Written by Samantha Franco and Clare Fitzgerald
Developed by XADO-Holding, Ltd., the Snipex Alligator is a formidable anti-materiel rifle that has proven to be a game-changer for Ukraine’s military forces. Built for exceptional accuracy over long distances, it excels at neutralizing enemy vehicles, vital infrastructure, and hardened targets. Its effectiveness in the ongoing conflict with Russia has solidified its reputation as a battlefield force multiplier.
The Alligator’s battlefield success has drawn global attention, prompting several countries to evaluate its potential for strengthening their own long-range precision weapon systems.
‘Enormous’ doesn’t even begin to describe the Snipex Alligator
The Snipex Alligator is a bolt-action, magazine-fed rifle that commands attention due to its truly impressive size. Stretching 79 inches in overall length and sporting an enormous 47-inch barrel, it dwarfs typical hunting rifles, which generally feature barrels around 22 inches long.
Weighing in at approximately 25 kilograms (or 55 pounds), the Alligator is far from lightweight. To improve its field usability, the rifle includes several thoughtful features: a four-position folding bipod, a rear support leg for added stability, and a centrally located carry handle. Its design also accommodates the added bulk of a suppressor, allowing users to maintain balance and control in real combat scenarios.
Massive ammunition for an equally massive rifle
The Snipex Alligator is a massive rifle, so it makes sense that its ammunition is just as large. It uses a traditional rifle setup and can hold up to five 14.5 x 114 mm cartridges at a time, with each one weighing approximately 2.2 ounces.
These cartridges were originally designed as anti-tank rounds for the Soviet-made KPV heavy machine gun. Each round carries a projectile weighing between 59 and 66 grams and can reach speeds of up to 3,300 feet per second when fired.
According to reports, the Snipex Alligator is built to target enemy soldiers, lightly armored vehicles, and storage areas for ammunition and fuel. The manufacturer claims it can pierce up to 10 mm of steel armor at distances between 2,000 and 7,000 meters. However, it has not yet been extensively tested in combat to confirm these capabilities.
Issues with recoil
One of the biggest challenges in using the 14.5×114 mm cartridge is dealing with its tremendous recoil. While the Snipex Alligator employs a range of design features to reduce this force, it can’t entirely eliminate the powerful kick that comes with each shot.
The rifle’s hefty size and extended barrel length help absorb much of the recoil, minimizing the impact on the shooter and enhancing stability for subsequent shots. It also includes a recoil-dampening buttstock, a padded shoulder rest, and a high-efficiency muzzle brake with multiple baffles—typically four or five. These elements work in unison to significantly soften the blow, allowing for more controlled and sustained operation.
Use of the Snipex Alligator in the Russo-Ukrainian War
The Snipex Alligator has proven itself as a formidable weapon in the Russo-Ukrainian War, complementing its smaller counterpart, the Snipex T-Rex. While the precise number of units currently in service is not confirmed, it is believed that the majority of Ukrainian Special Forces and frontline divisions are equipped with this powerful rifle.
Two noteworthy incidents highlight the potential of the Snipex Alligator’s capabilities. The first involves a possible sniper kill of a Russian soldier from a distance of 1.68 miles away, potentially marking it as the second-longest sniper kill in military history. The second event occurred when a single sniper took down five Russian soldiers in just five minutes, with two of the targets struck by the same bullet.
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Although these incidents have yet to be independently verified, they suggest that the Snipex Alligator may have played a role in achieving these impressive feats. As of now, the Ukrainian military has not disclosed which rifle(s) were used for these legendary shots.