Which Shot Timer Should You Buy?

A telltale sign someone’s getting serious about practical marksmanship is when they realize they need a shot timer. Every now and then, folks preparing to cross that proverbial chasm ask me, “Hey, Zo, what shot timer do you recommend?” or “What’s the best shot timer to get?” When choosing among the best shot timers, remember that, as with most things, there’s no silver bullet. After all, each shot timer has pros and cons tied to how you use it. In other words, the best timer fits your specific needs. In fact, for some of us pistoleros, that means owning a few, like handguns for different use cases. That’s the bad news.

The good news? Most folks can get by with one timer for skill development. Still, the right choice depends on a few factors. Let’s compare the top shot timers available today and see if we can answer the real question: Which shot timer should you buy?

Setting the Stage

First, before we dive into the weeds, let’s level set. I know of eleven contenders for the best shot timer, used by competitive shooters, coaches, and instructors. There might be more. However, I’m sticking to these eleven. I own five. Manufacturers provided three of them free for testing, evaluation, and review—magnificent people in my book. Four of the eleven I’ve never run myself. I’ll only mention those where it makes sense, with the limited knowledge I have. I also have affiliate relationships with Shooters Global (SG Timer 2 and SG Timer GO) and PACT (Club Timer III, though I bought it before that relationship began). Consider that flagged for transparency. My suggestions rest on my experience and analysis, but you might want to factor those affiliations into your take.

The eleven best shot timer contenders we’re discussing:

• AMG Lab Commander (purchased)
• AMG Lab Sidekick (provided free)
• Competition Electronics Pocket Pro
• Competition Electronics ProTimer
• Competition Electronics ProTimer BT
• Competitive Edge Dynamics CED7000
• Double-Alpha EDGE (new for 2026)
• Kestrel Ballistics KST1000
• PACT Club Timer III (purchased before affiliate ties)
• Shooters Global SG Timer 2 (provided free, affiliate)
• Shooters Global SG Timer GO (provided free, affiliate)

Finally, one more note: I’ve split this post into use-case sections. Each starts with my top pick for that scenario. Then come the considerations that might steer you to another option. If you have multiple use cases, you’ll likely find a timer that works across most of them. No timer covers everything? Pick the one that best fits your top priority. It’ll likely work well enough for other uses, even if not perfectly. Otherwise, you end up like me with a few shot timers. Let’s get to it.

The Best Shot Timer for Dry Fire

Dry fire practice is the most common reason folks ask me about shot timers, so I’m betting that’s why you’re here. The best news? Any modern shot timer works for dry fire. Even so, my top pick is the AMG Lab Sidekick. It’s the cheapest of the bunch, and it also ticks all the feature boxes a dry fire fiend craves.

For dry fire, you need three things: a randomized delayed start, an audible start signal, and a par time. I’m hard-pressed to think of a modern timer that doesn’t have those. Any will fit the bill. If you’re thinking, “Great! We’re done here,” not so fast. There’s nuance that matters.

First, consider your dry fire environment. Do you mainly practice at home with others who might get annoyed by loud, incessant beeping day after day? Or in hotel rooms while traveling? If noise control’s a factor, most timers let you adjust the buzzer volume. The exception is the PACT Club Timer III, which, if I’m not mistaken, is the dinosaur of the bunch with no volume control. The Sidekick, by contrast, has adjustable volume, digital sensitivity for dry trigger breaks, multiple par times in a session, and configurable session repeat for long drills.

However, here’s the catch: the Sidekick’s a dry fire champ but not the best shot timer for other use cases. Its full-volume start signal can be tough to hear at a distance or in noisy settings. As a result, it leaves a lot to be desired for competition or instruction. It’ll work for those, but the gap between “it works” and “it works well” is wide. If you’re into matches or coaching, pick something else. The Sidekick’s frugal price won’t save you from needing another timer.

Dry Fire Alternatives

If the Sidekick isn’t your best shot timer for dry fire, my alternatives start with the Shooters Global SG Timer 2 and SG Timer GO. They currently lack multiple par times in a single string. In exchange, they offer video analysis, a wet dream for performance diagnostics or for posting shot data on the ‘Gram (or your social platform of choice). Any timer can do video with a camera, but that’s way more work. I say “currently” because I wouldn’t be surprised if a firmware update adds multiple par times. For example, the Timer GO’s more affordable and ideal for personal use, while the Timer 2’s better for coaches and instructors.

Other alternatives, in no particular order, also include the AMG Lab Commander, Competitive Edge Dynamics CED7000, and Kestrel Ballistics KST1000. They share the Sidekick’s nice-to-have features: adjustable volume, sensitivity, multiple par times, and session repeat.

The Best Shot Timer for Live Fire

Live fire means a noisy environment, so my dry fire king, the Sidekick, drops to the bottom. Its buzzer’s too quiet. I’d love to name one best shot timer for live fire, but it’s tough. Therefore, I’m going with a twofer: the Shooters Global SG Timer 2 and AMG Lab Commander. After all, they’re both in my range bag for a reason. That said, any other timer on this list works for live fire. There are nuances to consider, though.

Even the best shot timer has limits indoors. Indoor ranges, in particular, are noisier than outdoor ones, with echoes bouncing off walls. All timers except the Competition Electronics models and PACT Club Timer III have echo-filtering to handle those echoes. Otherwise, echoes can mess with shot time data. Some folks ask if these timers work at busy public ranges, especially for collecting shot times with multiple shooters in a bay. In short, it depends on the crowd. If it’s slow, you can tweak sensitivity and echo-filtering for decent data, with a little luck. But if the line’s packed with yahoos sighting in magnum rifles or knuckleheads mag-dumping Desert Eagles into cardboard, you’re pretty much shit out of luck. Your timer’s just a start signal and par time tool, indoor or out.

The Best Shot Timer for Competition

Above all, if your matches use PractiScore for scoring, you’ll want a timer with integration. That used to narrow the field. As of October 2026, every Bluetooth timer on this list integrates with PractiScore 2, with no “preview” asterisks left: the AMG Lab Commander and Sidekick, the Competition Electronics ProTimer BT, the Kestrel Ballistics KST1000, both Shooters Global timers, and the new Double-Alpha EDGE. My pick for the best shot timer for matches is still the AMG Lab Commander. It’s my go-to because I’m familiar with its PractiScore setup and comfortable using it. Between the two Shooters Global timers, the SG Timer 2 is the best shot timer for competition use. Its screen is larger, and its start signal is louder as well.

The New Double-Alpha EDGE

New for 2026, the Double-Alpha EDGE deserves a look here, too. On paper, it reads like a three-way meld of the Kestrel, the SG Timer 2, and the Commander. Specifically, it has PractiScore over Bluetooth, five presets, up to five par intervals in a string with repeats, adaptive echo filtering, and a 125 dB buzzer, all in an IP65 body with a built-in flashlight. One caveat from DAA’s manual: only the total stage time goes to PractiScore, while the shot strings and splits stay on the timer. In addition, Karl Rehn, my trusted mentor, has moved to the EDGE for teaching classes and running the summer series matches at KR Training, where I’m an assistant instructor. Naturally, that carries weight with me. Still, I haven’t run one myself yet, so it isn’t a pick here, but it’s at the top of my short list.

On the other hand, if your matches don’t use PractiScore, any live fire timer works. Take your pick.

The Best Shot Timer for Coaching and Instruction

I’ve got a stinking suspicion I’ll get an “I told you so” from Karl Rehn on this one. The best shot timer for coaching, in my book, is the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro. Its feature list is barren. However, the efficiency of setting par times or switching between delay and instant start is uncanny. Add a loud buzzer, and it shines for instruction as well. It’s also on the lower end of the price spectrum. For what it’s worth, Karl has since moved his classes to the Double-Alpha EDGE, so that “I told you so” may arrive with a different timer in hand.

Some folks can’t vibe with the Pocket Pro. Maybe it’s too old-school, or their main use case is elsewhere. In that case, the best shot timer for lessons has a loud start signal and multiple presets for quick switches. The Shooters Global SG Timer 2 lets you preload a boatload of presets via its smartphone app. That’s 25, if memory serves, assuming newer firmware hasn’t changed it. Switching presets is relatively hassle-free, too. Likewise, the AMG Lab Commander and Kestrel Ballistics KST1000 support presets, but they’re limited to 5.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed the Kestrel Ballistics KST1000 popping up a lot. I wish I had firsthand experience with it, because its feature list is on point for most use cases. In addition, I keep hearing great things from folks who’ve used it, but I take those with a grain of salt. Is it as good as they say, or is there some cost justification behind the praise? I don’t doubt it belongs among the best shot timers. At over $300, though, it’s the most expensive of the bunch, and I haven’t heard much negative beyond the price tag.

Meanwhile, a less obvious detail is why the Competition Electronics ProTimer isn’t one of my best shot timer picks for any use case. Its features are nearly identical to those of the Pocket Pro, my coaching pick, but Competition Electronics markets it as the “new and improved” model. The main upgrade is a sharper digital display replacing the LCD. However, the interface, with fewer buttons, slows down par time setup compared to the Pocket Pro. It’s basically the ProTimer BT without PractiScore integration. The ProTimer’s not trash. Indeed, if I owned one, I wouldn’t rush to replace it. Still, it doesn’t stand out for any use case, because its features are limited. Besides, it’s not even the most affordable option.

The Feature Comparison Table

There’s a lot to digest here, but the best shot timer boils down to matching features to your priorities. I’m leaving you with a feature comparison table, a cheatsheet you can reference. Some of y’all might wish I’d led with this to save time. Instead, think of it as a reward for reading all the way through.

Shot Timer	Adjustable Volume	Adjustable Sensitivity	Multiple Par Times in One String	PractiScore Integration	Echo Filtering	Presets	Repeat
AMG Lab Commander	Yes	Yes (Digital)	Yes	Yes (Bluetooth)	Yes	5	Yes
AMG Lab Sidekick	Yes	Yes (Digital)	Yes	Yes (Bluetooth)	Yes	5	Yes
Competition Electronics Pocket Pro	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	0	No
Competition Electronics ProTimer	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	0	No
Competition Electronics ProTimer BT	Yes	Yes	No	Yes (Bluetooth)	No	0	No
Competitive Edge Dynamics CED7000	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	0	Yes
Double-Alpha EDGE	Yes	Yes	Yes (up to 5)	Yes (Bluetooth, stage time only)	Yes (Adaptive)	5	Yes
Kestrel Ballistics KST1000	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (Bluetooth)	Yes	5	Yes
PACT Club Timer III	No	Limited (Manual screw)	No	No	No	0	No
Shooters Global SG Timer GO	Yes	Yes	Likely Yes	Yes	Yes	25	Yes
Shooters Global SG Timer 2	Yes	Yes	Likely Yes	Yes	Yes	25	Yes

Still here? In any case, don’t get stuck with analysis paralysis. Also, hit me up on the socials for help, or to let me know which best shot timer y’all picked up.