Shot timer that works at the range?

[Wapato]

So I'm interested in using a shot timer. The problem is that I shoot at a popular indoor gun range.

Therefore I'd need a model that either has a directional thing going on or one where you can tune the threshold to where it'll work for my handgun but not my neighbors. Or some other solution if there is one (for example it operates not by sound but by a light sensor that spots the flash).

Anybody here have the same problem and have some experience with a solution? Or just heard of something that might work for me?

 

[conw]

If you are like me and don't really need to worry about splits, etc, but would like to have a basic par timer (which is more than enough for running drills and learning), the Gymboss is a nice and cheap option. It even has a vibrate feature that works well with ear pro.

 

[jblackfish]

Put this one in your selection process.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

This is an intriguing question to which I only have a guess. I would think the manufacturers would have accounted for this in their design.

 

[Japle]

+1 on the CED7000.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I actually use a shot timer app on my Android cell phone. It has a starter beep, tells shot splits, and total time from first shot to last. The sensitivity is also adjustable. It works great for me.

 

[conw]

I have a CED7000 for sale, if interested PM me.

C

 

[esheato]

I guess I'll be the sole dissenter for the CED. The beep isn't loud enough and you have to handle it to see the time.

I instead prefer the PACT MKIV as the LCD screen is on the top of the unit...clip it to your belt and you can see your start time and most recent shots on the top of the unit. Also, it has par times, keyed beeps, random start, built in chrono and ballistic calculator.

 

[Wapato]

First, thanks for the feedback.

I see the CED7000 line is popular, but have any of you tried it when other shooters are nearby? As far as I can tell it's just got an internal microphone with 8 sensitivity levels. Is it just that those eight levels tend to be enough?

I guess I'll be the sole dissenter for the CED. The beep isn't loud enough and you have to handle it to see the time.

I instead prefer the PACT MKIV as the LCD screen is on the top of the unit...clip it to your belt and you can see your start time and most recent shots on the top of the unit. Also, it has par times, keyed beeps, random start, built in chrono and ballistic calculator.

Ok, is it correct that this thing has some sort of chronograph function, and so it times shots not just by sound but by that?

It wasn't very clear how their chrono works (or if it only has calculation functionality in the box and you have to seperately buy some sensors).

 

[jblackfish]

The sensitivity is good on the it. We our own CED unit sometimes at matches where guys shoot suppressed .22 rimfire because the club timers ('forget the brand - the big blue ones) won't pick it up because it's so soft. I'd say it's more flexible than others and has more features like, for example, being able to shoot a "par" IDPA stage which has a time limit.

 

[esheato]

Ok, is it correct that this thing has some sort of chronograph function, and so it times shots not just by sound but by that?

No, timer functions on sound of the shot only.

It wasn't very clear how their chrono works (or if it only has calculation functionality in the box and you have to seperately buy some sensors).

Yes, the unit also has the chrono software built into it...so you add the chrono bar, sensors and opaque covers and it can chrono also.

 

[Wapato]

Ok, so I appreciate that you two are recommending them as good shot timers.

But have either of you tried them when a number of people are shooting at the same time?

 

[Chris Rhines]

I also do most of my shooting at a popular indoor range. I've tried the PACT MkIV and Club timers, the CED8000 and 7000, the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro 2, and the Speed-Timer 3000 there. The only one that really works well is the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro 2. The CED7000 is alright if you turn the sensitivity all the way down, but even then it can pick up shots from the next booth over.

-C

 

[Wapato]

I also do most of my shooting at a popular indoor range. I've tried the PACT MkIV and Club timers, the CED8000 and 7000, the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro 2, and the Speed-Timer 3000 there. The only one that really works well is the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro 2. The CED7000 is alright if you turn the sensitivity all the way down, but even then it can pick up shots from the next booth over.

-C

Thanks! Any idea why the pocket pro 2 works better? Is it the echo feature?

Googling around, it looks like there's a wrist strap for the CED7000. Since you've tried one of those, is it something you wouldn't want strapped to your wrist? (The idea here being to get the thing as close as possible)

Although if the mics are very directional there is usually a little bench at about stomach level. I could set a shot timer there and step just a little further back than usual and have the mic "looking" at my gun a couple feet directly above it.

 

[conw]

I attached a belt clip to mine when I used it.

 

[Hk Dan]

I hate to say it, but you're not going to find one that will work in this situation. At an indoor range the other shooters are just too close and the sound dynamics so bad that it'll pick up everything. I have extensive experience with the CED 7000 and the PACT Club Timer. No way that either one will do what you want, and I'm not sure it's possible.

 

[jblackfish]

I TOTALLY agree with Hk Dan. Indoor ranges are so loud that any good time would pick up you, your neighbor shooters, their neighbor shooter, etc. These times are made for outdoor ranges where a single shooter (being timed) is separated by a berm, a walls or some other barricade.

 

[conw]

I agree although I was able to take the CED to a 10-booth range with about 3 other shooters, get enough distance, and it worked fine.

I just prefer a par timer for convenience, simplicity, etc. You know whether you made par and that's usually good enough for 90% of drills unless you are in the 99th percentile trying to take hundredths of a second off your splits.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Thanks! Any idea why the pocket pro 2 works better? Is it the echo feature?

All shot timers have some degree of echo cancellation, but the Pocket Pro 2 just seems to work better. It also has a much finer range of sensitivity adjustment than the competition.

Googling around, it looks like there's a wrist strap for the CED7000. Since you've tried one of those, is it something you wouldn't want strapped to your wrist? (The idea here being to get the thing as close as possible)

I have that wrist strap, and I seriously don't like it. Anything on your wrists is going to throw off your weapon manipulation. I either keep the timer on top of the lane control box (shoulder height on the left) or clipped to my belt facing forward.

-C