Quoted:
Thats strange becuase the USMC NBC warfare handbook says that for the M17 Mask Black rings are for practice and Green rings are for NBC protection.I just replaced both of the masks with the green kind,so I hope all me bases are covered.
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That is correct.
The following is from a USMIL filter checklist dated 5/02.
8. M13A2 FILTER ELEMENT, NSN: 4240-00-165-5026, END ITEM: M17 SERIES
MASKS.
8.A. SERVICEABLE LOTS: --------------------- MSA 4-1 THRU MSA 4-181 31
DEC 2001 MSA 5-1 THRU MSA 5-7 31 DEC 2001 MSA 6-1 THRU MSA 6-18 31 DEC 2001
MSA 7-1 THRU MSA 7-41 31 DEC 2001 MSA 8-1 THRU END OF MSA 8 SERIES
INDEFINITE MSA91C009-001 THRU MSA92J009-075 INDEFINITE
8.B. UNSERVICEABLE LOTS: ALL M13A2 FILTER ELEMENT LOTS NOT LISTED IN PARA
8.A."
There ya go. Their words, not mine.
Personally I only have one MCU, and they ARE cost prohibitive. I too use the M17's for work, car, etc to "get me to my MCU". I use the codes listed above, and the seviceable ones according to this list are widely available. I change the ones in my masks out every year. Spare rubber filter valves (5 different ones per mask) are harder to find and are a very desireable item to have. Careful inspection and Fitting and a good facial seal are imperative to mask useage.
[b]IF YOU DO NOT SERVICE, FIT AND CHECK YOUR MASK, IT IS USELESS AND YOUR BEST BET IS TO GO OUTSIDE AND BREATH DEEPLY UNTIL THE THREAT DISAPPEARS.[/b]
Any info can be found in the manual. YMMV.