Written by Samantha Franco and Clare Fitzgerald
The Snipex Alligator, developed by XADO-Holding, Ltd., is a formidable anti-materiel rifle currently deployed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Renowned for its precision at extreme distances, the Alligator excels at neutralizing enemy vehicles, equipment, and hardened targets. Its impact on the front lines of the Russo-Ukrainian War has earned it a reputation as a game-changing weapon system.
Thanks to its battlefield effectiveness, the Alligator is attracting attention beyond Ukraine, with several countries now evaluating its potential to strengthen their own long-range strike capabilities.
‘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 of using the 14.5 x 114 mm cartridge is the significant recoil it generates. While the Snipex Alligator includes design features to help manage this force, they don’t completely eliminate the powerful kickback.
The rifle’s large size and weight help absorb much of the recoil, preventing it from transferring directly to the shooter and keeping the weapon relatively steady after each shot. Additionally, it is equipped with a recoil-isolating buttstock, a padded shoulder stock, and a four- or five-baffle muzzle brake. These features work together to reduce the impact of the recoil, making the rifle easier to handle during extended use.
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.