Shot Timer vs Par Timer: What's the Difference?
If you're getting into timed shooting practice, you've probably seen both "shot timers" and "par timers" mentioned. They're different tools for different purposes—here's what you need to know.
The Short Answer
Think: "The timer reacts to YOU"
Think: "YOU react to the timer"
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Shot Timer | Par Timer | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Microphone detects gunshots | Beeps at start and end of set time |
| What it measures | When each shot happened, splits between shots | Whether you beat your target time (you judge) |
| Best for | Live fire, measuring actual performance | Dry fire, training specific par times |
| Works with dry fire? | Poorly (no loud sound to detect) | Yes (designed for it) |
| Works at loud ranges? | Can pick up other shooters' shots | Yes (doesn't listen for shots) |
| Typical cost | $100-150 (hardware), free-$10 (apps) | $5-10 (apps like Par Timer Pro) |
When to Use a Par Timer
Par timers are the right choice when:
There's no gunshot to detect, so a shot timer is useless. A par timer gives you a start signal and a goal time to beat. This is where most skill-building happens.
Working on your draw? Set a 1.5 second par. Reload? Set 2.0 seconds. You know immediately if you beat the beep or not. Then shorten the par and try again.
Shot timers pick up everyone's gunfire. A par timer ignores ambient noise—it just beeps when you tell it to.
Par timer apps are much cheaper than hardware shot timers ($100+).
When to Use a Shot Timer
Shot timers are the right choice when:
You want to know exactly how long between your first and second shot, or your fifth and sixth. Shot timers record each shot automatically.
USPSA, IDPA, and other competitions require shot timers to score stages. The timer records start-to-last-shot time.
When you want objective data on a live fire drill—not just "did I beat the par" but "exactly how fast was I."
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and many competitive shooters do. The typical setup:
- At home (dry fire): Par timer app on your phone
- At the range (live fire): Hardware shot timer or shot timer app
The par timer builds speed through repetition. The shot timer validates that speed with live ammo.
Do Par Timers Record Splits?
No. A par timer doesn't know when you "shot"—it just beeps at the times you set. If you need split times, you need a shot timer or a laser training system that can detect trigger pulls.
For dry fire, this usually doesn't matter. You're training to beat a target time, not measuring exact splits. When splits matter, use live fire with a shot timer.
What About Shot Timer Apps?
Phone apps can work as shot timers using the microphone, but they have limitations:
- Phone mics struggle with very loud gunfire
- Inconsistent detection in noisy environments
- May miss shots or double-count
For casual use, apps like IPSC Shot Timer work okay. For serious training or competition, most shooters use hardware shot timers ($100-150) for reliability.
Par timer apps, on the other hand, work perfectly—they're just beeping at set times, no sound detection needed.
The Bottom Line
| If you want to... | Use a... |
|---|---|
| Practice dry fire at home | Par Timer (Par Timer Pro) |
| Train draws, reloads, transitions | Par Timer |
| Measure live fire split times | Shot Timer |
| Score a competition stage | Shot Timer |
| Train at a busy range | Par Timer (won't pick up others' shots) |
| Start training affordably | Par Timer (apps are cheaper than hardware) |
Get Started with Par Timer Pro
Par Timer Pro is a par timer app for iPhone and Android. Set your par time, hear the start beep, and try to beat the end beep. Track your progress over time with drill history, and use random start delays for realistic training.