I would like to see pics or hear your thoughts on how you run it.
I have an 11.5" Colt Commando barrel on an A1 upper. I do have a Colt 639-type “moderator” on it which may help with backpressure/functioning, I don’t know.
I just use a standard Colt M16 bcg. Works fine.
Any pictures? Do you try and run a light or optic?
I can take some later, but it’s just a XM177E2 clone, so it looks something like this:
I had one a few years ago and still kick myself for selling it. It was an A1 upper that I sent to SAW and had them cut m4 feedramps on it. I then sent a 10.5 ss WOA barrel to ADCO and had the put a standard FSB on it and KG coated it black. Finished her off with a DD 7.0 lite rail. I’ll try and find some pics when not on my iPhone.
Leave it to stick. Haha… makes me wish I woulda kept my A-1.
Stick, that is my idea of the ultimate “end of the world” rifle. Handy, light, deadly, and durable.
Alright it is a 12.5". Sorry, I love this rifle.
I had a similar upper. A-1 with shell deflector. Is this a true A-1 or is there another term people are using?
The A1 had the foward assist added to a “slick sided” upper (no FA or brass deflector). The retro guys refer to the FA and BD uppers as a C7 upper. C7 refers to the Canadian C7 rifle that they are/were fielding.
Hmmm… yeah. Mine had da and bd. Was there a certain mfg in the u.s. who made these or were they produced by multiple mfgs?
I have no idea. I don’t get all assed up on the terminology and such. It’s my go to gun and I love it. 
Nodak Spud is offering current production slick side and A1 uppers. DPMS is used to offer slick side and the C7 uppers. The real-deal upper are made by Colt/ Diemaco in Canada and are hard to find.