It can sometimes seem like there are endless accessories available for your airsoft guns, but an airsoft speed loader can be a particularly useful one and may be well worth investing in.
No matter if you’re a beginner or skirmish regular, airsoft speed loaders can help streamline your game and keep you in the action. Here, we explain all you need to know about speed loaders and the benefits of adding them to your setup.
What are Speed Loaders?
An airsoft speed loader is a handy device that makes reloading your airsoft gun easier, quicker and more efficient. They remove the need for you to mess around loading individual BBs and speed up the entire magazine-filling process.
A speed loader offers the best way to refill your airsoft magazines, especially when using mid-caps.
How Do Airsoft Speed Loaders Work?
A speed loader is essentially a cartridge that you can fill with BBs. You can then more easily add these to your magazine, with slightly varying application methods depending on your style of speed loader.
How to Use Plunger Style Speed Loaders
Typical speed loaders with the plunger style include a plunger with a spring mechanism that easily allows you to fill your mag. You just have to add your BBs into the speed loader’s well, line the magazine connector up with your mag opening and press down the loading rod. This will rapidly release the BBs into the mag – you can click the plunger to release one pellet at a time or push it all the way down to release around four.
When the magazine is full again, you should feel resistance. Most loaders of this style will tend to hold around 100 to 150 BBs – on the side of the loader, you will see number levels indicating how many BBs are in the cartridge ready to reload your mag.
Something like the Viper 150 rd Speed Loader is a good, inexpensive example of this.
You can also get larger speed loaders that work in a similar way, with the plunger method, that are ideal for rifles that require more ammo. The Nuprol N Mag Speed Loader can hold up to 500 rounds.
How to Use Hand Crank/Rotary Speed Loaders
The plunger-style loaders are particularly good for airsoft pistols and snipers, but for larger rifle mags, you may find hand crack or sidewinder speed loaders the preferable option. These can hold a greater number of BBs (around 1000) and can offer even faster reloading times as they can eject more BBs into the mag with each crank.
Like the plunger speed loader, when using a hand crack loader, you simply open the end and pour BBs into the reservoir. Inset your mag into the end of the speed loader, where it should click into place. Hold your speed loader so it is above your mag before turning the crank clockwise to release the BBs down into the mag. Again, you will feel some resistance and it’ll be harder to crank the handle as your mag becomes full.
Due to being larger and slightly more complicated, these hand crank or rotary speed loaders tend to be more expensive than the previously mentioned options.
The Nuprol Ultra M4 Mag Fast Speed Loader makes a great addition to your setup, working as a useful device and stylish accessory with its camo finish.
One of the most popular speed loaders on the market is the Odin sidewinder, which is on the higher end of the price spectrum but can get your airsoft rifle loaded in a matter of seconds without any fuss.
Can Any Speed Loader Work on Any Airsoft Mag?
For the most part, you can use any loader for any airsoft gun and mag.
Some designs may work better with particular guns as they’re specifically made to be compatible with distinct gun types and models. For instance, you may not want to use what’s advertised as a pistol loader with your rifle mags and vice versa, as they won’t be the most efficient options out there.
If you want to make your current speedloader more compatible with another gun, you can get speed loader adapters to make the reloading process smoother.
The Benefits of Using Airsoft Speed Loaders
Airsoft speed loaders can be a great help when you’re out on the field, staring down an opponent and needing to reload. Their benefits include:
- - Faster reloads: the main purpose and benefit of speed loaders is that you can reload your mags with large quantities of BBs at a much faster pace.
- - Easy to use: some airsoft accessories can be inaccessible to beginners, but speed loaders are no-nonsense and simple to use, ensuring everyone can get the most out of them.
- - Easier to handle ammo: handling individual BB pellets can be a pain, but all you have to do here is pour the BBs into the speed loader and insert this into your mag; there is much less hassle involved.
- - Affordable: speed loaders are available at a range of prices, with some of the smaller models costing less than £10.
- - Consistent loading method: the consistency of using a speed loader can help reduce any potential damage you could do to your mags or gun, making everything run more smoothly.
Do You Need an Airsoft Speed Loader?
While speed loaders aren't strictly essential to play an airsoft game, they can help boost your enjoyment and performance during a skirmish. You’ll be able to keep up with the fast-paced action and avoid the fuss of manually reloading mags.
Ultimately, speed loaders are a pretty great investment, especially as you won’t have to part with too much cash to get your hands on one!
Here at Surplus Store, we stock various speed loader styles to ensure you’re always one step ahead. Check out our full range of airsoft accessories to discover what else could enhance your game.