Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 813 mm
- Weight, empty
- 8.39 kg
- Introduced
- 2022
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow (SHDW) is an extreme long-range precision rifle designed for engagements out to 4,000 yards under optimal conditions. Chambered in .375 CheyTac or .375 EnABELR, the Shadow features a massive CDX-40 SHDW action with a 1.60-inch diameter and 10-inch length, engineered to handle the pressures and forces of large-caliber extreme-range cartridges. The 3-lug bolt design incorporates an oversized extractor and double ejectors for reliable extraction of the large cases. A Bartlein single-point-cut rifled barrel in a Cadex-designed 1.350-inch straight taper profile provides the consistency required for extreme-range precision, while the fluted design assists with heat dissipation and weight reduction. The V-shaped bedding system eliminates any movement between the CNC-machined action and the wire-EDM-cut chassis. The fully adjustable stock features a reverse folding buttstock that provides bolt handle protection during transport and reduces the overall length from 49.9 inches to 41 inches when folded. At 18.5 pounds without a muzzle brake, the Shadow is substantial but manageable for its class of extreme long-range rifles.
The Cadex CDX-40 Shadow represents the cutting edge of extreme long-range rifle design, purpose-built for engagements at distances where even .338 Lapua Magnum rifles begin to struggle. The .375 CheyTac cartridge it chambers was developed to bridge the gap between .338 Lapua and .50 BMG, offering flat trajectory and retained energy at ranges exceeding two miles.
The CDX-40 SHDW action was designed from the ground up for extreme long-range calibers, distinct from the CDX-R7 series used in Cadex's precision and hunting rifles. The CDX-40SS SHDW variant is a single-shot version. Cadex Defence, headquartered in Quebec, Canada, supplies rifles to military and law enforcement agencies worldwide. The DX2 Evo trigger is a double-stage trigger that can be field-converted to single-stage operation with pull weight adjustable between 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Cadex Defence
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Canada
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2022
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 813 mm
- Overall length
- 1267 mm
- Height
- 210 mm
- Width
- 107 mm
- Weight, empty
- 8.39 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 8.85 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Trigger pull
- 8.9 N
- Capacity
- 5
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum chassis
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Stock
- Aluminum chassis polymer furniture
- Finish
- Cerakote
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 870 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 8596 J
- Effective range
- 2500 m
- Maximum range
- 4000 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Free floating barrel
Fluted barrel
3 lug bolt
Oversized extractor
Double ejectors
Adjustable cheek piece
Adjustable length of pull
Folding stock
Reverse folding buttstock
V bedding system
Muzzle brake
Picatinny rail
Bipod compatible
Bartlein barrel
Suppressor ready
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 430 sniper rifles | 8.39 kg | 5.40 kg | Heavier than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 429 sniper rifles | 1267 mm | 1150 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 434 sniper rifles | 813 mm | 620 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 434 sniper rifles | 5 | 6 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow
How much does the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow weigh?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow weighs 8.39 kg (18.50 lb) empty and 8.85 kg (19.50 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow is chambered in .375 CheyTac and .375 EnABELR.
How many rounds does the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow hold?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow holds 5 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow is 1267 mm (49.9 in) long overall, with a 813 mm (32.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow is made by Cadex Defence (Canada).
When was the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow introduced?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow was introduced in 2022.
How does the Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow operate?
The Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
75%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/cadex-defence-cdx-40-shadow' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "cadex-defence-cdx-40-shadow", "name": "Cadex Defence CDX-40 Shadow", "manufacturer": { "id": "cadex-defence", "name": "Cadex Defence", "countryCode": "CA", "foundedYear": 2005, "website": "https://www.cadexdefence.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "a0f6d592157fb199c8d3c6f919bf301bd617658caee8234fa43ddd20468cb1b4" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "CA", "year_introduced": 2022, "barrel_length_mm": 813, "weight_empty_g": 8391, "action_type": "bolt_action"}