m40/M42A1 Gas mask sizing

[AJAX22]

Hi there,

I'm looking to buy a M40 gas mask to then convert over to an M42A1 configuration and add a voice amplifier.

I don't want to buy the wrong size... (they come in 3 different sizes IIRC)

How is sizing determined?

[steelrain82]

s, m, l, and you just try them on. put it on tight and shake your head, talk, etc. then blow and suck in to make sure its sealed properly. you should have proper seal, if when put on you push the black piece in front of your mask and blow out, any air in side your mask will blow out kinda like a fart sound. make sure the canister is on when you do this though. and then cover the hole in the canister and suck in. this will cause the mask to suck in if its properly sealed. if its on tightly and it shakes loose its to big or not tight enough. if when you talk it rides up or the seal breaks its to small. i hope that helps.

[AJAX22]

hrm.... so you have to just buy them to check?

they're kind of expensive.

[steelrain82]

i would assume so. unless you have access to them ,like a friend. im sure if you call the companies they could help you to determine the size.

[E__WOK]

Back from the dead...

Your eyes should be centered through the lens.

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Q5BLor-vG_0J:www.nh-tems.com/documents/FMF_CORPSMAN/gasmask.ppt+proper+gas+mask+fit+m40&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiwu0dRQ7dZMRbgyuW4IakzsIpK_g2FU7pamUa48sxDkzRg5wSKpMAOukx-CuhYW3mU7rG3SURI1XGIhUGMF6JsbFIV1O6M_d6u-1qi8voa4O4QcV6fC3p_z-hF3pY-DeH4GZNC&sig=AHIEtbRmE6LPRyjN6LAf7KG0XGnonpzjWg

[Petro6golf]

if your in sacramento I have an older one i aquired that you can try on

[calmedic]

s, m, l, and you just try them on. put it on tight and shake your head, talk, etc. then blow and suck in to make sure its sealed properly. you should have proper seal, if when put on you push the black piece in front of your mask and blow out, any air in side your mask will blow out kinda like a fart sound. make sure the canister is on when you do this though. and then cover the hole in the canister and suck in. this will cause the mask to suck in if its properly sealed. if its on tightly and it shakes loose its to big or not tight enough. if when you talk it rides up or the seal breaks its to small. i hope that helps.

This. You can also buy fit test kits where you don the mask and put this tent/hood over your head and then spray a bitter flavored aerosol in the hood and you go through a range of motion exercise while talking, if you taste the bitter it don't fit. You could probably simulate this at home if you can get your hands on a couple of different sized masks, a relativly confined space and a fine aerosol with some kind of flavor to it. IIRC a Med fits like 80%+ of males. Good luck.