a proper Odin speed loader is exspensive but worth it compared to the knock offs
I respectfully disagree, I've been using a knock off happily for years. The handles break off, always, but it's not rocket surgery to fettle something on, and OP is a 3d sorceror. Worse case, you can get a knockoff + a whole new set of Odin internals for less than an Odin. I just wouldn't recommend sinking big money into
anything for someone who hasn't played yet. Eyepro, boots, then get out and play.
My Specna is actually fairly fussy about midcaps, although to be fair most of mine have tired springs. It works well with its own midcaps, or hi-caps.
If you do want to swap barrels, ZCI or AOLS are both decent for not much money, and of course Maple Leaf or Prometheus rubbers.
Specnas are back to being decent enough out of the box, they shouldn't need anything done except for a barrel clean. Even the lube on mine was actually on the gears rather than just sneezed all over the shell. One thing to be aware of is that they come with an M120 spring (too spicy) and an M90, and will likely have the M90 fitted. It's sufficient, but I'd suggest throwing an M100 in there for woodland use - all conditional on what air seal and actual muzzle energy you get.
On that, if you are going to get into airsoft teching, a chrono is pretty much required in order to avoid chrono oopsies at site - I've had a couple of guns accidentally come out way hot after getting the air seal spot on, and had to down-spring them.
I agree that the best thing to do with that Nuprol charger is return it as soon as possible, before it ruins your battery or burns your house down. That isn't a joke, we'd had multiple reports of fires. SkyRC stuff is where it's at, an S65 will be fine for most people.
And I completely get the urge to tinker, I'm forever messing around with my collection even while saying "Stop it, Rog, you know what's going to happen." Straight up though, if you actually intend to play, getting one working, stock gun and
leaving it alone, particularly inside the gearbox, is a solid plan. Those child slave labourers are getting pretty good at what they do.
Many videos and Reddit threads you'll see or read are... idiomatic to problematic. Approach with an open mind as regarding their veracity.