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I spent years wearing an Avon gas mask on SWAT. I trusted it, and I still do. When MIRA sent me its C21 to review, I expected to put it on, shoulder a rifle, and find the same problems I have found with other masks. I was skeptical enough that I told them so.
Then I shot with it.
MIRA sent me the C21 for this review. They did not buy a favorable opinion, and I have used other MIRA masks that I did not like. I purchased my Avon myself. The recommendation here comes from wearing these masks and seeing how they work with my equipment. I did not conduct a laboratory test of their protective performance.
The problem I have always had with gas masks
Put on most gas masks and try to get behind a rifle optic. The filter or the side of the mask gets between your face and the stock. You end up tilting the rifle, stretching your neck, or changing a shooting position you have practiced for years. I can make it work with my Avon C50, but it feels awkward. When I bring the rifle up, the stock can catch the filter and push the mask down.
The C21 has a narrower shape around the cheek. I can bring the rifle up, get a normal cheek weld, and see my optic without fighting the mask. I can also shoot from my other shoulder, including the side where the filter sits. That was the biggest surprise in this review. I have worn gas masks for roughly 35 years, including operational use, and this is the first one I have used that lets me shoot that comfortably from either side.
If I expected to wear a mask while carrying a rifle, I would reach for the C21. I did not expect to say that about a mask other than my Avon.
What the Avon still does better
The Avon C50 is a more comfortable mask against my face. I know how it feels after long wear, and I trust the system because I used it in the field. The C21 facepiece feels stiffer to me. That may sound minor when you first put it on, but comfort changes after you have been wearing a mask for hours.
The Avon is also lighter as a bare mask. Avon lists the C50 at 490 grams. MIRA lists the C21 at 615 grams with its fabric harness. Those figures do not include a filter. With the larger filter I used, I could feel the weight pulling down on the C21. That is one of the things I want MIRA to improve.
Communication is another Avon advantage in my setup. My C50 has a voice projection unit, and you can hear the difference when I switch masks in the video. The C21 has a speech diaphragm, but my voice still sounds muffled compared with the Avon and its electronic amplifier. If I were giving commands to a team, that difference would matter to me.
So I am keeping my Avon. If I wanted the more familiar, comfortable mask and did not need to shoulder a rifle, I would probably wear it. I am fortunate to own both, so I can make that choice.
What I like about the C21
Besides the rifle fit, I like the wide visor. Some masks leave you looking through two little eye openings, and that can feel restrictive. The C21 gives me a much more open view. It also fits with my helmet and gear. MIRA offers small, medium, and large sizes, which is a welcome change from a universal size mask when you have a head like mine.
The C21 uses a standard 40 mm filter connection, but the filter is sold separately. I used MIRA’s NBC-77 SOF filter in the review. Choose a filter for the specific hazard you are preparing for and check its instructions and expiration information. A mask and filter only help when they fit, seal, and are appropriate for what is in the air. An air purifying respirator does not supply oxygen, so it is not equipment for walking into an oxygen deficient environment. OSHA explains those limits here.
MIRA describes the visor as resistant to ballistics. I would not treat that wording as a substitute for dedicated ballistic eye protection without a specific test standard that applies to the protection you need. My praise for this mask is based on how it fit and performed while I wore it, especially while shooting.
What if $530 is too much?
At the time of this review, MIRA lists the C21 mask at $529.95 before a filter. That is a lot of money. An Avon setup can cost considerably more once you add the parts you need, but prices and configurations vary, so compare complete setups rather than a mask body against a package with accessories.
I would skip the cheap mask with two small eye openings that I show in the video. I have a hard time getting it on, the view is restrictive, and I would not choose it for this use. The less expensive full visor mask I show may be a basic emergency option if it actually fits and seals on your face and you pair it with the correct filter. I would not choose it for long wear or serious rifle use. If that is what your budget allows, learn its limitations and practice with it.
My choice
The Avon remains a refined mask with better comfort, less weight on my face, and a communications setup I already own. For me, the C21 wins when I need to shoulder a rifle. It lets me keep a natural shooting position from either shoulder, and that is something I have wanted from a protective mask for a long time.
MIRA still has work to do on comfort, weight balance, and voice amplification. Even with those complaints, I can recommend the C21 to someone looking for a properly fitted mask who expects to use a rifle while wearing it. Make sure you select the right size, verify the seal, and choose the filter for the hazard. A mask sitting in a box that you have never worn with your gear is an unknown when you need it.
My MIRA link is in the video description. It is an affiliate link, so if you buy through it, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. That helps me buy products for future reviews, including the ones companies do not send me.
Thanks for the info! Much appreciated 🙏🏼👍🏼🇺🇸
I have two gas masks, but I need an upgraded one. I used them in the military and realized I need a newer version.