Paul_H

Just to close the loop... Met with my audiologist today. Turns out their hearing aid supplier is Starkey, who happens to be the manufacturer of SoundGear. So even though SoundGear does not list my ENT's office as a retailer, they can get get SoundGear ear pro, and at a much better price than what SoundGear lists it for retail on their website, at least for the Phantom line. In fairness, I didn't ever price out SoundGear through any retail channels.

Finally connected with my audiologist. Have an appointment on Friday for a hearing test and consultation. She indicated that she has several options available through her office. Don't have any details yet on brands yet, but knowing the quality of care I've gotten from the rest of the ENT office she practices out of, I'm sure the are all quality solutions and she also indicated that using my HSA funds will not be an issue. Will see what happens on Friday. Really hoping to have them before Gunsite in August, as I'm not looking forward to my Peltor 500's in August in AZ....

@whan, that sounds like it could be a workable and cost effective solution. What was the process for getting the silicone earplugs made? Just bring the Otto's in to the hearing center and they were able to mold the earplugs and fit them to the Otto's? Paul

Assuming I can get a medical justification so I can use my HSA funds, $1500. Paul

Sounds like a plan. I'm heading out to Gunsite in August for their 250 revolver only class. Sounds like a good way to pass the time on my flights out and back. Paul

Are there any good revolver specific training resources related to gun handling? I've got books and DVDs from from the likes of Ben Stoeger, Pat McNamara, Steve Anderson, Michael Seeklander, and a few others. While they are great for training drills and programs, the ones that focus on gun handling skills all do so for semi-auto pistols. I'm looking for anything that will help my accelerate my revolver journey (other than being told to buy a semi-auto... :)). I'm able to adapt the drills and programs to my revolver habit OK, but looking to accelerate my revolver handling skills. For example, when reloading I switch hands and hold the gun weak-hand and reload with a speed loader or moon-clip strong hand. I've realized that consistency with my weak hand thumb whether I have it in a cylinder groove or between can make a difference in reload times, or more important wasted time. Was hoping to find a resource that points out these subtle details to help with my training. Any thoughts greatly appreciated, even if they are disjointed read this and that, I'm willing to piece the information together. Thanks, Paul

I'm looking into the Sound Gear. There's a local audiologist that deals with them. With any luck my insurance will cover, if not I'm hoping I can get a letter of necessity so I can use my HSA dollars to pay for them, have tons of money in that account just sitting. They seem like the best option. With any luck I can get them in place before my trip to Gunsite at the end of August. If not I'll look at some of the other options. Thanks everyone, Paul

Anyone have any specific company they would recommend for in-ear electronic custom hearing protection? I've reached out to my audiologist who is researching what companies they may be able to source custom in-ear hearing protection from, but looking for other companies i might look at in case the local audiologist comes up blank? Understand they can be quite pricey, but heading out to Gunsite for a class in late August and would much prefer some in-ear protection over my usual ear muffs, if for no reason other than I can wear a nice sun hat with a full brim. Also have money in my HSA that should cover the cost. Any suggestions/recommendations appreciated. Paul

57K, thanks for the great information. I'll put it to good use. -- Paul

First off, thank you all for your thoughtful comments and advice. I am embarrassed to say that I think I the root cause of my problem was my own doing. I was trying to hand load my gun to test that the rounds I was going to make would fit. I was putting a single dummy round in the magazine, and inserted it into one of my Glock 19s that already had the slide back. I then released the slide (both by slingshot and using the slide release) and the round would nosedive and get caught on the bottom of the feed ramp. Using this same protocol, I also had failure to feeds with commercial ammo and my self defense ammo. Turns out that if I load the gun any other way, i.e. multiple rounds in the magazine or starting with the slide forward and then power stroking it, my dummy rounds would feed just fine. Once I figured that out I loaded up 20 rounds to take to the range. BTW, these were the first rounds I have ever reloaded in my life, so I was a bit nervous. Loaded 4 magazines with 5 rounds each. My reloads performed flawlessly at the range and were very accurate, so I'm happy about that.

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. Eboos, I'm just down the road in Norwich.

Here's what I have figured out, the way I'm testing to see if the rounds will feed may be flawed. Using my American Eagle target ammo and my Speer Gold Dot carry ammo, I also fail to feed into the guns when I load a single round into the magazine and either slingshot the slide or drop it using the slide stop. So, having figured that out, I went through my "bad" rounds and found 20 that would fit the case gauge and loaded those into 2 magazines (I'm in a 10 round restricted state...). I was able hand feed all but the last round from both magazines. Since my known good ammo also fails to hand feed on the last round in the magazine, I'm not as concerned before. I think my next step is to load some real rounds go see how the feed at the range when actually being shot. I think the source of my problem is twofold. My Glock 17 feeds everything just fine, but has a slightly different feed ramp angle than the 19. I also tried using my G17 mags in the G19, and all rounds, including the last one, fed with no issues. The spring on my G17 mags is noticeable stiffer than the brand new G19 mags. Once I load up some real rounds and shoot them I'll post an update. -- Paul

Wow! Thank you everyone for all the advice and support. To answer a couple of questions: 1. Both my Glock 19s are giving me trouble. One has fired thousands of 147gr American Eagle ammo, which has a truncated cone and a flat tip, with no issues. Same gun has also feed hundreds of Speer 147gr Gold Dots (I like to run 200 - 250 rounds of my self defense ammo through my guns). The other Glock is brand new and has not been shot yet. 2. Even though some of the rounds do feed with some magazines, it is inconsistent. Meaning there is no pattern to what magazine will fail to load, even using a round that just loaded with that magazine SAT. Based on what I've understood so far, my plan of action is: 1. use the plunk test to find the longest COAL that will work in my barrel, then revisit the failure to feed problem. 2. try some round nose bullets. I have already ordered some, along with others in RN and TC/FP from Speer, Ranier, and Berry's. 3. I'm also going to double check that I am loading the bullets straight into the case. Seems to me that if I am off a bit, then when in the magazine the low side of the tip of the round would have a better chance of hitting the feed ram. Conversely, if loaded so the tip was up slightly in the magazine it may load no problem. Could help explain why there seems to be no pattern to what rounds load with what magazines, or why a round fails to load in a specific magazine one time, then loads fine in the same mag. For people using Dillon seating dies with the reversible stem, how do I determine which side of the stem to used when loading FP or TC bullets? With the flat points I have now, the fit is not that great with either side of the stem. Thanks again. -- Paul

I tried shortening up the length, all the way down to 0.950. At 0.950 the rounds would chamber, but are so short that the brass case is above where the bullet starts to taper. Any longer and they would not chamber correctly. I also adjusted my crimp die to take out more of the bell, but that did not seem to help. I have ordered some new Speer 147gr TMJ FN bullets and some brand new brass from Brownells. The Speer bullets are very close to the TMJ FN on the American Eagle ammo I have been shooting with no issues. If those bullets don't work out I'll look at some round nose stuff instead. Also, figured new brass could not hurt at this stage. Thanks for all the advice so far. -- Paul

I thought of that first. So, I tried 12 different Glock 19 mags. 3 mags are brand new out of the package. Which mags would load vs not load seemed to be random, all mags are numbered.