When it comes to a dirty civilian, why would you need a gas mask? Are CBRN threats something we need to consider? And if so, how do you find which mask would work for you? (DISCLAIMER: I am no means declaring myself to be an expert in this field, I still have a lot to learn. But that being said I have had a lot of professional training and hold a fair amount of experience within the CBRN field. I have a passion for this morbid community and only wish to bring into light information I have gained both professionally and through my personnel practices.)

Yes when it comes to CBRN threats, they are 100% a real treat and should be taken very seriously. That being said I do see a major flaw in how CBRN threats are being discussed in the civilian communities. When it comes to a CBRN attack, there is FAR MORE to dealing with the event then just donning the latest PPE. Because what do you do after that? How do you decon your equipment? How do you doff it? What do you do when there are other people around? The logistics of dealing with a CBRN event are never discussed to the level they should be and the companies and groups that only focus on the PPE are giving the people who listen to them a potential false sense of protection.

That being said, I want this article to focus on the more general use of a gas mas when it comes to the dirty civilian. Take the major CBRN threat out of the equation for a moment and focus on what a prepared civilian might encounter, and for the purpose of this article I want to talk about what I’ll refer to as Basic Level. What Basic Level is referring to is going to be primarily your non-lethal RCAs (Riot Control Agents) so I will be discussing parameters when it comes to dealing with non-lethal irritants only. NOT lethal CBRN agents or contamination with any long term effects.

I want to compare them based on Comfort, Breathability, Prolonged Use, and Weapon Interference. Each section below has pictures showcasing how much each mask interferes with various weapons/optics. The weapons used are an AR-15 with an Aimpoint PRO, wire underholding AK with it’s irons, and another AR-15 with a Primary Arms Prism and a cheap Red Dot sitting on top.
NOTE the angle of at which the mask has to sit with each weapon system.

The seven masks are:

ShM-41 (USSR)/GP-5 (USSR)
M10M (Czech)/M17 (US)
MC-1 (Poland)
Model 4A1 (Israel)
CM-6M (MIRA)
M50 (US)
M40 (US)

Comfort: 1/5
Breathability: 3/5
Prolong Use: 1/5
Weapon Interference: 5/5

The GP-5 (or in this case a West German Shm-41 acting as a stand-in) is probably the most iconic gas mask ever produced. The GP-5 is a ‘helmet’ style mask with it’s single piece latex hood, which is why I gave it a 1/5 because good luck putting this on when you have any hair. The only good thing this mask has going for it is that due to its slim profile, shouldering a rifle and getting a proper sight picture is fairly easy. Another note is that the hose it comes with is such a cool factor piece of kit. You could use a PAPR with it but the angle of the connectors could cause an issue with that. Lastly you should never use the filter that comes with this mask, or any older filter. They contain asbestos in them but if you MUST use this mask, it does have the 40mm threads so you can put a current production filter onto here.

Comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 4/5
Prolong Use: 3/5
Weapon Interference: 2/5

This M10M is a Czech modernized US M17. The best thing this mask has is also it’s biggest flaw and that’s it’s dual cheek filters. On one side the two filters allow a balance because you don’t have a filter off the side of you face, and you have two different flows of air every time you breath in. But if you ever need to change your filters in there you might as well get a new mask. Other then that this does have a nice intergraded drinking system that would allow you to keep the mask on longer periods of time.

Comfort: 3/5
Breathability: 3/5
Prolong Use: 2/5
Weapon Interference: 4/5

The Polish MC-1 used to be my go-to for a hot minute but soon out grew it when I started getting my hands on better quality masks. I use an Israeli filter to replace the filter it came with, again because using those older filters can be more dangerous then what you’re trying to filter out. My favorite thing about this mask though is just how small and compact it is. If the filter is taken off, the MC-1 can fit in your standard trouser cargo pocket or any other small pouch. Other then that it shares a similar profile to the GP-5 so firing a weapon is easier to accomplish.

Comfort: 2/5
Breathability: 3/5
Prolong Use: 2/5
Weapon Interference: 4/5

The Israeli Model 4A1 is one of the few masks here that was designed for civilian use and is based off of the German Dräger Simplex. Personally I’m not fond of this mask at all. It shares that same profile as the MC-1 and ShM-41 which aids in it’s weapon interference but has a very awkward feel to it. It feels like the bulk of the mask sits further away from the face leaving you with that awkward weight shift (compared to others). This mask also has a 5 point rubber head harness that my hair go caught in just when taking these pictures. Lastly this mask does have a drink system, but unlike all the other ones it requires an external tube to be attached to the mask when in use, as apposed to the tube being permanently fixed.

Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 3/5
Prolong Use: 4/5
Weapon Interference: 1/5

MIRA Safety is one of the leading mask producers for civilians and the CM-6M is a perfect reason why. This mask is probably the most comfortable mask that I have with me. You don’t realize the advantage of the full visor until you put you put other masks on. It allows you to loose that claustrophobia that some people can experience when in CBRN PPE. This full visor does however interfere with weapon handling greatly, making it very impractical to shoot with. I am aware though that MIRA markets their CM-73 and CM-8M as for the more “tactical” role and I’d love to get my hands on them sometime in the future. Another factor that should be noted is that rather then just having a filter hang off one side, the CM-6M (along with M40 and M50 listed below) can have a filter on each side. Yes this will make the mask heavier but it will allow for much easier breathing.

Comfort: 5/5
Breathability: 5/5
Prolong Use: 5/5
Weapon Interference: 1/5 - 4/5

When it comes to my professional experience, I have spent hours upon hour with an M50 hugging my face. From right around 32°F, to temperatures reaching about 95°F, I’ve done everything between sweating to throwing up in this mask (these mask do in fact drain liquid in case you were wondering…). The M50 is hands down the most comfortable mask to wear because its relatively light weight, well balanced with the two cheek filters, gives you a wide angle of view, and has a built in drinking system. The only downside is that the cheek filters do get in the way of shouldering a weapon but there is a very simple solution. The M50 is the only mask that has self sealing disk valves underneath the filters. This means that if you take one off it will automatically seal off and allow the mask to function normally with only one filter. Only reason that this isn’t my go to personnel mask is that I wear a Medium mask and this one is a small, I just couldn't pass up on that eBay deal.

Above is pictured with both filters and below with the right one removed

Comfort: 4/5
Breathability: 3/5
Prolong Use: 4/5
Weapon Interference: 3/5

Last but not least that leaves my personnel favorite, the M40. Everything considered in a mask, this would be my number one recommendation to the Dirty Civilian. They cost about half as much as what the MIRA masks will run you, they have a built in drinking system, standard NATO 40mm threads, and the surplus market is flooded with them so replacing valves or other components is an easy and cheap process. Now I have done a little work to mine, I’m using an older Israeli filter (again we’re talking about JUST non-lethal irritants and RCAs here, so this older model is still functional at this level) due to it being smaller and lighter, swapped the head harness with the thicker MC-1 harness and replaced the right valve plug with the MIRA valve plug to allow a more streamline profile. I do in the future want to put this mask head to head with the M50, along with the MIRA CM-7M, in a much more through comparison because all of these make great masks.

A quick but important word on filters. The filter is the heart of your mask, its crucial that you have one a filter that actually holds its weight when needed. Again speaking only in regards to a CS or other respiratory irritants, I personally have both the C2A1 and the Israeli Type 80 on hand. Both use the standard 40mm NATO threads so they can be used with the M50, M40, the MIRA masks, as well as the majority of the rest on this list. I prefer using the Type 80s because they are smaller and lighter then the C2A1s. I haven’t had any experience with the MIRA as of yet, but have only heard positive reviews of them. The image below shows the two together alongside what I believe is a French CFF3. Being I can’t confirm what exactly it is, I’ll hold off on any recommendations.

*Left to Right: C2A1. CFF3 (I believe). Type 80*

The last thing to consider is the built drinking system some of the above masks have, specifically the M50 and the M40. The drinking system for each of these masks is has a special adapter that can connect to a specialized canteen cap, but also CamelBack creates adapters that connects straight from the hose to the mask. This allows a constant flow of water to the mask at all times while remaining hands free. Work in a mask on for more then an hour in the sun and you’ll quickly learn why these are just as essential as the filters themselves. With proper hydration, you will be able to stay in mask for a much longer duration of time. What I’m currently using is a training kit and features all you would need to swap between a normal CamelBack mouth piece and an M50 (the kit also has an adapter for the M40 as well) using a quick release system. This kit is NOT suitable for a real CBRN environment but perfect for our BASIC Level scenarios.
If there are any 57XXs or 74Ds Kings reading this, below is the NSN. Trust me, they’re worth it.

MULTI-PURPOSE PERSONAL HYDRATION SYSTEM TYPE 2 - CBRN HYDRATION TRAINING KIT, MPHS
NSN 8465-01-643-6221

Moral of the story, get a gas mask, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. I really can’t recommend a lot of the older ones because these newer masks just work better and provide my capabilities when it comes to prolonged use and comfort. But if you for whatever reason can only obtain a cheap GP-5, I guess it beats CS in your eyes. The world can be unpredictable, so having the proper CBRN gear can make or break a situation. This is one of the few rare examples of when gear holds much heavier in the infamous ‘Gear vs. Skill’ discussion. Until next time Kings.

- KINGS NEVER SETTLE -

Don't be dumb, use this information appropriately.  I am not responsible if you have evil in your heart and use this information for ill intent.

Gas Masks for the Dirty Civilian, BASIC Level

Shm-41 (USSR)/GP-5 (USSR)

M10M (Czech)/M17 (US)

MC-1 (Poland)

Model 4A1 (Israel)

CM-6M (MIRA)

M50 (US)

M40 (US)

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