ODIN M12 Sidewinder Upgrades Guide

While there are many different speedloader types on the market, nothing beats the trusted ODIN M12 Sidewinder speedloader for loading mid-cap M4 magazines. It's extremely reliable and allows you to load even the largest capacity mid-cap magazines in a couple of seconds. That said, it's not without its flaws. In this guide, we'll cover all the ways you can improve your loading experience and adapt it to use for different magazine types other than the M4.

Sound Dampening

Every sound during gameplay can give away your position. If you’ve carried one around during a game, you already know it produces insanely loud rattling sounds when you’re on the move. To address this issue, sound-dampening buffers have been introduced. These silicone inserts are designed to cover all the walls to avoid BBs touching the hard plastic, which significantly reduces the rattling sounds. 

For a genuine ODIN speedloader, there’s only the official sound dampener, which is quite pricey but offers a perfect drop-in fit. We've also tested Chinese clones that come with silicone inlays, but those inserts are sadly not compatible with genuine ODIN speedloaders.

There’s also an EMG-branded ODIN Speedloader, which already comes with a pre-installed sound-dampening silicone insert; however, it is harder to find in the EU. 

Price: ~ €22 / $23

Link to buy: EU & US → TRIDOS.DESIGN

Easier Loading and BB Recovery

If you have sound-dampening buffers installed, the flaps on top can get in the way when filling a speedloader with BBs—you’ll either need to hold them down with a finger, which greatly reduces space and makes loading harder, or risk BBs spilling out during the process. To solve this, there’s a Lid Upgrade. It moves silicone flaps away, preventing spilling of BBs and making the loading process easier.

Price: ~ €9 / $10

Link to buy: EU & US → TRIDOS.DESIGN

Preventing BB Spills

Another annoying issue with the ODIN M12 speedloader is that there are quite a few BBs that fall out when changing it between the magazines. On average, you might lose 7-10 BBs per reload, which doesn’t seem like a lot if you’re using cheap BBs, but will quickly amount to significant cost if you’re running 0.36g or heavier BBs. 

This can be improved by upgrading to an aftermarket nozzle that features a retention mechanism that holds BBs in place after the mag has been removed. This upgrade ensures a more efficient and mess-free experience.

Price: ~ €7 / $8

Link to buy: EU & US → TRIDOS.DESIGN

Maintenance and Repair

Regular use or an incorrectly adjusted clutch of your sidewinder can lead to wear and tear. If the mechanism is worn down or you’ve damaged some parts, thankfully there’s a PTS Syndicate Rebuild and Maintenance Kit available to fix broken, worn, or torn ODIN speedloaders, which is compatible with the strongest mags, such as EPM1 and EPM1S.

Unlike some of the chinesium clones, for which there are no spare parts available and you would just have to get a new one. We learned this lesson after chewing through our 3rd clone.

Price: ~ €6 / $7

Links to buy: EU → Airosftzone.com | US → Evike

ODIN Adapters for Different Magazines

While originally designed for M4 magazines, the ODIN M12's versatility has been expanded through the use of adapters, allowing compatibility with a wide range of airsoft replicas. These adapters modify the interface between the speedloader and the magazine, ensuring a secure fit and efficient loading. Here are some of the best options for the most popular platforms:

→ MP5 Adapter by TRIDOS.DESIGN

MP5 mid-cap magazines are a popular choice for pistol owners using HPA adapters due to their slim size and decent capacity. Makes it a perfect accessory to make your reloads less clumsy - I run it on my personal CQB setup every time.

→ SSR90 / P90 Adapter by TRIDOS.DESIGN

P90 mid-cap magazines are especially annoying to reload due to their design. This adapter makes loading both SSR90 and P90 magazines hassle-free. We tried using the universal adapter but it was extremely hard to use for this platform.

→ TM MWS Adapter by Airtac.me

Tailored for TM MWS GBBR magazines, this adapter makes loading your GBBR magazines an absolute breeze compared to traditional speed loaders. It's chonky in size but well worth the convenience it brings.

→ AK Speedloader Adapter by Novritsch

Designed to take AK magazines - it's injection molded, cheap and with an aluminum nozzle. All you can really ask from an adapter.

→ Universal Adapter by Airtech Studios

There is also the Universal Adapter which claims to enable the ODIN to refill any magazine by adapting it to the typical speedloader nozzle but from our experience it is extremely clumsy to use and in most cases I would pick the standard speedloader in favor of this. There might be some non-standard mag that works great with this so it's still worth mentioning it.

Looking for a different magazine adapter? There are shops like Airtac.me that offer a wide selection of ODIN adapters for more niche platforms or you can explore some 3D designs online to print one yourself on sites like Printables or Cults3D.

Is the ODIN M12 worth it?

ODIN M12 Speedloader saves time and effort in the field by quickly and consistently loading mags. With certain upgrades, like sound dampeners or an aftermarket nozzle, you can prevent common issues. Additionally, with adapters, the Sidewinder can work with more than just M4 mags, allowing it to load a variety of other platforms. These improvements make it a an essential piece of gear for almost any airsoft player.