A Guide to Shot Timers

While competitive shooting and tactical training are not as common as some other shooting activities, they are steadily increasing in popularity and being enjoyed by more people across the country. Depending on what shooting discipline you want to start exploring, one accessory you can always benefit from is a shot timer. These small devices track the time between your shots, how long it takes you to complete a drill, and more, giving you precise data to help you improve your skills and be a better shooter. If you’ve never used a shot timer, there are tons of options available that work differently, so understanding the basics can help you find the perfect model for your needs.

How Does a Shot Timer Work?

A shot timer is like a stopwatch, except for shooting. However, instead of clicking a button every time a runner passes a lap to record the lap time, a shot timer uses a microphone and an extremely precise timing system to record the time between each shot. This lets you see your splits (think lap times when running on a track) for the shots as well as the total time it took you to fire all of the rounds, helping you determine potential scores in competitions as well as get better at taking rapid follow up shots.

To start, you or someone else engages the shot timer. Then, it emits a loud sound to signal to you to start the drill or firing sequence. This is when the timer starts ticking, and as you go through your motions, the shot timer records in detail how long it takes you to fire each shot. You can also customize the recording to automatically stop the timer after you have fired a certain number of shots, so your total time is as accurate as possible.

What Are the Benefits of a Shot Timer?

The primary advantage to training with a shot timer is improving your overall skills with a firearm. Even if you don’t plan to enter any shooting competitions or need extra training for a tactical scenario, getting better with a firearm is a responsibility for any owner. By practicing with a shot timer regularly, you learn how to better control recoil while maintaining accuracy, as well as fire consistently in high-pressure scenarios. Both of these skills are crucial if you plan to carry your firearm concealed, as shooting accurately and confidently helps you hit your target and minimize errant shots.

If you are planning to compete in shooting competitions, there are few tools that are better for improving your score than a shot timer. Many competitions score you on both accuracy and speed, so using a shot timer to consistently lower your scores while focusing on hitting the high-scoring target areas will help you get higher scores. Plus, if you like to shoot in groups with your friends, a shot timer gives you actual data that you can use to compare shooting styles, strategies, and more directly with other people, helping everyone improve.

What Should You Look for in a Shot Timer?

Shot timers are extremely customizable and vary greatly in features and price, so it’s pretty easy to find one that suits your needs. Here are some of the top features you should look out for when shopping for a shot timer.

• Large String Memory: The string memory of a shot timer is how many shots in a row it can record your times for, so a larger string memory is always useful. This is especially useful if you’re planning on training with semi-automatic rifles, as you may take 10+ shots in a string.
• Multiple Par Time Settings: A par time setting is the max time you want to take on your shooting drill. This is useful if you’re trying to reduce your string time below a certain amount, and customizing the shot timer to have different par times for different firearms is extremely convenient.
• High-Quality Sensor: The microphone or sensor that your shot timer uses to register your shots should be precise and high-quality. This ensures it picks up your shot immediately, giving you the most accurate split times possible.
• Durable Housing: Using anything outside and around firearms can lead to potential damage, so a shot timer should use durable materials to protect it. This helps keep the internal components safe and accurate, ensuring you’re getting the proper data

Pick Up a New Shot Timer Today

Our team at OpticsPlanet is here to help you get all the gear and equipment you need for any situation. If you’re looking to build a competition firearm, we have plenty of pistol parts and rifle parts to help you complete your new project. We also have tons of high-quality ammo to give you consistent performance whenever you’re shooting. And of course, to maximize accuracy, we have rifle scopes and red dot sights from all of the top brands in the business so you can find the perfect model for your needs.