is in proper working order will enable a skilled hunter to succeed.
You don’t even need $2000 to do most competitions.
I built a .243 competition rifle using the Remington 700 SPS Compact just to tick off all the guys with ridiculously expensive custom jobs.
It’s an off the shelf rifle with Vortex glass and a McMillan stock and a T.A.B. Gear sling. Sometimes I add a cheap-o bipod depending on circumstance. Total cost during Trump 1.0 was like $1600 with the most expensive part being the stock. I’ve also shot it, and done well with it, using the original Remington stock.
Really fries the beans of the guys who spent >$5000 or even >$10K when they lose to that “trash rifle”.
At my age I cannot take shots further than 300 yards. Its still up for debate between me, my wife and my doctor if my hunting days are over.
My ‘meat’ rifle is a Ruger American with a Redfield scope on it. I cannot say the exact price of my set up but I doubt I spent more than 600-700 bucks on it. Works a charm.
.243 is my caliber. I really, really like it.
jwm,
In my opinion .243 Winchester is a dandy caliber for medium game hunting at typical/practical hunting distances. In fact I would go so far to call it a “Goldiocks” caliber–just right (not too small nor too big) for medium game.
Notice that I specified “medium game” above for .243 Winchester. I just spoke to a friend yesterday whose daughter was fortunate enough to get a cow elk tag and have a 440 pound cow elk present a nearly broadside shot at 150 yards this hunting season. She is an excellent shot and squeezed the trigger on their .300 Winchester Magnum rifle loaded with 180 grain bullets. The cow elk did not move nor even flinch and just stood there. She shot two more times with the same results. About 30 seconds later that cow elk finally fell over. Turns out she placed all three shots accurately right on target and it simply took a very long time for that very large cow elk to succumb to those wounds.
It is hard to believe that a 440+ pound animal can simply absorb bullets without any discernible effect, at least initially, and yet it happens. That is why I limit .243 Winchester to medium game. And what a fine job it does on medium game from all reports that I have heard/read.
I agree. At various times I had rifles like the .30-06 and .300 win mag. But here in CA the deer are kind of smallish.
Got a BIL in Montana. His rifle of choice is a 7mm Magnum. The ranges out there can be long. My wife says you can watch your dog run away for 3 days.
Got a step sister in KY that uses a tree stand over large, cultivated fields. The deer are bigger and the ranges can be quite long. She inherited a 7mm mag from an uncle. She fills her tags every year.
At the same time and close to the same area in KY I have a cousin who also tree stands. He was given an sks. He sees no need to buy anything else. He fills his tags every year.
I really like the .243 but I do see its limits.
i’d like a .243.
i have a friend the lives in morris who cares for 50+ feral cats, takes them to get fixed, feeds and built shelters. ‘yotes got some, the .243 keeps them about 300yds away now.
another friend up by poisippi has 7mm ultra mag… overkill for the area.
got my first deer with a surplus .303 enfield, you don’t need much but this benelli looks sweet.
I remember when a local shop had 3 lee enfield jungle carbines for 40 bucks a pop. I thought they were the perfect deer rifle. Couldn’t convince my old man that a foreign rifle would be good. He thought I should buy American so I had to pass.
I’ve had lee enfields since. Good rifles.
Absolutely wouldn’t feel underarmed for deer with an SMLE.
Should see the Grizzly my cousin butchered.
Big old male with several dozen large caliber bullets in him from people having shot him in past seasons.
.243 Win is a great caliber and IMO it’s better in a semi auto. My LR243 build is fun. The only regret I have is I didn’t do rifle+3 for the gas, maybe a bit longer barrel like a 20″ or 24″ and fluting.
Out of all of that I think the rifle+3 is important because it would have been more likely to allow me to use a slower powder like H1000 or Magpro. I tried Magpro, based off the gas pressures it’s just too slow unless I kludge in an adjustable gas block.
Benelli? no thanks, if it’s built anywhere as cheap as the shotguns I don’t need a throw away firearm.
nobody does.
let me know if you’re throwing away a super black eagle- or anything made by benelli, i don’t have any but i like them.
Good info
All I learned is the author can’t spell a five-letter word and can’t measure a group.