Snipex Alligator
XADO Holding Ltd · Sniper Rifle · In Production · 2020
Also known as: XADO Snipex Alligator
Overview
The Snipex Alligator is a Ukrainian bolt-action anti-materiel rifle chambered in the massive 14.5x114mm Soviet heavy machine gun cartridge. Manufactured by XADO Holding Ltd in Kharkiv, Ukraine, the Alligator is a magazine-fed repeater designed for extreme long-range engagements against personnel, light armored vehicles, radar installations, and other high-value materiel targets. At over two meters in overall length and weighing 22.5 kilograms, it is among the largest and most powerful sniper-class weapons in active military service. The rifle features a detachable five-round box magazine, full-length Picatinny rail, adjustable chassis stock, and an effective muzzle brake to manage the enormous recoil of the 14.5mm cartridge. The Alligator has become a symbol of Ukrainian ingenuity in the defense industry, developed domestically to provide frontline snipers with anti-materiel capability rivaling or exceeding that of the Barrett M82 and similar Western platforms.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 22500 g (793.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 23500 g (828.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 2000 mm (78.74") |
| Barrel Length | 1200 mm (47.24") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1006 m/s (3301 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 32588 J (24036 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 7000 m (7655 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Chrome Lined Steel |
| Stock Material | Aluminum Chassis Polymer Furniture |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 14.5x114mm · primary — also known as 14.5mm Soviet, 14.5x114, .57 Soviet
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Free Floating Barrel, Muzzle Brake, Full Length Picatinny Rail, Adjustable Cheek Piece, Adjustable Buttpad, Integral Bipod, Suppressor Ready
Variants
- Snipex Monomakh — Semi Automatic
Service history
Operators
- Armed Forces of Ukraine · adopted 2021
- Ukrainian Special Operations Forces · adopted 2021
- National Guard of Ukraine · adopted 2021
Conflicts
- Russo-Ukrainian War (2022-present)
- War in Donbas (2014-2022)
Production
Production years: 2020-present
Exact production numbers classified. Manufactured by XADO Holding in Kharkiv, Ukraine, despite the city being under frequent Russian bombardment.
Origin
Country of origin: Ukraine
Notes
The Alligator was unofficially adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2020 following state examinations and officially adopted on 2 March 2021. The rifle's 1,200mm barrel generates muzzle velocities exceeding 1,000 m/s, giving the 14.5mm projectile devastating terminal performance against hardened targets at extreme range. Unlike its predecessor the Snipex T-Rex, the Alligator features a detachable box magazine allowing faster follow-up shots. The 14.5x114mm cartridge was originally developed for the Soviet PTRS-41 and PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles in World War II and later used in the KPV heavy machine gun.
Background
In November 2022, a Ukrainian sniper using a Snipex Alligator achieved a confirmed kill at 2,710 meters during the Russo-Ukrainian War, ranking as one of the longest confirmed sniper kills in history at the time. On 14 August 2025, Ukrainian journalist and soldier Yurii Butusov reported that a sniper killed two Russian targets at 4,000 meters using the Alligator, potentially setting a new world record for the longest-range sniper kill ever recorded.