POTD: Benelli Lupo Alpha
For today’s Photo Of The Day, we have pictures of the alpha wolf of Benelli’s bolt gun pack. The Lupo Alpha is a limited edition version of the Benelli Lupo rifle with only 1,000 to be made. The unique skeletonized furniture is made of a special high-strength technopolymer, which, in conjunction with the lightened action and pencil profile barrel, significantly reduces the weight of this .308 Win rifle. According to Benelli, the Lupo Alpha is the world's lightest metal-chassis rifle, weighing in at 2.6 kg, about 500 grams less than the standard version.
The Lupo Alpha stock and forend design are inspired by biomimetics, a scientific approach that investigates how nature has found evolutionary solutions that respond to certain functionalities. In our case: how to combine lightness and strength? The natural system that inspired the Benelli team is the bone structure of some animal species, such as birds, which have internal cavities and a highly specialized skeleton that combines lightness and strength.
Lupo Alpha's stock and forend were designed with an innovative method that "generates" potential designs based on performance objectives. The configurations produced are quickly explored with the use of artificial intelligence, until the most efficient solution is reached. In the final phase, the stock and forend design was remodeled by the Benelli team according to advanced ergonomic studies to optimize lightness, ergonomics and performance.
Lupo Alpha's stock and forend were made with an addition process. Unlike traditional production methods, which create objects by subtracting material, 3D printing or additive manufacturing is a modern production process in which objects are made by adding successive layers of material. This highly sustainable method reduces waste and allows the creation of any type of geometry with an optimized design.
For more information on the Benelli Lupo Alpha rifle, visit the product page on the company’s website: https://benelli.it/en/lupo-alpha
Pictures by Benelli, www.benelli.it
Managing Editor Being a lifelong firearms enthusiast, Hrachya always enjoys studying the history and design of guns and ammunition. Should you need to contact him, feel free to shoot him a message at Hrachya@TheFirearmBlog.com
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I'm sure it'll appeal to those with bigger budgets than me.
Benelli is neck deep in AI. The AI barrels in their shotguns (basically 10 gauge barrels for 12 gauge shotguns) and now AI is designing the stock. Love my Lupo, but black plastic and .30-06 is FUD enough for me; keep your AI.