M40A1 | A Really Good Budget Gas Mask

[@botstowo]

I have a normal video slotted to release a week from now! It's just going over the history and whatnot of an old mask.

[@Warmaker01]

I entered service with the Marine Corps in 1993. During boot camp and all that initial training, we trained with the old M17 gas mask, whose origins are from the late 1950s. I hated that mask, especially in the principle alone that to change filter, the mask had to be removed... The filter was on the inside. Unbelievably stupid design. But the M40 started to show up when I hit the Fleet Marine Force in 1994. It's a better mask compared to the old M17. Filter was the canister that could be screwed on to either side of the mask, so it was good to go if you were left or right handed shooter. The canister would not get in the way of cheek weld with the rifle. You can just hold your breath and change the canister, no problem. You are correct on the M40's weight. It's particularly nose heavy. You really do feel it when you're moving your head, looking side to side, up and down as the mask's weight shifts around. The M50 mask started to enter service in the mid-2000s. I liked the M50 but there's 2 things issues that started to bother me when training in the USMC: 1. The filter cartridges are on both sides of the mask and interfered with cheek weld with a rifle. The M40 just needed 1 filter canister to be placed on the non-shooting side. 2. The process of changing out the M50's filter was more tricky as it needed some proper alignment and twisting to lock it in place. A bit of trouble if you're under duress and flub it up. Meanwhile the older m40 canister you just simply screw on and tighten. That was it. Either way, the M40 and M50 were light worlds better than the old M17. Hated that thing.

[@agentwashingtub9167]

Thank you for making a review of this!

[@botstowo]

No problem!

[@gasmaskery]

Thats one weird looking Serbian M3

[@xarv368]

The metal pieces add a lot of weight to this mask. This is aggravated by second skin and outserts. By adding the outserts, it becomes too heavy. Without the second skin, the mask is somewhat lightened, and without the outserts, the mask feels light. To use the vpu, it is necessary to use a hose and a filter carrier.

[@xarv368]

The scott promask exhalation valve is also compatible.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Thanks for these videos. Do you have any opinions on the SGE 400/3 or Israelli M15 and how they might compare to the M40? I'm loving your content, thanks again.

[@botstowo]

Thanks, man! I really don't like the SGE series masks since they lost their NIOSH certification because they failed to meet NIOSH requirements during the recertification process. The M15 is a fine mask, but personally I don't like the center-mounted filter.

[@JokoEngineeringhelp]

Great video thank you so much. One question- if an FN12 size 2 is a perfect fit for me, would the M40 size medium be about equivalent? Again, great work here thanks.

[@botstowo]

Thanks! I'm not sure exactly how comparable the sizing on the S10 is to the GSR, but on a GSR I take a size 2 and a medium M40 so it'll *probably* work.

[@UncleDon226]

I think we may have different perspectives on what "budget" means. Them things usually run upwards of $100 for used, and $250+ if you want new in box.

[@firstname377]

Too bad the drinking straw on the inside of mine was broken off.

[@channelfirespark3888]

M40 is made with 3m,is that mask is new version with communication part?

[@kingofthetigers]

Clearly you don't know what budget means to most people. Generally m40 masks cost about 100 bucks. Most wouldn't consider it a budget mask.

[@gasmaskery]

FRM40 ended production?