I’m looking to pick up a shot timer and was wondering what you all have had good luck with recently as I’ve been seeing a bit of good and bad on the normal choices (Competition Electronics Pocket Pro II, CED7000, PACT Club Timer) and I’m not sure which one to go for. I don’t have an iPhone otherwise I’d give one of the timer apps a try. I do have a Blackberry, but I don’t see that anyone has a timer app for a Blackberry.
I have PACT Mark IV and I don’t think it is too good of a kit. Problem is that most timers have some negative reviews one way or another.
My issues with timer mentioned above are:
- exposed large buttons; pressing on any button starts timer on. I keep my in range bag in the trunk, and it self-activated many times just from motion.
- inability to change sensitivity - really hard to use on indoors range since it picks shots from all lanes.
- poor battery life.
- it stopped working already once (had it for 2 years or so) without any reason; PACT fixed it under lifetime warranty. It took them a month and I payed shipping both ways.
I just got the Surefire shot timer for my iphone (free app) and so far it works great. With the sensitivity turned up to 100% it picks up hand claps and I just shot a 20 rd string with my gas airsoft pistol and it worked great. Haven’t shot live with it yet, but I see no issues since it works with an air pistol. Saved me $120 over buying a dedicated timer. I’d try a free app first.
Is there an app for Blackberry anyone knows of? I don’t have an iPhone.
I use the PACT Club Timer III. It’s relatively simple to use, fairly durable, reasonably compact, and pretty handy with the generous belt clip. I saw Larry Vickers and Ken Hackathorn using it and thought that perhaps this would be a clue.
Todd has abandoned the CED timers in the last couple of classes I’ve done with him as they kept biting the dust. He was using one of the boxy Pocket Pro timers.
I have a CED8000. I seem to be the only shmuck who admits to having one, so perhaps that is a clue of its own, but there are a couple things I really like about it.
The flip-up screen is really nice to be about to clip on a belt or pocket and look down and read. It’s got a nice big screen with the info displayed in an easy to read manner. It actually has some graphical menus to click through to change settings instead of just long series of button-cycles that some units might have. I just find it to be a user-friendly form factor. The 9V batteries are not the ideal system and it eats them pretty quickly. I’ve heard concerns about durability as well, but not had any problems with my short-duration sample-size-1 “testing” (which doesn’t mean much).
Since I am (unfortunately) a relatively low-volume shooter it works well for my needs, but if you were using it to run a class or matches weekly I have a feeling the batteries alone would cost most than the timer before too long. Plus the long-term durability is questionable. It also cost too much compared to some of the other options on the market.
Of other timers I’ve used (briefly at matches and such), I liked the PACT Club Timer III the best.
I think with the lifetime warranty, and based on everybody’s input I’ll be going with the PACT Club III for now. Thanks!
I’ve been using the PACT club timer 3 for a few years now… nice big display… easy to use… common 9V battery, clips on my belt… dropped it so many times and still works… yeah, I like them.
I’ve had a MK IV since, I think, the early - mid 90’s. I got it because it was both a timer and chronograph and have used it as both. I have also used the auto cyclic timer, and a few of the other interesting features like dry fire timer and cadence beeps. It has been very reliable.
If you just want a timer, obviously that isn’t the way to go, but the PACT brand has been good to me.
Another vote for the PACT III. Regular 9 volt battery, quick learning curve with very few buttons, LOUD beep…
This.
I still don’t know about a BlackBerry app, but I did end up going with the PACT Club III Timer and so far have been pretty happy with it, although sometimes it has a hard time picking up shots from my .22, but I haven’t tried adjusting the sensitivity yet.
I have a Pocket Pro II, of course in the cool guy FDE. Actually I wanted OD green, but they only have blue and brown and the blue is ugly. Guess I could give it a really cool Krylon and stipple job. 
OK enough about the looks, but it has worked for everything that I need. No issues.
Had trouble with one I had, sent it back and they sent me a new one that I’ve used in classes for three or four years now.
Might try the remote large digital time display this fall.
I’ve beat the hell out of my Pocket Pro for years and it still is running perfect.
Freedom Gunworks has the Pocket Pro and Pocket Pro II on sale/clearance.
Rich
The surefire timer for Iphone and Ipod work great. (Ipod needs a mic you have to buy) And so does the new IPSC timer. WHAT EVER YOU DO DO NOT GET THE ANDROIDS VERSION WHICH IS CALLED, “SHOT CLOCK.” It does not work at all. i have all three.
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2010/04/19/iphone-ipsc-shot-timer-roundup/
For those of you running the Pact III club timers, how sensitive can they be set? I would like to purchase a timer that is able to trigger on an AR bolt being released as well as hammer fall. That might sound a bit ridiculous to ask, but my friend’s iPhone with the Surefire app is able to trigger on those events.
http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Photo/SNIPER-Shot-Activated-Timer-19418.shtml
Only one I could find for blackberry. I’ve never tried it(have an iphone) so no guarantees!
Anyone suggest a good source for buying a Pact Club III? I do 90% of my shooting solo and am going to go with it unless someone can compel me otherwise.