Written by Samantha Franco and Clare Fitzgerald
The Snipex Alligator is an impressive anti-materiel rifle (AMR) manufactured by XADO-Holding, Ltd. It was recently brought into service, with the Armed Forces of Ukraine being its only operator, using it extensively in the Russo-Ukrainian War. During the conflict, this weapon has demonstrated impressive effectiveness on the battlefield, and it could be receiving interest from other nations in the future.
‘Enormous’ doesn’t even begin to describe the Snipex Alligator
The Snipex Alligator is a bolt-action, magazine-fed repeating rifle that stands out because of its truly impressive size. When fully assembled, it measures 79 inches in length, with the majority of that length attributed to its barrel. For comparison, the average hunting rifle barrel is around 22 inches, while the Alligator’s barrel stretches an impressive 47 – more than double.
In addition to its length, the Snipex Alligator is also heavy, weighing a hefty 25 kg. To make it practical for use in the field, several modifications were made. A foldable four-position bipod and rear support help balance its size, and a carrying handle at the midpoint allows for (somewhat) easier transport by a single operator. It can also be adjusted to maintain balance when a silencer is added.
Massive ammunition for an equally massive rifle
Given the Snipex Alligator’s substantial size, it stands to reason that its ammunition is equally as large. With a conventional rifle setup, its chamber can hold up to five cartridges of 14.5 x 114 mm at once, with each cartridge weighing 2.2 ounces.
Reflecting their dimensions, these cartridges were originally designed as anti-tank rounds for the Soviet-made KPV heavy machine gun. They can support a projectile weighing between 59 and 66 grams, which can achieve speeds of up to 3,300 feet per second when fired.
Reports suggest that the Snipex Alligator can effectively neutralize enemy personnel, as well as light-armored vehicles and ammunition and fuel storage facilities. The manufacturer claims it can penetrate up to 10 mm of steel armor from distances ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 meters. However, it is important to note that the rifle has not yet been extensively tested in combat to conclusively validate these claims.
Issues with recoil
One of the consequences of using the 14.5 x 114 mm cartridge is the immense recoil. While the Snipex Alligator features modifications that somewhat combat this, they don’t completely diminish the kickback.
The sheer size and weight of the rifle allows for a lot of the recoil to be absorbed, rather than imposed onto the soldier; the Snipex Alligator remains relatively steady after a round is fired. Additionally, it’s equipped with a recoil-isolating buttstock that, when paired with the four- or five-baffle muzzle brake and padded shoulder stock, takes away a lot of the pressure from the recoil.
Use of the Snipex Alligator in the Russo-Ukrainian War
As aforementioned, the Snipex Alligator has seen use throughout the Russo-Ukrainian War, joining its smaller counterpart, the Snipex T-Rex. While the exact number currently in service is unknown, it’s presumed that the majority of Ukrainian Special Forces units and other frontline divisions have it in their arsenal.
There have been two incidents of note that possibly show the strength of the Snipex Alligator. The first was a possible hit by a Ukrainian sniper on a Russian soldier who was 1.68 miles away, making it the second-longest distance sniper kill in military history. The second was the taking down of five Russian soldiers in as many minutes by a single sniper. Two of those hit in the incident were struck by the same bullet.
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While these two instances have yet to be independently verified, they possibly prove the power and ability of the Snipex Alligator, if it’s determined the weapon was the one to achieve the legendary hits. As of publishing, the Ukrainian military has yet to release details as to the exact rifle(s) used to secure the kills.