Shot Timer

READY
00:10

Common uses for a shot timer

  • IDPA/USPSA practice
  • Draw stroke timing
  • Stage run-throughs
  • Competitive shooting
  • Par time drills

A shot timer is the fundamental training tool in competitive shooting sports. It plays a start signal (beep or buzzer) that signals when to draw or engage targets, and measures elapsed time. For dry fire home practice without a dedicated shot timer device, a browser-based timer with a preparation countdown and a clear audio beep simulates the essential function.

A 3-second preparation countdown followed by a 10-second par time is appropriate for general draw practice and multiple-target engagement drills. Adjust the par time to your current level: 5 seconds for beginners, 3 seconds for intermediate, 1.5–2 seconds for advanced shooters working toward competition-level draws.

Par time is what makes a drill a drill

Practising without a time limit rehearses whatever pace you happen to be comfortable at. A par time sets a standard the repetition either meets or does not, which converts practice into something measurable and therefore improvable.

The useful setting is one where you succeed most of the time but not always — roughly eight or nine out of ten. A par time you always make is not training anything, and one you never make just rehearses failure.

Split times say more than the total

A shot timer records the interval between shots, and that is where the diagnosis is. A slow first shot is a draw or presentation problem; slow splits after it are a recoil control or trigger problem. The total time hides which.

That distinction changes what you should practise. Working on speed generally is far less effective than knowing that your draw is fine and your transitions are not.

Dry fire is where most of the gain is

Draw, presentation, reload and transitions can all be trained without ammunition, and a shot timer with a par beep works for that as well as it does live. Most of the time saved in a stage comes from those movements rather than from the shooting.

Safety first and without exception: no ammunition in the room, verify the firearm is clear every time you pick it up, and use a safe direction that would still be safe if the check was wrong. This page is about timing, not about safe gun handling, and it is not a substitute for proper instruction.

Widely used drill standards from concealment at 7 yards unless noted. Set a par you make eight or nine times in ten.

Common par times
Drill Par Standard Trains
Draw to first shot 1.50 s Competent Presentation
Draw to first shot 1.20 s Advanced Presentation
Bill Drill (6 shots) 2.00 s Advanced Recoil control
Failure to Stop 2.50 s Competent Transitions
Reload, slide lock 2.50 s Competent Reload
Reload, slide lock 1.80 s Advanced Reload
Split time 0.20-0.25 s Advanced Recoil control
  • A par you always make trains nothing; one you never make rehearses failure. Aim for 8-9 successes in 10.
  • Splits diagnose what the total hides: a slow first shot is presentation, slow splits after it are recoil control.

Source: Par times are widely used practical shooting training standards rather than a single published rulebook

Sources

  1. Par times are widely used practical shooting training standards rather than a single published rulebook , TheTimerLab — accessed 2026-07-28

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is a shot timer?
A shot timer is a device (or app) used in competitive shooting training that: (1) plays a start signal after a random or fixed delay, (2) records elapsed time from signal to shots heard (using a microphone), and (3) displays split times between shots. Browser timers simulate the start signal and par time functions but cannot record gunshot sounds.
What is the best shot timer for dry fire?
For dry fire, a browser timer (like this one) works well — it provides the start beep and par time countdown without requiring a microphone. For live fire, dedicated shot timers (CED7000, Pocket Pro 2, PACT Club Timer) detect gunshot sounds and record splits. The start beep is the critical function for both dry fire and live fire.
How do I simulate a random start beep?
Reload the timer with a random delay each rep: alternate between 3-second, 4-second, and 2-second preparation times. True random start is important for training because a fixed delay creates a counting habit — the shooter anticipates the beep rather than reacting to it, which inflates apparent speed.
What competitions use shot timers?
USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association), IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association), IPSC, Steel Challenge, 3-Gun, and ICORE all use shot timers. Olympic pistol events use a command system rather than a timer-and-buzzer format. Air pistol events (ISSF) use a preparation time and command system.
What is par time in competitive shooting?
Par time is the target time to complete a shooting task. In training, set a par time and train until you consistently beat it before moving to a shorter par. In competition, your actual time is measured (not a par). Using par time in training creates urgency and prevents slow, sloppy repetitions.
Can I use a phone as a shot timer?
Yes — dedicated shot timer apps (IPSC timer, Shotmaxx, etc.) use the phone microphone to detect gunshot sounds and record splits. This is a legitimate alternative to a dedicated hardware shot timer for most training purposes. Browser timers provide the start beep but not shot detection.
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