Thinking of buying a timer, Oppinions please

[Detritus]

Been mulling the idea of buying a timer for both range and home (dryfire) use.
Don't really know enough about the various models out there to make a properly informed decision without further input. So I came here to ask

After reading over a number of threads in the archives here and on a few other boards I frequent, the models the seem to stand out in the various recommendations I've found are

PACT Club timer: seems to be most recommended, with the large display getting big kudos, but non adjustable speaker being a downside in home dryfire

Pocket Pro II: seems to be the #2 suggestion behind the PACT, and from what I've seen is either the most common or second most (depending on the club) again behind the Club timer.

CED 7000: Highly recommended by some poo pooed by others for a rechargeable battery system and high frequency horn. with a bonus for dryfire of an adjustable volume.

and
the R.U. Ready 3000 has a few adherents out there that are vocal in their praise.


Anyway, I've already made this longer than I intended.
Would like to Know what the current suggestions are and why. benefits, pitfalls, anything to make this an easier decision.

Again wanting this for use both at the range and at home for dryfire practice. don't want one that's TOO complicated to use but don't want to pass up useful functionality without first considering it.

as always, thank you in advance for any info you choose to share, or suggestions you have.

 

[Ankeny]

My personal timer is a CED 6000 and it has given me many years of trouble free service. Great timer for sure, but I don't know anything about the newer models. Our gun club has half a dozen PACT Club Timer III and they work fine other than we have had some problems with sensitivity issues. They are a bit of a hassle to set the PAR time but once you get accustomed to them they work finr for practice including reduced par time drills.

 

[arspeukinen]

ced buttons seem to wear out fast. pocketproII display gets fuxxored in extreme cold.

 

[MrBorland]

I use the PACT Club. One can set par time, or set it to record par time. In the case of the latter, I wish the sensitivity were adjustable, which would make it more dry fire-friendly. As it is, I have to set a par time, then beat the beep. The non-adjustable speaker is another downside, but I shove a foam earplug in the little hole when dry firing. It's also kinda big, so when I pick up mags or brass, it gets in the way if it's hanging on my belt. Other than that, I have no complaints.

At the matches I shoot, both local and sanctioned, I rarely see a Pact timer for some reason. Don't know why. It seems Pocket Pros and CEDs are mostly used. A match can really go sideways if the timers aren't reliable, so I take their use in matches as a good endorsement.

BTW, if you have a smartphone, I believe there are par timer apps available. They may be worth checking out as well.

 

[Detritus]

BTW, if you have a smartphone, I believe there are par timer apps available. They may be worth checking out as well.

I currently have and use the "IPSC Shot Timer" on my smartphone and am trying to find a better alternative.
It works ok but It's frustrating. The par timer function works fine and works for dryfire.
But at the range it suffers from a flaky/inadequate sensitivity adjustment. it either misses 1/4 to 1/2 the shots or picks up the guy in the next bay/berm. and from what I can find this seems to be an on-going theme with regards to smartphone based timers.


Might wind up buying a legit timer just for range use and keep the smartphone app one for dryfire and draw practice.

 

[Jim Watson]

The CEDs have the advantage of a ten string memory. Handy for monitoring your consistency in practice. Or carry it along in spy mode and record a whole club match for later review.

 

[arspeukinen]

CED also can facilitate use of a stop plate for airsoft training.

 

[mgmorden]

I've used the PACT, Pocket Pro, and CED timers (version iterations of each) at various clubs. I own the PACT Club Timer III for my own use.

For me, I like the PACT for my own practice. It clips onto the belt nicely and has a decent array of features. I will say that the placement of the Go/Start button while great for practice, does make it a little more awkward to RO with. Not bad, and I've RO'd with my own timer plenty times, but for that purpose I tend to like the Pocket Pro timers better.

I don't like the non-removable battery of the CED 7000, and the CED 8000 with its "flip-screen" is very awkward for me to hold.

Overall though, for most of these IMHO all the Pro's/Con's are relatively minor. You'd probably be well served with any of them.

 

[taliv]

i have the ced7000 and pact club. i use the ced7000 for personal use because it's lightweight and has extra features. i don't use it for matches because if the battery runs out, i can't replace it quickly.

the pact club is what i used to use for matches, but unfortunately, it broke down on me. i sent it back. they kinda fixed it but not really. it's gathering dust at the moment

 

[jmorris]

The CED 7000 has a display that you can't read very well if you use polarized glasses. It also has a buzzer that is difficult for me to hear, along with the build in battery. I got rid of the one I had.

I like my CED 8000, same memory and you can read it. The remote display is neat too.

My R U ready is likely the best for not counting echoes but has the smallest display.

The Pact is my go to timer. Everything is displayed and easy to read if you put a foam earplug in the buzzer hole you won't wake up the family.

I don't dislike the pocket pro but I already have plenty of timers.

 

[taliv]

jmorris brings up a good point. with the 7000, i have to raise my sunglasses any time i look at it. pretty irritating but i guess i've gotten used to it with the polarized glasses. i've never had difficulty hearing the buzzer though. mine is quite loud.

 

[jhop73]

Do any of the shot timers have a combined Comstock feature like the ced timers? we use the ced7000 at our club but we have 2 members who have trouble hearing the 2.5KHz buzzer, I am looking for something with a lower frequency buzzer.

 

[Blue Thunder]

I have a CED 6000 timer which has a low frequency buzzer and an output that can be used to sound a second horn of your choice and a stop plate input. It is from the mid 1990's and has served well.

 

[jmorris]

jmorris brings up a good point. with the 7000, i have to raise my sunglasses any time i look at it. pretty irritating but i guess i've gotten used to it with the polarized glasses. i've never had difficulty hearing the buzzer though. mine is quite loud.

I have a 30 db hearing loss at 3000Hz. I think the tone of the 7000 must be right there.

 

[fdf]

I use a battery operated timer from a kitchen place. Works fine in National competition, less than $10 or so.

Dry fire my watch works.

Fancy is not needed, just need to know how much time is left.

Alarm is not needed, with ear plugs and head phones on I can't hear a timer chirping. If you are waiting on the timer to make noise, you are out of time any way.

 

[jmorris]

Fdf, the op is asking about shot timers. They don't count down but up. Not only do they count up but only when they detect the impulse of a shot being fired. They measure the elapsed time to the hundredth of a second because order of finish can be that close.