Legends M1A1 .177 Full-Auto Blowback CO2 Air Rifle: A Modern “Chicago Typewriter” for the Backyard Battlefield

The Legends M1A1 .177 turns your backyard into a full-auto grin factory, marrying Thompson swagger with blowback bite and thirty-round bursts that make soda cans disappear in a hurry.

If the thought of chewing through a thirty-round stick in full-auto while steel BBs rip through soda cans pegs your fun-meter, then the Legends M1A1 .177 Full-Auto Blowback CO2 air rifle from Pyramyd AIR is exactly the ticket you’ve been waiting for. Equal parts historical homage and pure plinking power, this iconic replica takes the celebrated Thompson submachine gun of old and refashions it as a backyard legend that laughs in the face of single-shot-only slowpokes.

This isn’t some limp wristed, museum-piece toy. From the weight of its all-metal frame to the satisfying thump of its blowback action, the M1A1 channels history in every squeeze of the trigger.

A Replica That Feels Real

Pick this thing up, and you notice immediately it isn’t a plasticky afterthought. Weighing in at just under eight pounds, with a rugged metal body and faux-wood stock, the M1A1 feels like a compact thunderstick built for serious business. The open-bolt blowback design not only looks right but delivers a tactile kick that reminds you you’re handling something with some teeth.

Power comes from two 12-gram CO₂ cartridges nested within the drop-free magazine, launching BBs at up to 435 feet per second — enough to punch through a beer can at moderate distances and leave your neighbors peering over the fence, wondering exactly what it is you are up to today.

With thirty rounds at your disposal before a reload, it’s very easy to go from zero to ridiculous in a single session.

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Semi-Auto to Full-Auto in a Flick

One of the signature features of the Legends M1A1 is its ability to switch between semi-automatic and full-automatic fire modes. In semi-auto, the gun behaves much like a classic plinker: deliberate, fun, and accurate enough to smack steel targets at close to intermediate ranges. Flip it to full-auto and the experience morphs. Suddenly, you’re unleashing a hailstorm of small steel projectiles in a rhythm that feels less like shooting and more like conducting a metallic symphony of chaos.

Arguably, full-auto on a smooth-bore BB gun isn’t about pinpoint precision. Rather, it’s about sensory overload, spray and pray, the staccato of rapid fire, the slight recoil with every burst from the blowback mechanism, and the visceral thrill of watching BBs form fleeting tracer little puffs of destruction.

It’s an experience that’s equal parts carnival ride and controlled chaos.

Historical Context With a Modern Twist

The original M1A1 served with U.S. troops from the late 1930s through the Vietnam era and earned a fearsome reputation among both soldiers and, infamously, prohibition-era gangsters who dubbed it the “Chicago Typewriter.” While the Legends version won’t be storming any beaches, it does give shooters a tactile connection to that storied past without the pesky paperwork required to own a real one.

This isn’t just a reproduction for wall-hanging or shelf geekery. Whether it’s used for plinking tin cans, setting up reactive targets, or helping a newcomer understand the basics of handling a historic firearm replica, the Legends M1A1 hits a sweet spot between craftsmanship, value, performance, and that intangible “fun factor” that makes airguns great.

Performance That Keeps You Shooting

Customers who have taken this air rifle into the field from backyard ranges to casual group plinking sessions tend to laud its consistency and performance. Users report that in semi-auto mode it holds surprisingly tight groups for a smooth–bore BB design and that its blowback action, while not brutal, adds a satisfying sense of realism.

The only common critique tends to show up when shooters get greedy for even more capacity. Thirty rounds melt fast in full-auto, and while extra magazines exist, some shooters wish for even larger capacities or quick-change solutions. Still, that thirst for more firepower is less a flaw and more a testament to how addictive this baby can be.

Where It Shines and Comes Alive

If you want a rigid, exacting target platform for serious competition, a precision pellet rifle will always take the crown. But that’s not where the Legends M1A1 lives. This is a gun for the moments when precision gives way to grin-inducing mayhem, when plinking turns into rapid bursts of organized fun, and when the weight of history mixes with the exhilaration of wringing every last BB out of a magazine.

In the landscape of CO₂-powered replicas, the Legends M1A1 stands out as a strong performer, a conversation starter, and a pure channel of shooting enjoyment straight out of the box. Whether you’re re-experiencing a piece of history or simply want a full-auto air rifle that feels substantial and fun, this Thompson-style throwback delivers a memorable performance that earns its place in any collection.

Pros